Smarr Publishers English for Classical Studies

A Student’s Companion to

Odyssey

by Dori Anne Abbott Copyright © Watson Educational Services, Inc., 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, please write Smarr Publishers, 4917 High Falls Road—Suite 201, Jackson, Georgia 30233 or call (678) 774–8374.

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Introduction to the Odyssey

OU are about to read a story about the adventures of a hero. The Greek hero was not always a supernatural being related to the gods. Homer made his heroes as men of strength and courage or one who was especially venerated for his wisdom. The hero could also be simply a prince of an illustrious family like Odysseus, the hero of this tale. In Homer’s Iliad, we learned when Paris had taken Helen to Troy, Menelaus called the Greeks to help him get his wife back and to defeat Troy. Odysseus failed to answer the call, since he had no desire to leave his wife in order to venture forth to return an unfaithful woman. So Odysseus pretended to be insane. When the messengers of Menelaus came for Odysseus, they found him plowing his fields and sowing salt instead of seed. But while he was plowing, the messengers took the small son of Odysseus and cast him before the plow. Odysseus avoided his son and thus proved that he had not gone mad. Odysseus reluctantly goes to war, but proves himself to be very valiant in battle. It is Odysseus who comes up with the idea of the Trojan Horse, thus helping to end the ten-year war. The Odyssey centers on Odysseus’ trying to get home after the war is over. The devotion which the Greeks rendered to their heroes closely resembled that with which they honored their own ancestors. A people, if they are indeed unique, must have heroes to emulate, drawn from the memories and traditions handed down from their ancestors. The hero connects the present with the past, offering examples to be both followed and duplicated. About the only part of the American empire having any semblance of honoring its ancestors is the Southern states with their Confederate memorial days and veneration of heroes like Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Alexander H. Stephens, and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Yet, as a society becomes more materialistic and godless, then heroes become meaningless, and more than likely, those who used to be heroes are debunked and castigated. This criticism of past heroes is a sure sign that a people or country is well nigh dead and ready for extinction. Regarding the Greeks, they believed that the hero was in fact their most illustrious ancestor. According to the Greeks, the chief role of the hero was to act as an intermediary between men and the gods. While men after death became insubstantial shadows, heroes retained their original qualities and could intercede for mortals. As a note, depending on your translation of the Odyssey, the translator may use either Greek names, such as Odysseus and Zeus, for men and Gods, or Latin (Roman) names, such as Ulysses and Jupiter (Jove). This study guide uses the Greek names for the gods. DORI ANNE ABBOTT

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The Epic or Heroic Poem

HE EPIC is a long narrative poem dealing with a serious subject and is centered on a great man whose actions determine the future of a nation or a tribe of people. The epic is by far the most ambitious of poetic works. While there have been several attempts with writing epics, only a few have become timeless. The epic will have the following conventions, which are derived from Homer. 1. At the beginning of the epic, the poet states his argument and invokes his muse to help him with the writing of the poem. 2. The epic starts in the middle of the action (in medias res), often at a critical point. Later, the poet uses “flashback,” to let us know what happened before this point in the story. 3. The gods and supernatural beings are actively involved with directing the affairs of mortals. 4. The epic is written in an elevated style that does not represent ordinary day-to-day speech. 5. The hero in the epic is a great man of national or cosmic importance. 6. The setting of the epic is grand and can include the entire world and even, like Milton’s Paradise Lost, the whole universe. 7. Themes for the epic center on love and war. 8. There is a journey to the underworld. As you read about the travels of Odysseus, notice these conventions in the Odyssey. One other point before you get started. In poetry, metaphors and similes are quite common. However, the metaphor is generally terse; for an example, “Our life is a stage.” However, with the epic poem, the poet will use metaphors that could take ten to twelve lines. Homer is wellknown for his elaborate comparisons. Look for these extended metaphors. You will find them delightful. ROBERT W. WATSON

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The Odyssey Lesson One 1.1 Vocabulary ingenious adj. mettle n. bard n. prate v. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. Shakespeare was not only a playwright and an actor but he was also a _______________. 2. As necessity is “the mother of invention,” so men who are in harsh circumstances will often come up with _______________ ways to get out of trying situations. 3. At first, when my little brother used to ____________ endlessly about nonsense, we thought it was cute; but now his incessant babbling is annoying. 4. When my father faced the arrogant council members, he demonstrated he had a lot of ____________, since he was not intimidated by their bullying him. 1.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Books I and II 1.4 Recall Questions 1. What was the reason for Calypso’s restraining Odysseus on her island against his will? 2. Why was Poseidon furious with Odysseus? 3. How did Athene disguise herself when she came to Odysseus’ house? 4. Why was there a crowd gathered at Odysseus’ house? 5. What did Athene counsel Telemachus to do?

