The Odyssey
The Cruelest Journey
The Journey
Vocab
Literary Devices
100

What are the Sirens?

This mythical creature lured sailors to their doom with beautiful singing.

100

What is a kayak?

 The author's mode of transportation on her journey.

100

Who is "you"?

The poem is addressed to this person.

100

What is "embark"?

To begin or start on a course of action or journey.

100

What is a simile?

A comparison using "like" or "as".

200

What is the mast of the ship?

Odysseus had his men tie him to this part of the ship so he could hear the Sirens' song.

200

What is the Niger River?

The river the author traveled on her journey.

200

What is "mouthing their bad advice"?

The metaphor used to describe the voices left behind.

200

What is "stagnant"?

Not moving or progressing; dull and inactive.

200

What is an epithet?

A descriptive phrase that replaces a person's name.

300

Who is Scylla?

This monster with multiple heads snatched six of Odysseus's men from his ship.

300

What is Timbuktu?

 The author's destination city.

300

What are stars?

These celestial objects "began to burn through the sheets of clouds".

300

What is "integrity"?

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

300

 What is imagery?

Language that appeals to the five senses.

400

What is Charybdis?

 This dangerous whirlpool threatened to sink Odysseus's ship.

400

What is Mali?

The country where the journey took place.

400

What are fallen branches and stones?

 The road in the poem is described as full of these two things.

400

What is "disingenuous"?

Not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of simple frankness.

400

What is a metaphor?

A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as".

500

What is beeswax?

 Odysseus used this substance to block his men's ears from the Sirens' song.

500

What is to show the distance of her journey?

The author's purpose for including a map in her text.

500

What is your own?

The new voice recognized at the end of the poem.

500

What is "subsequent"?

 Following in time, order, or place.

500

What is tone?

The attitude of the author toward the subject or characters.