Show:
Mortals
Tests
Homeric Similes
Epithets
Epic Hero Cycle
100
For 20 years, she waits faithfully for Odysseus's return.
Who is Penelope?
100
Odysseus twice proves his identity with this distinguishing feature.
What is the scar on his leg from hunting?
100
"Salt tears rose from the wells of longing in both men, and cries burst from both as keen and fluttering as those of the great taloned hawk, whose nestlings farmers take before they fly."
What is the cries of Odysseus and Telemachus are being compared to the cries of a hawk whose young have been stolen from the nest?
100
noble and enduring
Who is Odysseus?
100
At this point in the cycle, Odysseus and Penelope are reunited, and Odysseus has reclaimed his kingdom.
What is restitution?
200
He travels to Pylos and Sparta to find out if Odysseus is still alive.
Who is Telemachus?
200
the prize for winning the competition arranged by Penelope
What is marrying Penelope?
200
"After them the attackers wheeled, as terrible as falcons from eyries in the mountains veering over and diving down with talons wide unsheathed on flights of birds, who cower down the sky in chutes and bursts along the valley....So these now fell upon the suitors in that hall, turning, turning to strike and strike again, while torn men moaned at death...."
What is Odysseus and his men are compared to falcons sweeping down from their high nests to attack prey?
200
The caves on this island are described as "smooth-walled"
What is Calypso's island?
200
Odysseus's quest takes him this many years to complete.
What is 10 years?
300
The suitors believe that he was unintentionally shot in the throat by a beggar.
Who is Antinous?
300
The "impossible feat" that the beggar successfully accomplishes (2 things)
What is stringing Odysseus's bow and shooting an arrow through 12 ax handles (ax-helve sockets)?
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 the blinding of the Cyclops is being compared to the act of plunging a white-hot ax head into a cold tub of water?
300
"the lord of the cloud" describes this powerful god
Who is Zeus?
300
Hermes gives Odysseus a special plant to help him overcome this obstacle.
What is Circe's magic?
400
He speaks to the beggar about Odysseus's dog, Argos.
Who is Eumaeus?
400
Before competing in the bow contest, Odysseus tests the bow for damage from this pest
What are termites?
400
"A man in a distant field, no hearth fires near, will hide a fresh brand in his bed of embers to keep a spark alive for the next day; so in the leaves Odysseus hid himself, while over him Athena showered sleep...."
What is the way Odysseus hides himself in the leaves to sleep is being compared to the way a piece of burning wood is buried in embers to preserve a spark for the next day?
400
Odysses is described several times as "the man skilled in all ways of _____________"
What is contending?
400
This daily behavior shows the reader that Odysseus has reached the "death" stage of the epic hero cycle.
What is crying as he looks at the horizon?
500
He attempts to persuade Odysseus not to kill the rest of the suitors by promising him gifts.
Who is Eurymachus?
500
Penelope tricks Odysseus into revealing this secret of their marriage bed
What is the one bedpost is carved from the rooted stump of an olive tree?
500
"A gull patrolling between the wave crests of the desolate sea will dip to catch a fish, and douse his wings; no higher above the whitecaps Hermes flew until the distant island lay ahead...."
What is Hermes' flight is compared to the flight of a gull skimming just above white-capped waves, dipping into the water from time to time to catch a fish?
500
Polyphemus addresses a complaint to "the blue girdler of the islands"
Who is Poseidon?
500
In Part Two, these helpers give Odysseus a sign to show their support of his efforts. Give both helpers and his/her sign.
What is Zeus thunders and Athena displays her shield?