6. What omen did Zeus send to the town in Book II, which caused the people to wonder?

7. Why does the nurse (Eurycleia) try to persuade Telemachus to abandon his plan?

1.5 Critical Thinking 

In this section, Zeus says that many of man’s troubles which he would like to blame on the gods are really a result of man’s own folly [bad choices that have a distinct possibility of ending in disaster]. Even though Zeus is not God, all truth is God’s truth, and even from the

4 / Odyssey mouth or pen of a mortal man can truth come. Explain why this statement of Zeus’ written by Homer is true. Give an example you have seen or experienced in real life. Have you ever blamed God for the consequences of something foolish you have done? 1.6 Bonus Thought 

Damask originally was the name of cloth made in Damascus. Later it came to mean any cloth inlaid with a flower pattern. This city in Syria was a notable center of export to the West in the Middle Ages. It has given its name to such items as the damson plum, damask rose (ancestor to hybrid roses), and damascening (a process used on steel).

Odysseus and Calypso 

Poseidon (Neptune)  God of the oceans and earthquakes 

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The Odyssey Lesson Two 2.1 Vocabulary subtlety n. bandy v. redoubtable adj. citadel n. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. The _____________ between John and Philip was comical, as each man tried to outwit the other with their manipulation of words. 2. The obnoxious law was passed without much discussion, because the Socialists introduced the legislation with ______________ and deceit. 3. The lord’s castle proved to be an effective ____________, which withstood the attacks of his enemies for several weeks. 4. The Cid was a _____________ hero because he never lost a battle against the Spanish Moors. 2.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book III 2.4 Recall Questions 1. Who leads the way in order to help Telemachus on his journey? 2. From whom did Telemachus seek information about his father in this book? 3. Why was Telemachus counseled not to take a long journey from home? 4. After Telemachus’ host relates the tales of his involvement in the war with Troy, into what bird did Athene change? 5. What means of transportation other than his ship did Telemachus employ? 2.4 Critical Thinking 

The origins of the word excellent meant physically rising above the others. In this passage, Nestor tells Telemachus to seek the truth from Menelaus because he was an excellent man. What do you think he meant by calling him excellent?

2.5 Bonus Thought 

“Nestor sat thereon, as warder of the Achaeans, holding the sceptre.” This statement reflects the prevailing political belief of the Greek. The Greek philosopher Plato believed that at anytime in history only a handful of men are worthy to rule the people. These

6 / Odyssey “philosopher-kings” are father-like figures who will rule with the best interest of society in mind. Plato’s student, Aristotle, believed that the purpose of man is to discover and maintain human happiness. Aristotle states that the goal of government is to provide the “good life.” The way one achieves the good life is by developing good habits in order to obtain moral virtues that will lead to the good life. Aristotle believed the most efficient way to help people achieve moral virtues is through civil government. Our modern American society has adopted many of Aristotle’s ideas. Somehow, however, the entity called “the government” is to provide a society without risk. Also, according to the courts and lawmakers, the value of human happiness is a superior value than human life, as is the case with abortion. A people can only achieve the good life if they are left unmolested by criminals. According to the Bible, God ordained civil government to be the ministry of justice, and for this reason, governmental officials are called “ministers of God,” who are to execute wrath upon wicked men. On the other hand, whenever the civil government is controlled by officials who do not fear God, then the people of the country will suffer, because the civil authorities have become the criminal class, and the ministry of justice is subverted. In this case, good people are then considered evil, disloyal, and dangerous to “progressive” society and the central government. As Christians, these politics should cause us some concern. The natural tendency of civil government has always been towards eliminating Christians, either by making them ineffective in government or by killing them. It is the responsibility of Christians to resist evil and to ensure that they are ruled by officials who are from among their kind. In other words, if Christians desire a civil government motivated by Christian principles, not political expediency, then they must ensure all officials are genuine Christians. The Bible has been called “the statesman's manual.” Our politics must be patterned from the Bible, and not human philosophy. Indeed, is there such a thing as a “philosopher-king”? Even if there is, who determines who these individuals are since they are rare? What is the purpose of man on earth? Is it to find and maintain human happiness? Or does the Bible tell us something quite differently?

Telemachus departs from Nestor 

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The Odyssey Lesson Three 3.1 Vocabulary. shrift n. prevaricate v. ambrosia n. chalice n. rue v. 3.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. The quest for the Holy Grail, the _____________ that the Lord Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper, has offered a lot of material for much imaginative folklore. 2. Our will chooses freely to do things that we often ____________ later in life. 3. This tropical fruit has a very sweet taste, which no doubt would rival the _____________ eaten by the gods of old. 4. Whenever writing, it is better to use short Anglo-Saxon words like “lie” instead of ornate Latin ones like “____________________.” 5. The good king was so upset about the conduct of his subordinates that he blamed himself for the harm to his subjects, seeking ____________ from his personal priest. 3.2. Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book IV 3.3 Recall Questions 1. Who was the wife of Menelaus? 2. Why did Telemachus admire the house of Menelaus? 3. Why did Menelaus cry and grieve constantly? 4. Who first noticed Telemachus’ likeness to Odysseus? 5. How did Menelaus trick Poseidon’s head man into telling him how to get back home? 6. Where was Odysseus trapped? 7. What did the suitors plan for Telemachus when he returned?

