Characters
Who wakes Odysseus up on the beach when he arrives in Ithaca?
Athena.
Odysseus main concern is to regain control of his household and get rid of the suitors. Before his main concern was returning home.
What is the Greek name for hospitality? Spell it correctly. How is Xenia depicted throughout the novel?
Name one Greek God or Goddesses that aren't mentioned in The Odyssey.
Aphrodite, Artemis, Apollo, and Hades.
When Odysseus escaped the Cyclops was that an example of fate or intelligence?
Intelligence: He came up with the scheme of hiding under the sheep's bellies to escape the cave. This shows Odysseus' cunning.
Who is the first person that Odysseus sees to test their loyalty back home?
The Swineherd Eumaeus.
What is Telemachus and Odysseus's plan to regain control of the home?
What is the Greek name for honor/glory.
Kleos.
Which Greek God/Goddess tells Odysseus how to overcome Circe's powers?
Hermes. He tells Odysseus to eat an herb to protect from her magic and threaten her with a sword.
When Odysseus returns home and goes under a disguise is that an example of fate or intelligence?
Fate--It was Athena's idea and power to put Odysseus in the disguise of an old man.
Which one of the suitors is the mean one? Throws the chair at Odysseus and doesn't want him to compete in the bow competition.
Antinoos.
How does Penelope test Irus (Odysseus in diguise) on how he knew Odysseus?
She asks him what he was wearing in the battle at Troy.
How do Odysseus and Telemachus represent the theme of Homecoming?
Both men want to return home and establish order. Telemachus wants to secure information on his father and helps him defeat the suitors. Odysseus has to regain control after wandering at sea for many years.
Which Greek God/goddess helped stir Odysseus' anger to fight the suitors and how?
Athena helped make Odysseus more angry by telling the suitors what insults to say and make them do rude things like throw a chair at him.
How much control do the Greek Gods and Goddesses have over human lives? Give an example.
ALOT--Athena basically begs Zeus at Mount Olympus to finally free Odysseus from Calypso. Without their help, Odysseus may have been stuck on the island forever.
OR Poseidon choosing that Odysseus cannot return home simply for poking out his son's eye.
What is the name of the maid who first discovers Odysseus in his disguise?
Eurycleia.
What test of strength does Odysseus do before he reveals his disguise and kills all of the suitors?
He successfully strings the bow and shoots the arrow through 12 arrow heads.
How is loyalty displayed between Telemachaus and Odysseus?
Despite being gone for 17 years, Telemachus shows loyalty for his father. He helps him with no questions asked and shows bravery when helping kill the suitors.
What mythological figure appears on a shield during Odysseus and Telemachus' battle with the suitors?
Medusa
How does Odysseus show intelligence when getting past the sirens in Book 12?
He has the men tie him to the ship so he can still listen to the Siren's song. When he cries to them to release him, he asks them to tie him tighter.
What is the name of Odysseus' father?
Laertes.
Tiresias told Odysseus back in Book 11 to take an oar and travel until he finds a country where men know nothing of the ships and sea. Then he must plant the oar and make a sacrifice to Poseidon to ask for forgiveness for poking his son's eye.
When Penelope and Odysseus finally reunite after the battle, how does she show her cunning?
She tests Odysseus by lying that she moved their bed when he knows it can't be moved because it was made out of a tree that can't be uprooted.
She stops the fight and asks Odysseus to drop his sword instead of fighting the people of Ithaca.
Why do you think Athena helps Odysseus so much throughout the story?
It is because of his character traits. He displays wisdom, courage, and strength. All very important Greek ideals.