BOOK ONE: Athena Inspires the Prince Who are the following characters? What role does each play in the first book? Odysseus

Zeus

Athena

Poseidon

Polyphemus

Telemachus

Argives

Antinous

Eurymachus

Achaeans

What is the first line of the poem? Write it exactly as it appears, then RE-WRITE it in your OWN words.

What is foreshadowed for Odysseus’ adventures in the opening lines?

Where is Odysseus according to Athena? Why is he there?

How does Zeus describe Odysseus?

How does Athena appear to Telemachus?

What is xenia?

Find an example of xenia in Book One.

What is the status in Ithaca—Odysseus’ kingdom—when the epic begins? Explain.

What does Telemachus believe about his father’s fate?

What prophecy does Athena make to Telemachus?

Describe the epiphany of Athena. What effect does it have on Telemachus?

How do Antinous and Eurymachus treat Telemachus? Describe their tone with him.

BOOK TWO: TELEMACHAS SETS SAIL Who are the following characters? What role does each play in Book Two? Aegyptius

Leocritus

Antimous

Eurymachas

Mentor

Euenor

Eurycleia

How does the speaker describe Telemachus in line 5?

Telemachus joins the Assembly and sits in his father’s seat. How long has it been since an assembly has been called?

What is it that the herald Pisenor does that indicates that it is Telemachus who has the right to speak during the Assembly?

What does Telemachus state about the suitors in lines 50-85?

What is Antinous’ response and what does he say regarding Penelope?

In line 160, Telemachus warns the suitors they will be punished. What sign from Zeus occurs and what does this omen indicate?

What do the suitors say they will do to Odysseus if he does return?

Do the suitors take Telemachus seriously? Why not?

Look up the definition of “mentor” – what does it mean? How is it appropriate that Athena has chosen this friend of Odysseus to disguise herself as?

What does Athena help Telemachus arrange?

Which god/goddess does Telemachus offer “libations” for at the end of Book 2?

BOOK THREE: Telemachus meets King Nestor of Pylos. Nestor tells Telemachus to visit Sparta, and gives Telemachus supplies and the aid of his son, Pisistratus.

BOOK FOUR: The King and Queen of Sparta Who are the following characters? What role does each play in Book Four? Nestor

Pisistratus

Menelaus

Helen

Proteus

Eidothea

Penelope

Eurycleia

What news does Menelaus reveal of Odysseus’ struggles?

What tale of Odysseus in Troy does Helen share?

According to Menelaus, how does Odysseus save lives within the Trojan horse? How does Menelaus obtain information from Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea?

What does Menelaus learn about Odysseus from Proteus?

What plan does Antinous devise against Telemachus? Explain.

Who does Penelope call upon to save Telemachus? What is the result?

BOOK FIVE: Odysseus—Nymph and Shipwreck Who are the following characters? What role does each play in Book Five? Calypso

Hermes

Ino

How does Zeus assure Odysseus’ safe return to Ithaca?

What epithets are used to describe Hermes?

How does Calypso react to Hermes’s message? Explain.

What does Calypso eventually do to help with Odysseus’ return?

What epithets are frequently used in The Odyssey to describe morning?

How does Poseidon react to Odysseus’ return to sea?

Who aids Odysseus following Poseidon’s wrath? How?

BOOKS SIX, SEVEN, and EIGHT: Odysseus is discovered by Nausicaa, who takes him to the palace of her father. There, after wining and dining and fun, Demodocus sings a song of Odysseus. This causes Odysseus to weep, and he tells his story. BOOK NINE: In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave Who are the following characters? What role does each play in this book? Cicones

Ismarus

Lotus-eaters

Maron

Laertes

Telemus

What aspects of Odysseus’ character are revealed in lines 17-22?

Odysseus tells of his journey home starting in line 44. What occurs at Ismarus?

What epithet is used for morning on the third day of Odysseus’ journey? What epithets can you find for two other characters in this book?

What happens to Odysseus’ men at their next stop?

What characteristics are attributed to the race of Cyclops? (see lines 118-128)

How does Odysseus’ greed, as illustrated in lines 252-259, come back to haunt him? In what ways do Odysseus’ lies benefit him? Explain with examples.

How do Odysseus’ arrogance and pride help seal his fate with Poseidon? Explain. BOOK TEN: The Bewitching Queen of Aeaea Identify the following characters from Book Ten: Aeolus

Laestrygonians

Circe

Antiphates

Eurylochus

Polites

How does the curiosity of Odysseus’ men damage them on their journey?

Explain how the Achaean squadron—except for Odysseus’ own ship—is lost.

How does Circe greet Odysseus’ men? Explain.

How is Odysseus aided by the gods in defense of Circe?