8 / Odyssey 3.4 Critical Thinking 

What effect does Homer produce by repeating in each book the following phrase: “When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared?” How does this repetition aid in the telling of the Odyssey?

3.5 Bonus Thought 

In this book you will notice that articles of silver and gold are very prominent. Both silver and gold are amazingly versatile metals—part of God’s marvelous creation. Silver reflects 95% of the light shone on it making it the shiniest of all metals. It conducts electricity and heat better than any other metal. Silver was traditionally used in cups not only because of its beauty, but because it kills bacteria. Even today, dentists and doctors use silver tubes, wires, etc. for this very reason. Gold is a heavier metal because it is the most dense. It does not rust, tarnish, corrode, or dissolve, which is why many references are made to it in Scripture. Gold rarely exists by itself, but is usually attached to other metals. The process of refining gold [purifying it] has not changed a lot in the last centuries. When heated to superhot temperatures, the gold is purified and the dross is removed.

Menelaus 

With  the  defeat  of  Troy,  Helen  begs  forgiveness  from Menelaus 

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The Odyssey Lesson Four 4.1 Vocabulary equitable adj. adze n. swoon v. chaff n. 4.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. The Lord, as our judge, treats everyone with ______________ judgment. 2. “The ungodly are . . . like the _____________ which the wind driveth away”—Psalms 1: 4 3. When we decided to build a log cabin, we intended to use no modern tools, but to use the same tools that were used by our ancestors, like the ___________. 4. When news was received that her boy was found in the mountains, Mrs. Adams _________ (ed) because of her great joy and relief. 4.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book V 4.4 Recall Questions 1. Who was sent to Calypso to tell her to let Odysseus go? 2. When he saw Odysseus preparing to go home, who stirred up the waters with a storm? 3. How does Athene help Odysseus during the storm? 4. In what shape was Odysseus when he finally got to shore after the storm?

4.5 Critical Thinking 

In this section, Penelope suffers from her grief for Odysseus, but she is given a vision of Athene who gives her some good advice and sweet sleep. Athene says that Penelope should not be afraid because Odysseus has one by his side whom many a man would be glad to have go with him. Of whom is she speaking? As a Christian, what is our constant comfort when we are afraid? If we have a constant source of comfort, why are some many Christians emotional and mental wrecks today? What is the source of all this distress?

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When Penelope awakened, she was refreshed by the sweet dream she had. Why do bad dreams make us wake up tired, and good dreams seem to refresh us?

4.6 Bonus Thought 

The Cormorant is a large, web-footed bird related to the Pelican, which skims the surface of water looking for fish to eat. When it sees the fish, the cormorant dives beneath the surface to catch his prey. In this section, Mercury is sent on an errand, and he is compared

10 / Odyssey to a cormorant. This is an example of the incredibly precise writing on the part of Homer. Mercury flew just above the water, and once or twice was known to kill some errant humans!

Cormorant 

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The Odyssey Lesson Five 5.1 Vocabulary vie v. scion n. disparage v. importunate adj. 5.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. Athletes who compete in the Olympics ___________ for medals, but especially for the gold one. 2. Mr. Noland finally hired the young woman, who was the most _____________ job seeker he had ever known; she called every day for two months. 3. Robert seems to understand the cynical character of his neighbors, since his newspaper column is dedicated to _____________ local politicians; his delightful articles are the most widely read in our small town. 4. Telemachus, the ___________ of Odysseus, was to inherit his father’s lands and property; however, the suitors were wasting his inheritance with their unbridled revelry. 5.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book VI and VII 5.4 Recall Questions 1. Who took her clothes to the river to be washed? 2. What woke Odysseus out of his deep sleep? 3. What compliment did Odysseus pay to Nausicaa? 4. How did the young women help Odysseus on his way? 5. How did Athene shield Odysseus from view? 6. How long had Odysseus been with Calypso? 7. What did Alcinous want Odysseus to do?

