Name That Character
This hero, the central figure of The Odyssey, faces numerous trials and temptations as he struggles to return to his homeland, Ithaca.
Who is Odysseus?
Epic heroes are known for their courage in the face of danger. Odysseus exemplifies this trait when he faces this terrifying monster with a single eye and tricks it to escape with his men.
Who is the Cyclops (Polyphemus)?
This god, angered by Odysseus’ blinding of his son Polyphemus, constantly hinders the hero’s journey by causing storms and delays, seeking revenge for the harm done to his child.
Who is Poseidon?
This literary device is a detailed, often extended comparison, such as when Homer compares the hero’s actions to those of animals or other heroic figures.
What is an epic simile?
The story that came before The Odyssey, titled The Iliad, was about what?
What is the Trojan War?
This nymph lives on the island of Ogygia and keeps Odysseus captive for several years, offering him immortality if he stays with her.
Who is Calypso?
An epic hero often shows intelligence and resourcefulness. Odysseus demonstrates this when he devises a clever plan to escape the Cyclops' cave by telling Polyphemus that his name is what.
This king of the gods plays a relatively neutral role in Odysseus' journey, but ultimately helps the hero in key moments, such as aiding Telemachus' search for news of his father.
Who is Zeus?
This term refers to a universal symbol or theme, like the heroic journey or the loyal companion, that appears across various cultures and stories.
What is an archetype?
This author wrote the epic poems The Odyssey and The Iliad?
Who is Homer
These peaceful inhabitants of an island offer Odysseus and his men a fruit that makes them forget their homes and their longing to return.
Who are the Lotus Eaters?
An epic hero is often tested by physical and emotional trials and achieves victory despite difficult odds. Odysseus endures this hardship when he must navigate the deadly Strait of Messina, choosing between what two monsters?
What are the Scylla and Charybdis?
This messenger god assists Odysseus in several ways, including delivering a message from Zeus and helping him escape from the nymph Calypso’s island by providing him with a magical herb to protect him from Circe's spell.
Who is Hermes?
This term refers to a descriptive phrase or title used to characterize a person or thing, such as “swift-footed Achilles”, "the cunning strategist Odysseus", or “rosy-fingered Dawn.”
What is an epithet?
The name of the seer who gives Odysseus a prophecy in the land of the dead.
Tiresias, Prince of Thebes
This sea monster is a giant whirlpool that threatens to swallow ships whole, forcing Odysseus to make a dangerous choice between it and another monster.
Who is Charybdis?
An epic hero is both helped and hurt by interfering gods. After Odysseus is held captive by Calypso on her island, this god intervenes to free him. Though Calypso wishes to keep Odysseus forever, it is this god who sends Hermes to order her to release him.
Who is Zeus?
This goddess, daughter of Zeus, is Odysseus' most devoted divine ally. She frequently intervenes to help him, including aiding him with guidance and magical tools.
Who is Athena?
This type of long, narrative poem, which tells the story of a hero’s deeds and adventures, is exemplified by works like The Iliad and The Odyssey.
What is an epic poem?
The Trojan War lasted for this number of years, with the Greeks laying siege to the city of Troy before their ultimate victory.
What is ten years?
This crew member of Odysseus, a companion who is intoxicated and careless, dies in an accident at Circe's palace and asks Odysseus for a proper burial when they meet in the underworld.
Who is Elpenor?
An epic hero is on a quest or a journey. How many years was Odysseus fighting in Troy before he departed for home?
In The Odyssey, this Sun God becomes enraged when Odysseus' men slaughter his sacred cattle on the island of Thrinacia, leading to their eventual destruction by Zeus.
Who is Helios?
A formal, often prayer-like request for help or inspiration, usually directed toward a divine or supernatural force, at the beginning of an epic poem or literary work
What is an invocation?
Odysseus and his men escape from this monstrous Cyclops by using a clever trick, getting him drunk and blinding him. They then hide under these animals to sneak out of his cave.
What are the sheep?