Plot
Why does Odysseus go to the underworld? What is he supposed to learn?
To meet with Tiresias the prophet so he can find a way home
What happens when Odysseus meets his mom in the underworld?
Her ghost tells him that she died of a broken heart. He tries to hug her but can't. She tells him to return to the land of the living.
How is Odysseus able to speak with the ghosts in the underworld?
He lets them drink the blood potion, then they can remember their previous life.
Scylla is the 6-headed dragon and Charybdis is the giant whirlpool Odysseus has to sail past
What are sirens? How did Odysseus keep his sailors safe from them? How was Odysseus able to listen to the sirens?
They are women/mermaids/half-bird creatures that cast a spell on sailors with their song. They lure men to their death. Odysseus gives earplugs to his sailors so they don't hear the song, but they tie him to the mast of the ship so he can hear.
Name three people Odysseus met in the underworld
Why couldn't Odysseus warn his men about Scylla?
They had to row fast, otherwise the dragon would have time to eat more of the men. If he told them they would have tried to hide or fight.
Why did Odysseus's sailors eat the cows of the sun god?
They were trapped on the island because of a storm. They ran out of food and killed the cows.
He tells Odysseus not to trust women (bad advice). He also tells Odysseus not to let anyone know he had returned home in case someone was plotting against him at home (good advice).
How did Odysseus survive the storm that destroyed his ship and killed the other sailors? Where did he end up next?
He used the mast as a raft. When it was sucked into the Charybdis whirlpool he had to hang from the tree over it for the whole day. Afterwards he was able to row it away and arrive at Calypso's Island.