5.5 Critical Thinking 

When Odysseus is awakened by the river after a deep sleep, his first thought was whether he had landed in a place where the inhabitants were savage and uncivilized, or hospitable and

12 / Odyssey humane. Give examples from what you have already read of the Odyssey of the gods being savage (cruel, pitiless, furious, ill-tempered) and uncivilized (showing lack of restraint, brutality, or cruelty). On the other hand, give examples from Jesus’ life which showed that He was hospitable (willing to meet the needs of others) and humane (kind, tender, merciful, sympathetic). 5.6 Bonus Thought 

The Greek God, Hephaestos: Several references are made to Hephaestos (Latin Vulcan) in this book. Vulcan is sometimes called Volcanus. Not only was he the celestial artist, Vulcan was the god of fire [hence the name volcano] and forged thunderbolts for Jupiter. In mythology, Vulcan is pictured with an anvil, hammer, and tongs. These tools, as you know, belong to a blacksmith who would have been an artisan of metal in times past. Vulcan was born lame and ugly. However, Jupiter, his father, gives him Venus in marriage. Therefore, the most beautiful of goddesses becomes the wife of the most despised of the gods.

“Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan” by Dirck Van Baburen  

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The Odyssey Lesson Six 6.1 Vocabulary quail v. propriety n. hilt n. endow v. 6.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Which word does not belong with the list of words on each line? 1. quail

charge

draw back

recoil

2. propriety

decorum

boorishness

civility

3. hilt

handle

helve

delay

4. endow

award

withdraw

confer

6.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book 8 6.4 Recall Questions 1. What did Alcinous urge the assembly to do? 2. Why did Odysseus pull his hood over his face at the banquet? 3. How well did Odysseus participate in the athletic events? 4. At what sport was Odysseus especially talented? 5. What did Alcinous command everyone to do for Odysseus?

6.5 Critical Thinking 

Odysseus accused one of the athletes at the tournament of being handsome but lacking discretion (the ability to make wise choices). Here is a riddle for you: What do good looks, discretion, pigs, and gold rings have in common? Answer: See Proverbs 11:22

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The Odyssey Lesson Seven 7.1 Vocabulary invoke v. smite v. exploit v. laurels n. 7.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. invoke

solicit

ignore

apply

2. smite

hit

strike

refuse

3. exploit

discover

misuse

manipulate

4. laurels

honor

glory

detour

7.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book IX 7.4 Recall Questions 1. Why could Calypso or Circe not persuade Odysseus to marry them? 2. In whose cave did Odysseus and his men get trapped? 3. Why did the Cyclopes not fear Zeus and all the other gods? 4. What present did the Cyclops offer to Odysseus?

7.4 Critical Thinking 

Why was Odysseus’ trick on the Cyclops so funny and effective? Can you think of some funny names which are really words? Here are some examples: Miss L. Toe; Ida Claire; Mr. I. Ball; Imogene Jacket; Wynn D. Bagg; and let’s not forget that famous law firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

7.5 Bonus Thought 

According to legend, the Lotus-eaters mentioned in today’s reading were a tribe of people who lived in North Africa. Their only food was the fruit and blossoms of the lotus or jujube tree. They often cajoled travelers into eating from this magical tree which would make them forget all ties of family, friendship and home. Lord Tennyson wrote a poem based on this story, and even today, a person who continually daydreams or has impractical ideas is called a “lotus-eater.”

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Pun: When he tells the Cyclops that his name is “Noman,” Odysseus created a “pun.” A pun is a play on words that are homonyms (sound identically the same) or similar in sound, but the two meanings are greatly different.

Odyssey / 15

The Odyssey Lesson Eight 8.1 Vocabulary moor v. fawn v. hullabaloo n. gambol v. 8.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. moor

affix

secure

loosen

2. fawn

defy

grovel

flatter

3. hullabaloo

din

clamor

promotion

4. gambol

frolic

stumble

bound

8.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book X 8.4 Recall Questions 1. Who was the captain of the winds? 2. Why did the silly men on the ship open the bag given to Odysseus by Aeolus? 3. What kind of people lived in Telepylus? 4. What did Circe’s poison do to Odysseus’ men? 5. After giving the men poison, what did Circe do to them? 6. What did Hermes give to Odysseus, which made him immune to the poison? 8.5 Critical Thinking 

How did envy cause a lot of problems for Odysseus’s men in today’s reading? How does envy cause problems today? What does the scripture say about envy?

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Samuel Johnson stated that the most perfect form of evil is envy. You can steal and gain something; or you can lie and get away with something. But what does envy gain? Of all sins, envy gains nothing. But this much is clear—envy may cause a person to kill someone. Find examples of this wickedness taking place in the Bible.

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Explain the use of and the purpose of disguise in the Odyssey. 8.6 Bonus Thoughts 

In this section, Hermes (Mercury) is disguised as a man in the “hey-day” of his youth. HeyDay originally was a kind of cheer from the German Heidah which means, Hurray! Not

16 / Odyssey until the mid-Eighteenth Century did the word come to mean the high point of one’s success. Like so many English words, it has nothing to do with what it sounds like—hay and day. 

