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Background Info
Greek Heroes
Epic Poetry
Literary Terms
Gods and Goddesses
100
The Odyssey was originally composed by this poet, known for his advances to epic poetry and for being blind.
Who is Homer?
100
This Greek hero was a main cause for the Greeks' victory in the Trojan War, developing the plan for the Trojan Horse.
Who is Odysseus?
100
Epic poetry is commonly drawn from these two sources.
What are myth and history/fact?
100
"When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose lit up the world, the Cyclops built a fire and milked his handsome ewes, all in due order."
What is personification?
100
This god, also known as the king of the Gods, is the husband of Hera and the illegitimate father of Heracles.
Who is Zeus?
200
The Odyssey takes place following Odysseus and the Greeks' victory at this famous walled city.
What is Troy?
200
This Greek hero performed twelve labors following his murder of his family.
Who is Heracles?
200
Epic poetry often calls upon the aid of this mythological figure in telling its story.
What is the Muse?
200
"Then he dismembered them and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion— everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones."
What is simile?
200
This god is the father of the blinded cyclops Polyphemus, who seeks revenge against Odysseus for the injury of his son.
Who is Poseidon?
300
This trait of an epic hero is evident in the Odyssey in Odysseus's plan to escape from Polyphemus's lair.
What is super intelligence?
300
This hero wins the heart of Princess Ariadne on his quest to defeat the minotaur of Crete.
Who is Theseus?
300
The term "in medias res" refers to the beginning of a story at this location, and is common in epic poetry.
What is in the middle of the action?
300
"In a smithy one sees a white-hot axhead or an adze plunged and wrung in a cold tub, screeching steam— the way they make soft iron hale and hard— just so that eyeball hissed around the spike."
What is onomatopoeia?
300
This jilted wife of a god attempted to murder Heracles as an infant, sending snakes into his crib to assassinate him.
Who is Hera?
400
It was believed in Ancient Greece that if one did not hold true to Greek values, this would happen.
What is punishment by the gods?
400
Heracles displays this notable trait of epic heroes in his many heroic feats and deeds.
What is superhuman strength?
400
Epic heroes frequently reflect this, a clear indicator of what the Greeks believed to be important.
What are cultural values?
400
"The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him, and we fell back in fear. Clawing his face..."
What is alliteration?
400
This Greek goddess of wisdom and war aids Perseus in his defeating of the Gorgon Medusa by providing him with a mirror shield.
Who is Athena?
500
Greek values involved respect for the gods, courage, and this, also called "xenia," which addressed behavior toward strangers.
What is hospitality?
500
Theseus is freed from the underworld by this fellow hero.
Who is Heracles?
500
Identify one supernatural element present in The Odyssey.
Answers vary.
500
"Now the souls gathered, stirring out of Erebus, brides and young men, and men grown old in pain, and tender girls whose hearts were new to grief; many were there, too, torn by brazen lanceheads, battle-slain, bearing still their bloody gear. From every side they came and sought the pit with rustling cries; and I grew sick with fear."
What is imagery?
500
This god imprisons Theseus after his attempt to kidnap Persephone.
Who is Hades?