Characters in The Odyssey
Who is the main character of The Odyssey?
Odysseus
What is the name of the island where Odysseus is trying to return to?
Ithaca
What does Odysseus have to plug his men’s ears with to protect them from the Sirens?
Beeswax
What is the name of the war Odysseus fights in before starting his journey home?
The Trojan War
Who is keeping Odysseus from returning home, and how does this affect the plot?
Poseidon, the god of the sea, is angry with Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and is making his journey home difficult.
Who is the son of Odysseus and Penelope?
Telemachus
What is the land where the dead live, where Odysseus goes to seek advice?The Underworld
The Underworld
What magical plant does Odysseus’s men eat, which makes them forget about their home and desire to stay on the island forever?
The Lotus flower
How many years does it take for Odysseus to return home after the war?
10 years
Who is helping Odysseus during his journey?
Athena, the goddess of wisdom, helps Odysseus by offering advice and protection throughout his journey.
Who is the goddess that helps Odysseus during his journey?
Athena
Where does Odysseus visit and hear the songs of the Sirens?
The Island of the Sirens
What is the challenge that the suitors must complete to marry Penelope, which only Odysseus can do?
Stringing Odysseus's bow and shooting an arrow through twelve axeheads
What happens to the suitors after they are defeated by Odysseus?
They are killed by Odysseus and his allies.
What dangerous creatures do Odysseus and his crew have to face that lure sailors with their singing?
The Sirens, whose singing tempts sailors to crash their ships.
Who is the faithful servant who helps Odysseus when he returns home?
Eumaeus
What is the name of the land where the Lotus Eaters live, causing Odysseus’s men to forget their homes?
The Land of the Lotus Eaters
What dangerous creatures did Odysseus and his men have to avoid, who sing songs to lure sailors into danger?
The Sirens
What is the final test that Odysseus faces when he returns to Ithaca?
He must defeat the suitors and prove his identity.
What mistake do Odysseus’s men make that causes them to anger the gods and delays their return home?
They eat the sacred cattle of the sun god, Helios, which leads to their deaths when Zeus sends a storm.
Who is the nymph who falls in love with Odysseus and keeps him on her island for several years?
Calypso
What is the name of the place where Odysseus fights the suitors when he returns to Ithaca?
Ithaca
What did Odysseus and his men encounter that turned some of his men into pigs?
Circe the Sorceress
How does Odysseus trick the Phaeacians into helping him return home?
He tells them the story of his journey and adventures.
What is the ultimate theme of The Odyssey as it is resolved at the end of the story?
The main message of the story is about how important it is to go back home, stay loyal to the people you love, never give up, and find your way back after facing big challenges.