Envy: Everyone has problems unknown to others. J. P. Getty, the tycoon over Getty Oil, once remarked that even though he was rich, he would bet that a poor person never received the ear of his grandson in the mail with a note demanding a ransom for the boy’s life. Getty’s grandson was kidnapped, the boy’s ear was cut off, and sent to Getty. In short, no one ought to be envied.

Circe and the Friends of Ulysses by Rivière 

Circe and Odysseus by John Flaxman  

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The Odyssey Lesson Nine 9.1 Vocabulary redound v. charlatan n. plausible adj. supersede v. 9.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. redound

backfire

doubt

spring back

2. charlatan

detective

quack

deceiver

3. plausible

credible

acceptable

truthful

4. supersede

replace

augment

follow

9.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XI 9.4 Recall Questions 1. Why were the Cimmerians to be pitied? 2. Who was the first ghost to come up to Odysseus? 3. Why was Poseidon angry with Odysseus? 4. What did Odysseus have to do to get his mother’s ghost to talk to him? 5. What was the dread fate of Tantalus? 6. What was the endless task of Sisyphus?

9.5 Critical Thinking 

Do the dead indeed become ghosts when they die? Look at Hebrews 9:27 and decide what Scripture says about what happens after death.

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What does the Bible have to say about blood? Research it for yourself. Do you think the scene with the ghosts are in accordance with the Bible? Support your position with Scripture.

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Have you ever heard the saying, “Knee deep in a river and dying of thirst?” This is a term from the world of psychology which has its origins right here in the legend of Tantalus. Explain what is meant by this saying. (Hint—the thirst is not physical in the saying, but a soul thirsting.)

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9.6 Bonus Thought Castor and Pollux were twin sons of Zeus, though many believe they were only half brothers (this is only possible in mythology!). They were companions and became patrons to athletes and protectors of sailors at sea. After a quarrel with their cousins, Castor was killed by one of the cousins. Then Pollux and Zeus killed both of the cousins. Pollux loved Castor and longed to share his immortality with him, so Zeus granted that every other day would be spent on Mt. Olympus with the immortals, and every other day would be spent by the pair in Hades, the house of death. Another version of the story says that the twins Gemini (the constellation) are really Castor and Pollux immortalized every evening and disappearing each morning. On some clear winter night, see if you can find this constellation in the sky. The Bible refers to the twins in Acts 28:11—“And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.” 

Castor and Pollux 

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The Odyssey Lesson Ten 10.1 Vocabulary coherent adj. shun v. curvet v. vassal n. 10.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. coherent

sticking together

disorderly

connective

2. shun

ignore

reject

welcome

3. curvet

sleep

leap

jump

4. vassal

landlord

bondsman

dependent

10.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Books XII–XIII 10.4 Recall Questions 1. After coming up out of Hades, what was the first thing Odysseus and his men did? 2. What would happen to the listener if he hears the song of the Sirens? 3. What did Circe say would happen to Odysseus and his men if they touched the cattle on Thrinacian island? 4. Why did Odysseus not tell his men about Scylla? 5. How did Zeus repay Odysseus’ men for eating the sun-god’s cattle? 10.5 Critical Thinking 

What words are used to describe the immortal gods in this section? Compare those to the words describing Jesus in the Bible. Be prepare to compare and contrast these false gods to the true son of God, Jesus Christ.

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Discuss whether Odysseus should have informed his men about the coming dangers. Should individual men be allowed to make their own decision in order to accept their own risks instead of “leaders” deciding for them? Why or why not?

10.6 Bonus Thought 

A simile is a figure of speech in which a more or less fanciful or unrealistic comparison is made, using the words like or as. In this section, a simile is used to add real poetic beauty to the description of Odysseus’ ship. Can you find it in Book XIII? To what is the ship’s movement compared?

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The Odyssey Lesson Eleven 11.1 Vocabulary scruple n. shirk v, doughty adj. frugal adj. amass v. pretense n. clout n. precipice n. billet n. 11.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. scruple

misgiving

boldness

qualm

2. shirk

neglect

forget

toss

3. doughty

coward

courageous

brave

4. frugal

stingy

tight

generous

5. amass

divide

gather

collect

6. pretense

façade

openness

disguise

7. clout

glance

blow

punch

8. precipice

brink

overhang

valley

9. billet

lodging

projectile

berth

11.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XIV 11.4 Recall Questions 1. What did Odysseus say was the common lot of mankind? 2. How did Poseidon punish the Phaecians for escorting Odysseus back to Ithaca? 3. Why did Odysseus not recognize his native land? 4. How did Athene get Odysseus into Ithaca without his having been recognized?

11.5 Critical Thinking 

Why did Odysseus lie to Athene? Were Athene’s constant changes typical or atypical of the Greek gods? What about the true and living God? Look up Hebrews 13:8 to see what the Bible says about it!

