Character
Who is Odysseus’ son who searches for news of his father
Telemachus
Where does Athena tell Telemachus to go first to ask about Odysseus?
Pylos to talk to King Nestor
What plant makes men forget their home and desire only to stay?
Who is the one-eyed shepherd-giant that traps Odysseus and eats some of his men?
Polyphemus the Cyclops
What motivates Telemachus to begin his own journey?
Searching for news of his father / to assert himself against the suitors
Name Odysseus’ faithful wife, known for her trick of weaving and unweaving a shroud.
Penelope
What trick does Penelope use to delay choosing a new husband?
She says she must weave a burial shroud but unravels all of her work at night.
Which two locations/episodes illustrate Odysseus telling his own story to the Phaeacians?
Calypso’s isle and his flashback adventures such as Cyclops/Circe
What two hazards make up the proverb "between Scylla and Charybdis"?
Scylla, a six-headed monster, and Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool
Name two major trials Odysseus faces that test his cleverness rather than strength
Outsmarting the Cyclops (Nobody trick) and surviving Circe with Hermes’ help (moly)
Which goddess repeatedly aids Telemachus and Odysseus, often appearing in disguise?
Athena
After leaving Calypso, on which people's island is Odysseus given clothes and a ship home?
The Phaeacians/Alcinous and Nausicaa
What prophecy/command must Odysseus follow that requires him to visit the Underworld?
He must consult Tiresias, the blind prophet, to learn how to appease Poseidon
Which witch transforms Odysseus’ men into animals (pigs) and later advises Odysseus about his next task?
Circe
How does Odysseus show both strength and moral complexity when dealing with the suitors upon his return?
He uses cunning (disguise and plan) and lethal force to reclaim his home, raising questions about justice and vengeance
Who recognizes Odysseus by a scar while washing his feet and keeps his identity secret?
Eurycleia
What disguise does Athena give Odysseus when he returns to Ithaca to hide among his people?
A beggar
What event causes Odysseus to be finally freed from Calypso?
Zeus orders Hermes to tell Calypso to release Odysseus)
What are the Sirens known for, and how does Odysseus survive their test?
Their irresistible song; Odysseus plugs his men’s ears with beeswax and is tied to the mast so he can hear but not steer toward them
What internal struggle does Odysseus face while with Calypso and Circe that reflects the hero’s deeper challenge?
Choosing between immortal comfort and returning to mortal family/home
Name the two leading suitors who lead the disrespect and plots against Odysseus’ household
Antinous and Eurymachus
Describe the contest Penelope uses to identify Odysseus’ true heir/husband.
Whoever can string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe rings will marry Penelope
How does the Phaeacian ship’s fate signal divine punishment after Odysseus departs?
Poseidon turns the Phaeacian ship to stone / destroys it, fulfilling the curse and isolating Phaeacia
Which god does Polyphemus call on after being blinded, creating a major curse for Odysseus?
Poseidon
Summarize the final test Penelope gives Odysseus that proves their bond and completes his journey home
The bed/wedding‑bed test — Penelope mentions moving their marital bed; Odysseus’ correct reaction to its immovability proves his identity and completes reconciliation