The Epic of Gilgamesh
Literary Terms
The Odyssey
The Aeneid
Even More Literary Terms
100

Which of the following best describes Gilgamesh at the beginning of the epic? 

a. A humble and wise king

b. A tyrannical and self-centered ruler

c. A heroic warrior seeking glory

d. A wanderer searching for immortality 

What is a tyrannical and self-centered ruler 

100

The climax of a story is what? 

What is the turning point of greatest conflict or tension 

100

Odysseus blinds Polyphemus because of what? 

What is the threat to kill more of his men? 

100

What is the name of the author of the Aeneid?

Who is Virgil

100

An object representing a deeper meaning is what? 

What is a symbol

200

Enkidu is created by the gods to: 

a. Serve as Gilgamesh’s personal guard

b. Challenge and balance Gilgamesh’s power

c. Defeat Humbaba alone 

d. Protect Uruk from invaders 

What is b? Challenge and balance Gilgamesh’a power

200

A recurring symbol, theme, or idea is called what? 

What is a motif?

200

Which goddess is Odysseus’s strongest divine ally? 

a. Hera

b. Artemis

c. Athena 

d. Aphrodite 

What is c? Athena 

200

Aeneus is known for his pietas, which means what?

What is duty to gods, family, and country

200

The time and place in a story is known as the what? 

What is the setting

300

After Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh’s primary motivation becomes:

a. Winning glory in battle

b. Becoming a better king

c. Avoiding death and attaining immortality 

d. Revenge against the gods 

What is c? Avoiding death and attaining immortality 

300

A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’ is called what? 

What is a simile

300

The incident of the Sirens highlights which trait of Odysseus? 

a. Impatience 

b. Extreme curiosity 

c. Disloyalty 

d. Cowardice 

What is b? Extreme curiosity 

300

Dido falls in love with Aeneus why? 

What is because Venus and Cupid cause it

300

A universal pattern or character type is  what? 

What is an Archetype

400

Explain how the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu transforms Gilgamesh as a character? 

He goes feom arrogant to humble through his friendship with Enkidu. He learns the value of loyalty and faces his mortality. 

400

The central insight or message about life is called the what? 

What is the theme 

400

One major obstacle Odysseus faces is what? 

What is: Sirens, Cyclops, Circe 

400

The death of Pallas motivates Aeneus to: 

a. Make peace with Turnus

b. Leave Italy 

c. Defeat Turnis in battle 

d. Return to Troy

What is c? Defeat Turnus in battle

400

Reference to a well known story or event is what? 

What is an allusion? 

500

Compare one theme that appears in both Gilgamesh and the Odyssey? 

The value of: leadership, friendship, loyalty, duty

500

Excessive pride is known as what? 

What is hubris

500

Provide one example of foreshadowing in The Odyssey

What is Athena’s promises, Zeus’s thunderbolt, or the prophet Theoklymenos’s prophecy 

500

In the Aeneid, what is Aeneas’s ultimate mission? 

What is the founding of Rome

500

Request for divine inspiration is what? 


What is an invocation