What does Odysseus trade for the safety of his men?

What does Odysseus demand before taking part in Circe’s feast? How does this demand reveal something of Odysseus’ character? Explain.

How is Eurylochus a voice of reason throughout Book Ten?

What task does Circe give Odysseus as the book ends?

BOOK ELEVEN: The Kingdom of the Dead Identify each of the following characters. What role does each play in Book Eleven? Cimmerians

Perimedes

Tiresias

Erebus

Persephone

Elpenor

Alcinous

Aegisthus

Cassandra

Clytemnestra

Orestes

Anticleia

What does Elpenor request of Odysseus?

What are the main points of Tiresias’ prophecy? Explain thoroughly.

What news of Ithaca does Odysseus’ mother share in the underworld?

What circumstances surrounded Agamemnon’s death? Explain.

What is Achilles’s reaction to death? (see lines 554-558)

In the underworld, why is Ajax upset with Odysseus? Explain.

BOOK TWELVE: The Cattle of the Sun Identify the following characters. What role does each play in the book? Aeaea

Sirens

Amphitrite

Scylla

Charybdis

Thrinacia

Helios

Why does Odysseus’ crew return to Aeaea? How does this benefit them?

What advice does Circe give Odysseus for conquering the Sirens? What advice does she give for defeating Scylla and Charbydis?

What lesson is taught through Odysseus’ experience with the Sirens? What lesson do Odysseus’ men learn from their actions on Thrinacia?

After Zeus strikes Odysseus’ ship, what fate awaits Odysseus and his men? Explain.

BOOKS THIRTEEN to SIXTEEN: The Phaeacians give Odysseus a ship and gifts. Odysseus arrives at Ithaca and is disguised by Athena as beggar. Odysseus meets his swineherd and reveals his identity to Telemachus, but not Penelope or Laertes. Telemachus and Odysseus return to Odysseus' house. BOOK SEVENTEEN: Telemachus returns to his mother and the soothsayer Theoclymenus tells her that Odysseus is disguised but on the island. Odysseus sees Argus the hound, who dies once he sees his master. In the house, Antinous hits Odysseus with a footstool. Odysseus is summoned by Penelope that night. BOOK EIGHTEEN: Irus, a beggar, arrives at Odysseus' house and bullies him. Antinous and the suitors arrange a boxing match between the two, and Odysseus breaks Irus' jaw. Odysseus encounters Eurymachus, who hits Odysseus with a stool.

BOOK NINETEEN: Penelope and Her Guest Identify the following characters. What role does each play in the book? Melantho

Eurynome

Aethon

Autolycus

What preparations do Odysseus and his son make in order to seek revenge?

How do Odysseus’ words teach Melantho a lesson?

What excuse did Penelope make to delay choosing one of the suitors as her husband?

What story does Odysseus invent for Penelope about Aethon’s past?

How did Odysseus get his scar? What role does this scar play when Odysseus returns to his home?

What are the details of Penelope’s dream? What does the dream foreshadow?

What contest does Penelope devise to select a worthy husband? Explain.

BOOK TWENTY: Athena appears to Odysseus and tells him that she will help him against the suitors. Odysseus receives a sign of Zeus' favor. Odysseus weeds out the loyal servants from the disloyal. A suitor hits Odysseus with a bone, and Odysseus delivers a warning that the suitors will pay for their deeds, but is unheeded. BOOK TWENTY-ONE: Odysseus Strings His Bow Identify the following characters. What role does each play in the book? Eumaeus

What significance does Odysseus’ bow hold for him? Explain its origins.

What are Antinous’s public and private thoughts about the contest? (21.98-115)

With what words does Odysseus convince the suitors that he should be allowed to try the bow? What command does Telemachus give Eurycleia? Why?

What happens when Odysseus, still in disguise, takes the bow?

What omen follows Odysseus’ grasp on his own bow?

BOOKS TWENTY-TWO and TWENTY-THREE: Slaughter in the Hall; The Great Rooted Bed Identify the following characters: Melanthius

Mentor

Odysseus says, “…another target’s left that no one’s hit before…” (22.6). What becomes of this “target”?

How does Eurymachus attempt to bribe Odysseus? What effect does this have?

How does Athena inspire Odysseus’ courage to fight the suitors? Explain.

What epic similes are used in the following lines? Discuss the images in each: (311-324):

(426-430):

(494-499):

What fate awaits the unfaithful women servants? How do you think Odysseus would be treated in today’s society for taking revenge as he does in The Odyssey? Explain your response.

How does Penelope first react to news of Odysseus’ return?

What “living proof” does Odysseus give that he is actually Penelope’s husband?

According to the prophecy, how will Odysseus die?