Story
When Odysseus encounters the Cyclops, what does Odysseus say his name is?
Nobody
Odysseus and his crew face many opportunities of temptation. Temptation is one of the themes in The Odyssey. What is one example of this theme in the story?
Odysseus has an affair with Circe
Odysseus has an affair with Calypso.
Odysseus's crew decide to land on Helios' island and eat the sun god's cattle even though they received multiple warnings.
Any of these responses are correct.
Odysseus is a strong leader and a king. Which land does he rule over?
Ithaca
Odysseus's ship is destroyed by a giant whirlpool named Charybdis. Which of the five categories of conflict is present here?
Person against nature
What event(s) does The Odyssey immediately follow?
The Trojan War
The Iliad by Homer
Either of these responses are correct.
When Odysseus returns home, he faces multiple unexpected challenges. What is one of the challenges?
He must prove to his wife that he truly is Odysseus.
He must beat the other suitors in the bow challenge.
He kills the other suitors once he reveals his true identity.
Any of these responses are correct.
Odysseus face numerous near-death experiences during his journey home, and he loses his crew along the way. Despite the difficulty journey, he returns home to Ithaca. What theme best describes this statement?
Perseverance
What is one of Odysseus's major human flaws?
Temptation
Curiosity
Either of these answers are correct.
Person against fate/the gods
“… I leaned on it
turning it as a shipwright turns a drill
in planking, having men below to swing
the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove.”
What type of figurative language is used here?
Epic simile
Circe and Tiresias both warn Odysseus of dangers in the coming future. What is one of the warnings given to Odysseus?
Tiresias tells Odysseus not to injure any of Helios' cattle. Circe tells Odysseus about the sirens and their deadly song. Circe warns Odysseus about Scylla and Charybdis, but she tells him to travel closer to Scylla.
Any of these responses are correct.
What is one of Odysseus's most well-known characteristics?
Cunning, guile, quick-thinking, or witty.
Any of these responses are correct.
Why does Odysseus choose to pass by Scylla instead of Charybdis?
Scylla will eat at least six of his men, whereas Charybdis could destroy their ships and kill everyone.
Once Odysseus returns to his home in Ithaca, he must defeat his wife's multiple suitors. He defeats the suitors alongside his son, Telemachus. Which of the five categories of conflict occurs here?
Person against person
How many years have passed since Odysseus initially left his home in Ithaca?
Roughly 20 years
Which gods are mad at Odysseus and why?
List at least two gods.
Zeus - He is displeased with the Greeks' and Odysseus's arrogance.
Poseidon - Odysseus did not give Poseidon credit for the Trojan Horse idea, OR Odysseus stabbed Poseidon's son's eye (the Cyclops), and the Cyclops cursed Odysseus.
Helios - Odysseus's crew killed and ate Helios's cattle.
Penelope and Telemachus refuse to believe that Odysseus is dead, and Penelope attempts to hold off her suitors for many years. Eventually, they are rewarded by being reunited with Odysseus. On the other hand, Odysseus's crew decides to travel to Helios' island against his command. As a result, Odysseus's crew members are punished via death for disobeying his command. What characteristic/theme best represents the statement above?
(The power of) Loyalty
Odysseus's encounter with the Cyclops shows multiple strong examples of Odysseus's cleverness and cunning. Besides the Cyclops scene, list an example in which Odysseus uses his cunning and quick-thinking to improve a situation.
He puts beeswax on his crews' ears and has them tie himself to the mast to avoid the sirens.
He develops a plan to stall for time after killing the suitors in his home.
Either of these answers are correct.
Odysseus must decide whether to pass through Scylla, the six-headed monster, or Charybdis, the dangerous whirlpool. Which of the five categories of conflict is present in this situation?
Person against self
Which goddess supports Odysseus throughout his entire journey home?
Athena
How did Odysseus escape the Polyphemus' cave? List all four parts of the trick. Start with what Odysseus gave the Cyclops.
Odysseus gave the Cyclops wine from the gods, and the Cyclops passed out.
Odysseus lied about his name.
Odysseus crafted a spear and stabbed the Cyclops's eye.
Odysseus tied his crew and himself underneath the sheep.
Curiosity and foolishness are two important and recurring themes in The Odyssey. List one example of curiosity and/or foolishness in the story and explain the result.
Odysseus travels to the Cyclopes' land only because he is curious about the island's inhabitants. Six men die.
Odysseus shouts back at the Cyclops and says his name while he and his crew are escaping. The ship is nearly hit by a boulder, and Odysseus is cursed.
Odysseus does not tell his crew about the bag of winds. The crew opens the bag, and they are blown back hundreds of miles from home.
Any of these responses are correct.
How does Odysseus prove his identity to Penelope?
Odysseus describes the bed he made from the olive tree in their room and how it cannot be moved.
What are the five categories of conflict?
Person against self, person against person, person against nature, person against society, and person against fate/the gods
While Odysseus is gone, multiple suitors attempt to marry Penelope. What does Penelope do to stall the suitors?