Plot
Who brought Odysseus back to Ithaca? How did they drop him off?
The people listening to his story, the Phaecians. They dropped Odysseus off on the beach while he was still asleep.
Which goddess uses her magic to help Odysseus disguise himself?
Athena
20 years
10 years at Troy, 10 years lost at sea
A goddess disguises Odysseus by transforming him. What did the she turn Odysseus into?
An old man, so he could pretend to be a beggar
What is the name of Odysseus's son?
Where did he and Odysseus reunite?
Telemachus.
In the pig farmer's house
Which god cursed Odysseus to remain lost at sea? Why?
Poseidon god of the sea cursed him because Odysseus blinded his son, Polyphemus the cyclops.
Why couldn't anybody else string Odysseus's bow? Who got the closest to doing it?
They weren't strong enough! Telemachus almost strung it
The suitors. They want to marry Odysseus's wife Penelope and take over the kingdom of Ithaca.
How was Odysseus able to convince Circe to turn his men back into humans? What had she turned them into?
Circe turned his men into pigs.
He had the help of the god Hermes. Hermes told him how to trick and seduce Circe and convince her to help him. She became a powerful ally to Odysseus by the end.
Why is there an archery contest?
Athena gave an idea to Penelope. Penelope declared she would marry whoever could string Odysseus's bow and shoot through several axes.
This contest is also a trap--all of the suitors gather in the main hall of the castle and are locked inside during the contest
Even though he is poor, someone welcomes the disguised Odysseus into his home and even helps him in the final battle. Who is he?
Eumaeus the loyal swineherd--a pig farmer. He is loyal to Odysseus and his family and missed him while he was away.
He steps up to help Odysseus fight the suitors and reclaim Ithaca. As a reward for his bravery and loyalty Odysseus makes him a prince afterwards.
Why did Odysseus have to go to the underworld? What did he do there?
He needed to meet the prophet Tiresias to find a way around the curse of Poseidon.
He met and spoke with many ghosts there, including his own mother and his friends from Troy: Agamemnon and Achilles. He also met famous figures from Greek mythology like Hercules.
How does Odysseus finally defeat the suitors and save his kingdom? Who helped him?
He kills them all with the help of Telemachus, the loyal servants (Especially the pig farmer--Eumaeus), and the goddess Athena.
Describe how the Suitors act towards their 'guest' the beggar (Odysseus in disguise)
They are horrible to him. They throw things at him, make fun of him, and even make him fight another beggar for their entertainment.
The suitors are bad guest and bad hosts
What monsters did Odysseus encounter on his journey? Name 4.
The cyclops, the sirens, Scylla, Charybdis...