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The Odyssey Lesson Twelve 12.1 Vocabulary yoke v. buffet v. chattel n. cajole v. 12.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. yoke

unite

sever

bind

2. buffet

invite

beat

cudgel

3. chattel

property

possessions

talkative

4. cajole

refuse

coax

charm

12.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XV 12.4 Recall Questions 1. Who told Telemachus to go back home? 2. What did Helen give Telemachus for his wedding day? 3. What sign came to Telemachus to let him know his father was safe? 4. Where did Telemachus go when he had finally reached Ithaca?

12.3 Bonus Thought 

The Phoenicians were sea-going traders of the ancient world. Their name comes from the word Canaan which is the ancient Greek word for purple. The people of Canaan specialized in dying reddish-purple cloth. The Phoenicians worshiped a god named Baal and made human sacrifices to him which you can find in many references in the Old Testament. Tyre and Sidon were important port cities for the Phoenicians. When Alexander the Great couldn’t reach the island of Tyre, he had his engineers build a causeway out to them where his well-trained fighting men used catapults, battering rams, and all sorts of other weapons. This started a new era of warfare. Tyre and Sidon both fell according to Biblical prophecy.

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BAAL, n. An old deity formerly much worshiped under various names. As Baal he was popular with the Phoenicians; as Belus or Bel, he had the honor to be served by the priest Berosus, who wrote the famous account of the Deluge; as Babel he had a tower partly erected to his glory on the Plain of Shinar. From Babel comes our English word “babble.” Under whatever name worshiped, Baal is the Sun-god. As Beelzebub, he is the god of flies, which are begotten of the sun’s rays on the stagnant water. In Physicia, Baal is still worshiped as Bolus, and as Belly he is adored and served with abundant sacrifice by the

22 / Odyssey priests of Guttledom. (This definition is from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, published in 1911.) 

Phoenician Alphabet: Not only did the Phoenicians develop commerce through seafaring, but they improved the alphabet that helped advance the skill of writing. Below is Genesis 1:1 in the Old Phoenician.

“Odysseus in the Cave of Polyphemus” by Jacob Jordaens 

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The Odyssey Lesson Thirteen 13.1 Vocabulary bane n. fray n. compunction n. 13.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. bane

blessing

curse

affliction

2. fray

row

parade

altercation

3. compunction

apprehension

dubiousness

rashness

13.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XVI 13.4 Recall Questions 1. Who came up to the swineherd’s lodging? 2. Why did Telemachus say he could not complain about his brothers? 3. What was the reaction of the dogs when they saw Athene? 4. What did Odysseus and Telemachus plan to do together? 5. Was Eurymachus truly a friend to the family of Odysseus?

13.5 Critical Thinking 

Consider the character of Eurymachus. Could Penelope have discovered Eurymachus’ true intent? How can you protect yourself from evil men who would lie to you? Find examples from the Bible of those who said one thing, but actually lied.

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The Odyssey Lesson Fourteen 14.1 Vocabulary insatiable adj. wantonness n. importunity n. abominable adj. 14.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. insatiable

satisfied

covetous

materialistic

2. wantonness

unruliness

maliciousness

consideration

3. importunity

petition

advantage

supplication

4. abominable

enormous

detestable

loathsome

14.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XVII 14.4 Recall Questions 1. Why did Telemachus say he was taking the Beggar to town? 2. In today’s reading, what were the suitors doing as they awaited their dinner? 3. Why did Odysseus not mind being yelled at or having things thrown at him? 4. What “gift” did Antinous give to the beggar? 5. How did Penelope treat the beggar?

14.5 Critical Thinking 

When Telemachus did not recognize the disguised Odysseus in today’s reading, he had uncommonly good manners towards him. Because the “old man” was a beggar in rags, Telemachus, as man of the house, had every right to be rude to him, ignore him, or even throw him out as yet another drain on his finances. Compare Telemachus’ behavior to that of the boorish suitors. List some of the differences. How are good manners acquired? What do good manners say about the one who practices them?

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The Odyssey Lesson Fifteen 15.1 Vocabulary gibe v. vixen n. tawny adj. 15.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. Perhaps the most famous _____________ in literature is Mrs. Van Winkle, the wife of poor Rip. 2. A common owl in Eurasis and Northern Africa is the ___________ Owl because of its brownish orange markings on its wings. 3. Jim thinks he can ridicule us all he wants, but when we ___________ him, he gets angry. 15.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XVIII 15.4 Recall Questions 1. What is the name of the “tramp” who comes to Odysseus’ house? 2. Who gives Odysseus extra strength for his fight with this tramp? 3. At what point in time did Penelope state that she lost her beauty? 4. What complaint does Penelope offer the suitors regarding their manner of courtship? 5. Why did Athene allow the suitors to continually insult Odysseus? 6. When Eurymachus throws a footstool at Odysseus, whom did the footstool hit?

