Download Mythology and The Odyssey Part I (Books 1

Mythology and The Odyssey Part I (Books 1-10) Test Review
Mythology/Epics
1.
What are myths?
a.
2.
Why do we study mythology?
a.
3.
4.
Stories created to explain behavior and nature
There are references to it today.
How is Greek and Roman mythology similar? How is it different?
a.
Similar – same gods/goddesses
b.
Different – gods/goddesses have different names; Greek gods are more animated and full of life than Roman gods
What is an epic poem?
a.
A long narrative poem that tells the story of a larger than life hero who in some way embodies the values of
his/her civilization
5.
6.
What are characteristics of an epic?
a.
Physically impressive hero of national or historical importance
b.
Vast setting
c.
Quest or journey taken in search of something of value
d.
Supernatural forces
e.
Glorification of the hero at the end
f.
Rooted in a specific culture or society
Explain the oral tradition.
a.
7.
Minstrels traveled from town to town telling stories and bringing news
What two famous epics is Homer credited with writing? What are they about?
a.
The Illiad – the Trojan War
b.
The Odyssey – Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War
The Olympic Council
8.
Know the realm and symbol for each of the gods/goddesses on your Olympic Council chart. You only need to know the
Greek name of the god/goddess.
a. Refer to the Mythology Notes key on the class website
The Trojan War
9.
Be able to identify the following:
a. Agamemnon – Greek Commander-in-Chief
b.
Helen – falls in love with Paris and goes to Troy with him
c.
Zeus – king of the gods; can’t pick who is the fairest
d.
Odysseus – creates the Trojan Horse plan
e.
Eris – goddess of discord, not invited to the wedding, throws to Golden Apple into the party
f.
Athena – goddess of wisdom, offers Paris victories and wisdom if he chooses her
g.
Hera – queen of the gods, offers Paris the chance to be king of the world
h.
Aulis – place where all of the Greeks meet to set sail for Troy
i.
Aphrodite – goddess of love, offers Paris the most beautiful mortal woman in the world if he chooses her (he does)
j.
Solemn Oath of Suitors – all of Helen’s suitors pledge to defend whomever she chooses
k.
Achilles – greatest Greek warrior, vulnerable in his heel, killed by Paris
l.
Troy – site of the Trojan War
m. Paris – asked to judge who is the fairest, falls in love with Helen, kills Achilles
n.
Thetis – sea nymph who is getting married
o.
Iphigenia – Agamemnon’s daughter who is sacrificed so the Greeks can set sail for Troy
p.
Hector – Paris’s brother, killed by Achilles
q.
Menelaus – King of Sparta, Helen doesn’t love him and chooses Paris instead
The Odyssey – Part I – Books 1-10
10. What is an invocation?
a.
A prayer; the one in The Odyssey is to the Muses (goddesses of the arts)
11. What happens when Odysseus’ men eat the Lotus Flower?
a.
They forget about home
12. Why does Odysseus decide to visit the cave of the Cyclops?
a.
He’s curious and seeking hospitality
13. Which characters in Part I follow the Greek Law of Hospitality?
a.
King Alcinous; Polyphemus (the Cyclops) doesn’t
14. Which admirable character traits does Odysseus exhibit in the episode with the Cyclops? What character flaws does he
show? How?
a.
Admirable - cunning, smart
b.
Flaws – curious, arrogant/cocky
15. Explain how Odysseus escapes from Polyphemus’ cave.
a.
Makes a spear from an olive tree, he and a group of his men stab the Cyclops in the eye, Odysseus ties his men
underneath the sheep so they can escape from the cave
16. How does Polyphemus respond when he finds out that Odysseus has blinded him?
a.
He tells Odysseus that a prophet told him that it was going to happen. He asks Odysseus to come back so he can
show him hospitality and hopefully regain favor with the gods and get his sight back. Odysseus refuses, and
Polyphemus places a curse on him – he asks that he have a long, difficult journey; if he gets home he gets home
alone and things aren’t well in Ithaca.
17. What does Aeolus give Odysseus? Why?
a.
The bad winds in a bag so he can have smooth sailing on his way back to Ithaca.
18. What does Circe do to Odysseus’s men?
a.
Turns them into pigs
19. Identify three epithets from three different characters in Books 1-10.
a.
Son of Laertes (Odysseus)
b.
Rosy-fingered Dawn
c.
Hermes the Wayfinder
20. Identify three epic similes in Books 1-10. Explain what two things are being compared in each simile.
a.
Hermes flying down to Calypso’s island is compared to a seagull diving down to catch a fish (pg. 1206 lines 9-15)
b.
Odysseus lying in a bed of leaves on the island of Scheria is compared to a flame hiding in a bed of embers (pg.
1209 lines 87-93)
c.
Odysseus stabbing Polyphemus in the eye is compared to a shipwright turning a drill (pg. 1218 lines 289-295)
21. Explain the archetype that the following characters exemplify:
a.
Odysseus – the hero
b.
Athena – the mentor
c.
Calypso – the temptress
d.
Circe – the temptress
22. Explain the plot structure of Part I (is it linear/non-linear? etc.)
a.
Non-linear – once Odysseus begins telling King Alcinous his story in Book 9, he is in a flashback
23. What inferences have you been able to make about men and/or women in Part I? Explain.