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English I– The Odyssey
Mrs. Groomer
The Odyssey
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions in paragraph format (5
sentence minimum) using complete sentences. Each question is worth 5 points. If answers
are not completed according to directions, you will lose a percentage of your grade
accordingly.
Book 1: A Goddess Intervenes (p.1104)
1. Explain the relationships between Odysseus, Penelope, and
Telemachus. Who are the “suitors” and what is their intention?
Book 5: Calypso, the Sweet Nymph (pp. 1106-1109)
2. What sort of character is Calypso? How long Odysseus has been on
her island and why can he not leave? How does Odysseus finally get
off of the island? Does Calypso help him? Why?
Book 9: New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son (pp.1110-1123)
3. Explain the “lotus.” What is it and what affect does it have on those
who eat it?
4. Explain Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops. Who is the Cyclopes?
Who is his father? Why does Odysseus go to his cave? How do
Odysseus and his men escape? What does this reveal about Odysseus’
character?
5. Why does Odysseus reveal his true identity to the Cyclops? What
does this tell us about Odysseus? What curse does the Cyclops ask
Poseidon to put upon Odysseus?
Book 10: Circe, the Grace of the Witch (pp. 1124-1125)
6. Explain what happens on the island of Circe. (Who is Circe? What
does she do to Eurylochus’ men? How does Odysseus resist her
magic?
7. Why does Odysseus need to visit the Underworld? With whom must
he consult there and why?
Book 11: The Land of the Dead (pp.1126-1129)
8. Explain the prophecy of Tiresias. What does Tiresias predict will
happen to Odysseus and his crew?
9. With what other characters does Odysseus speak? What does he learn
from them?
10.Describe your depiction of the Greek Underworld. How does it
compare to the Christian depiction of Hell?
Book 12: The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis (pp. 1130-1136)
11. Explain Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens. (What happens to men
who hear the song of the sirens? How does Odysseus protect his men
from its lure? Why doesn’t he protect himself in the same way?)
12. Explain Odysseus’ encounter with Scylla and Charybdis. (What is
Scylla? What is Charybdis? What does Circe advise Odysseus to do in
order to survive the pass between them?)
13.Homer uses a metaphor on page 279 (lines 271-279). Explain the
comparison.
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