Book 9
Who is Polyphemus’s father?
Poseidon
What does Circe do to Odysseus’s men?
She turns them into pigs
What is Circe’s advice about the Sirens?
To plug their ears with beeswax so they can't hear them.
What character trait is Argos a symbol of?
Loyalty/Faithfulness
Who helps Odysseus win all his battles?
Athena OR (Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philotius)
Why do the Greeks look down on the Cyclopes?
They don't farm or have common laws.
Why do Odysseus's men underestimate Circe?
Because she's a beautiful woman and doesn't seem like a threat.
What makes Lord Helios’s cattle special?
They never die.
What does the description of Argos tell us about him?
That Argos has not been well taken care of in Odysseus's absence.
What does Eurymachus offer Odysseus?
Restitution for all the food they consumed and the insult to his house.
How do Odysseus and his men get out of the cave?
He ties them under the belly of sheep.
What does Elphenor want?
He wants them to cremate him and build him a cairn.
What is Circe’s advice about Sylla?
What is Odysseus most concerned about in the people he’s left behind?
Their loyalty to him.
What does the visceral imagery of Antinous’s death tell us?
That Odyssey is very strong and accurate.
Despite his men’s protests, Odysseus taunts Polyphemus. What does this tell us about Odysseus?
He is arrogant and prideful.
What is foreshadowed in Tiresias's prophecy?
That Odyssey will kill all the suitors.
Why does Odysseus choose to share the advice about the Sirens, but not the other monsters?
What do the suitors mocking Odysseus tell us about appearances?
That they don't always reflect a person's ability or potential
Why is Odysseus’s so upset at the implication that his bed had been moved?
It is private and giant. It would have to be destroyed to be moved.
When Odysseus reveals his name, Polyphemus tells him about the prophecy he heard. What does this reveal about Polyphemus?
He underestimates the Greeks because they are tiny.
Where do we see Odyssey resisting temptation in Book 11?
When he doesn't allow any shades near the pit until Tiresias appears.
What can we infer about Circe based on her speeches in book 12?
We can infer that she has come to care about Odysseus OR that she is clever and practical
What does the bow symbolize?
Odysseus/Odysseus's strength/Odysseus's leadership skills ect.
What does the bed symbolize?
Penelope's loyalty