1
What does the word “formidable” suggest about Odysseus’s reputation?
A: It implies he is respected and feared due to his strength and intelligence.
What is the connotation of “plundered” in the context of Odysseus’s raid on Cicones?
A: It has a negative connotation, suggesting violence and greed.
What does the phrase “sweet forgetfulness” imply about the lotus plant?
A: It suggests a seductive and dangerous escape from reality.
What does the word “brute” reveal about Polyphemus’s character?
A: It implies he is savage, uncivilized, and lacking compassion.
What is the effect of the figurative phrase “caught two in his hands like squirming puppies”?
A: It emphasizes Polyphemus’s strength and the helplessness of Odysseus’s men.
How does the word “enticing” describe the effect of the lotus?
A: It conveys temptation and allure, drawing the men away from their mission.
What does “guile” mean in the context of Odysseus’s escape plan?
A: It means cleverness or cunning, showing Odysseus’s strategic thinking.
What is the connotation of “wailing” when describing the men’s reaction to death?
A: It conveys deep sorrow and despair.
What does the word “shade” mean when referring to the spirits?
A: It refers to ghosts or souls of the dead, suggesting a shadowy existence.
What does the phrase “ghost of great Ajax” imply about his legacy?
A: It suggests honor and remembrance even in death.
What is the meaning of “prophecy” in Tiresias’s speech?
It means a prediction of future events, often divinely inspired.
What does the word “harpy” imply about the Sirens?
A: It suggests they are dangerous and predatory, with a monstrous nature.
What is the effect of the figurative phrase “honeyed voices”?
A: It implies sweetness and seduction, masking danger.
What does “lolling” mean in the context of the Sirens’ victims?
A: It means lying around lazily or lifelessly, suggesting death or enchantment.
What does the word “maelstrom” mean in describing Charybdis?
A: It refers to a powerful whirlpool, symbolizing chaos and destruction.
What is the connotation of “crunching” when Scylla eats the men?
A: It evokes violence and horror.
What does “writhed” mean in the description of the men being taken?
A: It means they twisted in pain or fear, emphasizing their suffering.
What does the word “heifer” refer to in this episode?
A: It means a young cow, symbolizing the sacred cattle of Helios.
What is the connotation of “vengeance” in Helios’s reaction?
A: It suggests righteous anger and punishment.
What does the phrase “the gods’ wrath” imply about divine justice?
A: It conveys the seriousness of offending the gods and the inevitable consequences.
God of the sea and Polyphemus’s father; becomes Odysseus’s enemy after his son is blinded.
God of the sea and Polyphemus’s father; becomes Odysseus’s enemy after his son is blinded.
Blind prophet in the underworld who tells Odysseus how to appease Poseidon and reach home.
Tiresias
Punishes the crew by destroying their ship with a thunderbolt.
Calypso
Enchantress who helps Odysseus
Circe
The Sun God; owns sacred cattle that Odysseus’s men are warned not to touch.
Helios