15.4 Bonus Thought 

What is a fish-fag? This is one of those strange terms which seems to have been lost through the years. As closely as one can tell, however, it refers to a common boy who does work on a fishing boat. The term fag has several meanings in the English language; the first of which means drudgery, or boring, tedious work. It also meant a young boy who did work for an older schoolboy in the British public school system. Five hundred years from now, readers will probably wonder what a geek is, or where exactly a home-boy lives!



Entertaining Angels: In the early part of Virginia’s history, a great preacher named John Leyland traveled the countryside to deliver the gospel and who was an able opponent against the tax-supported church of Virginia. Leyland was invited to preach in a small town in Virginia and a well-to-do family offered to allow him to stay in their home. The wife

26 / Odyssey busied herself getting the home ready for the well-known preacher. On the day of Leyland’s expected arrival, an old beggar came to the door of the home requesting a little food and a place to stay for the night. The lady was horrified that this beggar showed up on the worst possible days and so expressed herself. Nevertheless, she gave the beggar some food and said that he could stay in the barn. As the day progressed, John Leyland never arrived, nor was he in the town the next morning when the crowd gathered to hear the preacher. Everyone was disappointed and the decision was made to go home. However, the beggar stood up and stated that it would be a shame to have such a fine gathering of people and not at least say a prayer to the Lord. As the beggar prayed, the crowd began to realize that this beggar was no ordinary tramp. When the beggar finished his prayer, he opened his Bible to Hebrews 13:1–2 and read, “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Before the crowd, with Bible in hand, stood the great John Leyland!

“Penelope Awakened by Eurycleia” by Angelica Kauffman 

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The Odyssey Lesson Sixteen 16.1 Vocabulary chafe v. squalid adj. plaintive adj. portend v. fatuous adj. 16.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. Across the city, the _______________ cries were heard as the plague claimed another victim. 2. As I walked up the side of the mountain, the leather strap began to ___________ the skin just below it. 3. When I called my little brother a ____________ prevaricator, he didn’t understand what I meant; that is why I didn’t say “dirty liar.” 4. When the scientist revealed his wanting to power cars with liquid soap, most critics suggested his idea was merely a _____________ dream. 5. The dark clouds ________________(ed) a severe storm was coming our way; therefore, we quickly found some shelter. 16.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XIX 16.4 Recall Questions 1. Why did Penelope want to talk to the beggar? 2. What did Penelope do for three years to stall the suitors? 3. What test did Penelope give the beggar to see if his tale was true? 4. How did the old nurse recognize Odysseus? 16 .4 Critical Thinking 

Does it strike you as peculiar that the persons who treated the beggar (Odysseus) the worst were the least entitled to do it? Name the two persons who treated him so badly. Think about the unrepentant thief on the cross. He of all persons had no right, yet he sneered at Jesus who was dying for him. Can you think of any personal examples when someone who had no right treated a superior with disrespect? Does this include children to parents? What examples can you find in the Bible?

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The Odyssey Lesson Seventeen 17.1 Vocabulary ribald adj. bereft adj. pelt v. 17.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. Mr. Thomas was very angry the next morning when he discovered that the hail storm had __________ (ed) his new car and damaged it with hundreds of small dents. 2. I was surprised by John’s telling of a questionable joke, which was a bit on the _________ side. 3. Most citizens realize that the modern politician is completely ___________ of the principles, which guided the conduct of earlier statesmen. 17.2 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Books XX and XXI 17.3 Recall Questions 1. Why did Athene chide Odysseus? 2. What sign from outside did Odysseus receive from Zeus? 3. What sign from inside did Odysseus receive from Zeus? 4. Why did Athene not let the suitors drop their insolence even for a minute? 5. What contest did Penelope give to the suitors to decide which one she would marry? 6. Why did the suitors not want the beggar to enter the contest?

17.5 Critical Thinking 

Consider the lack of faith of Odysseus even though Athene had helped him without fail. How is this different when the Christian loses faith in God, who has always supplied the believer’s needs? What causes the lose of faith? What does the Bible say about the lose or the lack of faith in God? Discuss.

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The Odyssey Lesson Eighteen 18.1 Vocabulary requite v. welter v. absurd adj. respite n. 18.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. requite

compensate

repay

prepare

2. welter

organize

tumble

heave

3. absurd

silly

believable

nonsense

4. respite

relief

rest

overtime

18.3 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Books XXII and XXIII 18.4 Recall Questions 1. Who was the first suitor killed? 2. What was the reason that the other suitors thought the beggar shot Antinous? 3. What did Odysseus and his men use to their advantage in the cloisters? 4. How did Athene help Odysseus? 5. What was the judgment against the twelve wanton women in the house? 18.4 Bonus Thought 

Sulfur is an organic element used by the ancient Greeks as bleach, disinfectant, and medicine. The sulfur was obtained from volcanic mines. Later sulfur was used as the main ingredient in gunpowder. Today we use bleach to clean up a blood spill—Odysseus used sulfur—I guess the ancient Greeks were not so primitive after all!

