THE ODYSSEY Book I-V 

Quiz

1.         The narrative starts in media res, explain this.  Specifically
            what is taking place at the beginning of Book I?

2.         Most survivors of what war have returned home?

3.         What goddess worries and intervenes for Odysseus?

4.         One god receives thanks from sailors crossing the sea, but
            this god bears a grudge against Odysseus?  Who is this god?

5.         Who is Telemakhos?  How does he first meet Athena?

6.         What is happening at Odysseus’ Kingdom?

7.         How long had it been since the war?

8.         What had Penelope done which made the suitors have
            hope?  Hope for what?

10.       What errand do Athena and Telemakhos make and why?

11.       Telemakhos tells one person of his plans, who?

12.       How did Agamemnon die?

13.      What is the relationship between Agamemnon and Orestes? 
           What action does Orestes

take in Book III?

14.       How are Helen and Menlaos able to guess Telemakhos’
            identity?

15.       What color was Menelaos’ hair? 

16.       How did Meneloas get home?

17.       What are the suitors planning to do to Telemakhos?

18.       Why can’t Odysseus get home?

19.       What is Hermes sent to tell Kalypso?

20.       What are some of Odysseus’ outstanding personal qualities?

Bonus

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THE ODYSSEY ESSAY QUESTIONS

Laertes or Telemakhos could have  replaced Odysseus as king, why do you think this is not part of the story?

We learn about manners and customs of people who lived during ancient times through literature, give some examples of this from THE ODYSSEY?

Specific cultural values of  people are reflected through stories and literature, identify some of these values identified in THE ODYSSEY, support your answer.

Who is the main female character in this story, explain your answer by proving it.

Whose personal growth does the audience witness in the first four books of THE ODYSSEY?  Give some specific examples of this which were not discussed in class.

WORLD LITERATURE

CLASS SESSION 3

I.          QUIZ

II.         COLLECT QUIZ

III.        DISCUSS QUIZ QUESTIONS

IV.        DISCUSS GREEKS

V.         HAND OUT STRUCTURE SHEETS

VI.        REVIEW PLOT

VII.       DISCUSS THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY

VIII.      ESSAY QUESTIONS/IN CLASS OR WRITTEN

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THE ODYSSEY

1.                  Who helps Odysseus?  Who tells this person to go to the
             pool and wash linen?

2.                   To Whom might the following quote be referring?

“All men we owe honor to the poets, honor

 And awe, for they are dearest to the Muse

 Who puts upon their lips the way of life”

3.                  Who or what are the Graces?

4.                  What are some forms Athena takes to watch out for
            Odysseus?

5.                  What does Odysseus tell the queen about Kalypso and
            Ogygia?

6.                  What is a pentathalon (with whom won’t Odysseus
            compete)?

7.                  What does the queen give Odysseus?

8.                  Who does Odysseus honor first at the feast?

9.                  What does Odysseus do during the reciting of the Trojan
            War that alerts the King?

10.              What had Odysseus’ men done to bring disaster on the crew
            and ship?

11.              Who are the Lotus-eaters? What method does Odysseus
             use to get his crew from them?

12.              What does Kyklopes do to two of Odysseus’ men?

13.              What does Odysseus tell the Kyklopes his name is?

14.              What does Odysseus do to the Kyklopes?

15.              Name the Kyklopes?  How does Odysseus escape?

16.              Explain the importance of Aiolos’ gift in the bag? 

17.              How does the gift become a curse?

18.              What does the goddess Kirke do to the crew?

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THE ODYSSEY PART XI-XV

1.                  What are shades? Can they be touched?  Explain

2.                  Where was Elpenor?

3.                  Which beloved relative does Odysseus see? Why does it
             make him grieve?

How did this person die?

4.                  What determines if a dead man speaks to Odysseus?

5.                  What happened to Agamemnon?   How does he feel about
            women?  How does he feel about Penelope?

6.                  Achilles wants to know what happened to his son, why can’t
            Odysseus tell him?

7.                  Describe Skylla.  What happens to the men?

8.                  What are the Seirenes.  How does Odysseus protect himself
            from them?  What about them bewitches men?  How does
           Odysseus protect his men?

9.                  What is Kharybdis?

10.              Why is Odysseus warned to shun the Island of the Sun? 
            What do his men do there?

11.              Who comes to Odysseus to advise him?

12.              What story does Eumaios get from Odysseus?

13.              Who urges Telemachos to leave Sparta?

14.              What does Telemachos elude?

15.              Explain why  The Odyssey is an epic?

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THE ODYSSEY BOOKS XVI-XX

1.                  Why will Odysseus keep his identity a disguise?

2.                  Why is the journey Telemachus makes to Sparta and Pylos
             important?

What does it signify?

3.                  Who is Argos and how does he react to his masters return?

How does Odysseus react and why?

4.                  What happens when Odysseus disguised as a beggar meets
            Antinoos?

5.                  Who is the meanest suitor?

6.                  What happens between Iros and Odysseus?  What role do
             the suitors play?  How do they react?

7.                  What does Athena done for Penelope when she meets the
             suitors?  Why is this necessary?

8.                  How does Odysseus react to Melantho and Eurymachus? 

9.                  Explain how Telemachus shows maturity in his treatment of
            the suitors at the end of the evening.  What does he tell them
            to do?

10.              Telemachus and Odysseus remove what from the Hall and
            where are these placed?

11.              What happens when Odysseus, disguised as the beggar, is
             left with Penelope?

12.              How does Eurykleia recognize Odysseus?

13.              How does Penelope decide to choose a suitor.

14.              How does the beggar know Odysseus will return home.

15.              What affect does Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, have on
            Penelope?

How does Athena help Penelope at the end of the evening?

16.              Who can’t sleep the night before the encounter?

17.              What does Athena promise to do?

18.              Why does Odysseus observe the servants closely?

19.              What does Ctesippus hurl at Odysseus?

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Choose one of the following questions or statements for your reaction paper.  Please follow the guidelines presented in class for your written work.

1.                  Discuss the role of women in Greek society using characters in The Odyssey, identify the lifestyle and social status held.

2.                  What value is reading The Odyssey?  Using specific examples from the book, explain what this work tells us about religion, government, life and culture.

3.                  Who was the true hero of  The Odyssey, Athena or Odysseus?  Discuss your response in detail.

4.                  Discuss which attitudes, values and beliefs of ancient Greek culture have remained the same and which ones have changed.  Use specific examples to justify your position.

5.                  If you could be any character in The Odyssey, who would it be and why?  Defend your choice and explain using specific examples.

6.         How does The Odyssey depict the family?  Do you think that image has changed?  Citing specific examples, explain how and/or why.

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