Download Circe - Humble ISD

“Circe” Book 10
1. Who was Aeolus? How does he try to help Odysseus?
2. What does the sailors’ opening of the bag of wind suggest about their relationship with
Odysseus?
3. What happens as a result of opening the bag?
4. After leaving Aeolus’ island who do Odysseus and his men encounter and what happens
to them? How many men survive?
5. How do the wild beasts on the island of Circe behave?
6. To emphasize the strangeness of the wild animals’ behavior, what does Odysseus
compare them to?
7. Like Calypso, when we first glimpse her, Circe is at her loom, singing and weaving.
Based on this, what inference might you make about the stereotypical women in ancient
Greece?
8. What does Circe do to the crew sent to explore the island?
9. Who helps Odysseus before he faces Circe?
10. How is Odysseus able to resist Circe’s magic?
“The Land of the Dead” Book 11
1. Who is Teiresias?
2. Why does Odysseus go visit him?
3. Where must be find him?
4. Who is Elpenor and how did he die?
5. Who is Anticlea?
6. What god does Teiresias say has cursed Odysseus and why?
7. What is Teiresias’ prophecy for Odysseus?
8. Remember Homer’s words at the beginning of the epic, when he reveals how the story
ends. According to Homer, will Odysseus’ men heed Teiresias’ warning, or does the
seer’s prophecy come true?
9. Could have Odysseus have avoided this fate by taking different actions? Why/Why not?
“The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis” Book 12
1. After leaving the underworld, where do Odysseus and his men go?
2. Why shouldn’t the men be allowed to hear the songs of the Sirens?
3. How does Odysseus manage to satisfy his curiosity and not put his life in danger?
4. Despite the danger why does Odysseus decide to listen to the Sirens?
5. What Greek concept does he exhibit by doing so?
6. What precaution does Odysseus take to keep his men from being lured by the Sirens?
7. Name the two monsters about whom Circe warns Odysseus:
8. Which one does she advice him to choose and why? What was the alternative?
9. How many of Odysseus’ men does Scylla seize?
10. Why did Odysseus withhold information from his crew?
11. After these horrors what island do the men come to?
12. What do his men do while there?
13. What are the consequences of this action?