Greek Gods
Books 1-6
Books 9-12
Books 16-23
Epic Elements
100

After Odysseus’s crew kills and eats the cattle of Helios, this god strikes their ship with lightning, killing all crew members except Odysseus in retaliation.

Zeus

100

According to the narrator, the beauty of this nymph and her home of Ogygia would make even a god stop and stare in amazement.

Calypso

100

In order to learn how to get home, Odysseus has to visit this character in the Underworld to hear a prophecy.

Tiresias

100

Eurymachus and Antinous were the leaders of this group of men.

the suitors

100

The actions of Athena, Zeus, Hermes, and Poseidon in The Odyssey can best be described as this type of epic element.

Divine intervention

200

This god, who wears winged sandals, convinces Calypso to let Odysseus continue on his journey.

Hermes

200

After Zeus orders her to do so, Calypso enables Odysseus to leave the island by helping him build one of these.

A raft

200

This monstrous creature has six heads, and eats six sailors from every passing ship.

Scylla

200

Penelope holds an archery contest in which participants must shoot an arrow through this many iron axe-helve sockets.

Twelve

200

Epic themes include courage, homecoming, and this quality that Odysseus has toward his wife and child.

Loyalty

300

This god, furious that Odysseus has blinded his son, curses Odysseus’s journey and delays his return to Ithaca.

Poseidon

300

The narrator begins The Odyssey by invoking this daughter of Zeus to bring him inspiration as he tells the story.

Muse

300

This god protects Odysseus from Circe, giving him a magical plant so that her magic will not affect him.

Hermes

300

The swineherd Eumaeus demonstrates this value when the disguised Odysseus arrives at his door.

Hospitality (or Xenia)

300

The lengthy description of crew members caught by Scylla, dangling overhead like wriggling fish on a line, can best be described as this epic element.

Epic simile

400

This goddess of wisdom disguises Odysseus as an old beggar when he returns to Ithaca.

Athena

400

Calypso tells Odysseus that if he stays on the island with her, he will have this godlike characteristic.

Immortality

400

Odysseus encounters the ghost of Elpenor, who was what sort of person when he was alive?

Odysseus's crew member

400

This character dies in Book 17.

Argos, Odysseus’s dog

400

“The young Dawn with fingertips of rose” is an example of this descriptive epic device.

Epithet

500

This goddess uses her magic to turn Odysseus’s crew into pigs.

Circe

500

Odysseus is held captive on the island of Ogygia for this many years.

7

500

This sea monster swallows great amounts of water, creating whirlpools that threaten passing ships.

Charybdis

500

Odysseus proves his identity to Penelope by knowing that his bed was made out of this. (be specific)

An olive tree

500

Odysseus demonstrates great strength, craftiness, and confidence. These are all qualities which were valued by these people.

The Greeks

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