The Odyssey - Books 1-9 Review Questions with Certified Solutions

The Odyssey - Books 1-9 Review Questions with Certified Solutions Who is believed to be the author of both The Illiad and The Odyssey? Homer Who does said author call upon to help him retell the tale of Odysseus? The Muses Who is the goddess pleading for Odysseus' safe return? Athena Who is the god most upset with Odysseus? Why? Poseidon. He is upset with Odysseus for boasting he is better than the gods. What is the name of Odysseus' kingdom? Ithaca Explain the situation taking place in Odysseus' palace in his absence. Suitors have taken over his palace, all wanting to marry Penelope, because everyone assumes he has died. Explain the "trick" Penelope is playing on the suitors. Penelope says she is going to choose a new husband once she finishes weaving a burial shroud for her father-in-law. What the suitors don't know is that she "un-weaves" what she does each day, intending to never finish the shroud. What advice does Athena give to Odysseus' son, Telemachus? Athena tells Telemachus to have the suitors distracted while he leaves Ithaca in search of news of his father. Where had Odysseus been for ten years? In what war was he fighting? Odysseus has been in Troy, fighting in the Trojan War, for ten years. What was the disagreement between Menelaus and Agamemnon? After the war, Menelaus wanted to set sail for home immediately while Agamemnon wanted to offer up a sacrifice to an angry Athena first. What became of Agamemnon once he returned home? Who does Nestor tell Telemachus to see next? Agamemnon was killed by his wife and her boyfriend. Nestor tells Telemachus to journey to Sparta to see Menelaus. Briefly explain what Queen Helen had to do with the start of the Trojan War. Helen (who is married to Menelaus) was kidnapped by Prince Paris of Troy. Menelaus and Agamemnon organized an army to journey to Troy and fight to have her returned. How did Odysseus help defeat the Trojans? Odysseus designed the Trojan Horse which tricked the Trojans into thinking they won the war. At night, after they finished celebrating victory, the Greek snuck out of the horse and sacked the city. According to Menelaus, why was Zeus upset with him and his men? Zeus was upset with Menelaus and his men for not offering up a sacrifice to Athena before setting sail for home. What became of Ajax? What does this suggest about the relationship between mortals and gods? Ajax boasted he was more powerful than the gods, so Poseidon created an earthquake, which caused Ajax to fall into the sea and die. Mortals should never, ever claim to be more powerful than the gods! What message is Hermes asked to bring Calypso? What does she eventually do for Odysseus as a result? Hermes is asked by Zeus to go and tell Calypso to let Odysseus go. Though she is upset at first, she knows she needs to listen to Zeus and she eventually builds a ship to help Odysseus home. How does Leucothea help Odysseus? Leucothea gives Odysseus her veil to tie around his waist to keep him from drowning. How did the Phaecians treat Odysseus (even before they knew who he really was)? The Phaecians treated Odysseus kindly - offering him food and clothing. They also entertained him with song, sports and dances. How did Demodocus make Odysseus cry? Demodocus sang songs of the Trojan War, which brought up difficult memories for Odysseus. How does Odysseus prove his strength to the Phaecians? Odysseus is challenged by one of the Phaecians to throw a discus. He ends up throwing it further than anyone else. Describe the Lotus-Eaters and the effect their plant had on Odysseus' men. The Lotus-Eaters were not harmful people, but their plant caused Odysseus' men to not want to leave the island. When Odysseus first meets the Cyclops (Polyphemus), what does he say he must do for Odysseus and his men or else "suffer the wrath of Zeus"? How does Polyphemus respond? Polyphemus must offer hospitality to Odysseus and his men. What was the plan for defeating Polyphemus? Why didn't Odysseus and his men simply kill him? Odysseus wanted to poke out his eye. If they killed him, he wouldn't be able to move the enormous boulder blocking the entrance to his cave. What name does Odysseus give (for himself) to Polyphemus? How does this name save Odysseus and his men? "Nobody" - When Polyphemus is calling for help, he yells, "Nobody has blinded me!" therefore not receiving help from his brother and sister Cyclops. How do Odysseus and his men escape the cave? They tie themselves to the underbellies of the cyclops' sheep so that when he is blindly reaching for them, he thinks he is feeling the sheep. What mistake does Odysseus make as he and his men are fleeing the clyclops' island? Odysseus calls out his real name to Polyphemus, which only upsets Poseidon more.