Characters & Places
This crafty king of Ithaca is the hero of The Odyssey, known for his cleverness and guile.
Who is Odysseus?
Odysseus ties himself to the ship's mast so he cannot be lured by these creatures' song.
Who are the Sirens?
The goddess who frequently aids Odysseus and represents wisdom and strategy.
Who is Athena?
Odysseus gives this false name to Polyphemus; it later helps him escape punishment.
What is "Nobody"?
This character remains loyal to Penelope and Odysseus’s household and helps care for Telemachus while his father is gone.
Who is Eurycleia?
The sea god who punishes Odysseus and causes many of his delays home after the Trojan War.
Who is Poseidon?
Penelope fools the suitors by weaving and then undoing this item each night.
What is a burial shroud?
The group offers Odysseus' men a forgetful flower - a test of self-control and desire for home.
Who are the Lotus Eaters?
The scar that identifies Odysseus to Eurycleia is located on this part of his body.
What is his ankle?
This group of men actively seek to marry Penelope and consumes resources in Odysseus’s home.
Who are the suitors?
The beautiful nymph who keeps Odysseus captive on her island for seven years.
Who is Calypso?
To escape the Cyclops, Odysseus and his men hide beneath these animals as they leave the cave.
What are sheep?
A six-headed monster that menaces Odysseus and forces him to make a painful choice between losses.
Who is Scylla?
Odysseus spends this total number of years away from home (including the Trojan War)/
What is twenty years?
This Phaeacian princess finds and assists Odysseus after he washes ashore; she also shows hospitality and compassion.
Who is Nausicaa?
The one-eyed giant whom Odysseus blinds in order to escape his cave.
Who is Polyphemus?
Before visiting the suitors, Odysseus first goes in disguise to the home of this faithful swineherd.
Who is Eumeaus?
Known as Xenia in Greek, this sacred custom of welcoming strangers is violated by the suitors and the Cyclops, but honored by Eumaeus and King Alcinous.
What is hospitality?
Penelope tests Odysseus at the end by mentioning an impossible change to their bed - what detail about the bed makes it immoveable?
The bed is built from a tree.
Why does Odysseus choose to sail by Scylla instead of Charybdis?
Odysseus chooses to sail closer to Scylla rather than risk the entire ship being swallowed by Charybdis, knowing he will lose a few men but save the majority.
The king of the Phaeacians who helps Odysseus return to Ithaca and hears his story.
Who is Alcinous?
Odysseus visits this realm to speak with the prophet Tiresias and learn how to get home.
What is the Underworld/Land of the Dead?
The test Penelope gives the suitors that requires skill with a weapon that only Odysseus can perform.
What is stringing Odysseus' bow?
Name the blind prophet Odysseus speaks to in the Underworld.
Who is Tiresias?