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The Odyssey Lesson Nineteen 19.1 Vocabulary chivalry n. pall n. ample adj. imposing adj. sally v. 19.2 Vocabulary Exercise 1. chivalry

courtesy

gallantry

barbarity

2. pall

cover

turret

gloom

3. ample

extraordinary

sufficient

adequate

4. imposing

magnificent

lackluster

awesome

5. sally

retreat

attack

foray

19.2 Reading Assignment: The Odyssey, Book XXIV 19.3 Recall Questions 1. Where did Odysseus and his son go after killing the suitors? 2. In what condition was Laertes by this time? 3. Did all of the suitors’ families try to avenge the deaths by Odysseus? 4. What caused the two warring parties to make a covenant of peace? 19.4 Critical Thinking 

Having read the Odyssey, do you think Odysseus was a hero? Why or why not?

19.5 Bonus Thought 

Covenant and contract: At the end of this story, Athene made a covenant of peace with the two warring parties. What is the difference between a covenant and a contract? A contract is a legally binding agreement made by humans that becomes null and void when one party breaks (violates the terms of) that agreement. A covenant on the other hand is made in the presence of a third party, and is legally binding even if one party breaks the covenant! The most direct application of this concept is marriage. God makes a marriage a covenant and not a contract, so even if one person violates the agreement, the other party still has an obligation to uphold his or her end. Something to think about.

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Glossary for the Odyssey abominable (…-b¼m“…-n…-b…l) adj. Detestable, loathsome absurd (…b-sûrd“) adj. Contrary to reason or common sense; ridiculous adze (²dz) n. Chisel-like steel tool used for chipping wood amass (…-m²s“) v. To accrue or gather for oneself ambrosia (²m-br½“zh…) Food of the gods ample (²m“p…l) adj. Enough; sufficient bandy (b²n“d¶) v. throw back and forth; to give and take bane (b³n) n. Something that cases death and destruction bard (bärd) n. A poet bereft (b¹-rμft“) adj. Deprived or made desolate by loss billet (b¹l“¹t) n. Official order for private lodging of a soldier buffet (b¾f“¹t) v. To strike or hit with the hand or fist cajole (k…-j½l“) v. Persuade by flattery; wheedle or coax chafe (ch³f) v. To wear away; rub off chaff (ch²f) n. Refuse, rubbish; husk of grain separated from the seed chalice (ch²l“¹s) n. A cup or goblet charlatan (shär“l…-t…n) n. A person who pretends to have more skill than he does; a quack chattel (ch²t“l) n. Movable article of property chivalry (sh¹v“…l-r¶) n. Code of Knights characterized by courtesy, agility, valor, and generosity citadel (s¹t“…-d…l, -dμl”) n. A fortress near a city to protect it clout (klout) n. Blows, cliffs; punches; or influence, pull coherent (k½-hîr“…nt) adj. Sticking together; connective compunction (k…m-p¾ngk“sh…n) n. Uneasiness of conscience; regrets or remorse curvet (kûr-vμt“) n. To leap or bound like a horse; frolic disparage (d¹-sp²r“¹j) v. To dishonor by an unequal union; to belittle doughty (dou“t¶) adj. Strong; valiant endow (μn-dou“) v. To provide with permanent source of income equitable (μk“w¹-t…-b…l) adj. Just, fair; reasonable exploit (μk“sploit”) n. To use for selfishly for one's own profit fatuous (f²ch“›-…s) adj. Delusive; unreal; foolish or silly; flippant fawn (fôn) v. To seek favor by service fray (fr³) n. Fight, brawl or skirmish frugal (fr›“g…l) adj. Prudent in saving; making little expense gambol (g²m“b…l) v. To skip and dance about playfully; frolic gibe (jºb) v. To ridicule, scoff or make fun of hilt (h¹lt) n. The handle of a weapon or tool; helve hullabaloo (h¾l“…-b…-l›”) n. Clamorous noise; an uproar importunate (¹m-pôr“ch…-n¹t) adj. Urgent or persistent in demands; troublesome importunity (¹m”pôr-t›“n¹-t¶) n. Urgent or persistent begging imposing (¹m-p½“z¹ng) adj. Magnificent; glorious; making an impression on ingenious (¹n-j¶n“y…s) adj. Cleverness of invention; skillful insatiable (¹n-s³“sh…-b…l) adj. Unable to be satisfied

32 / Odyssey invoke (¹n-v½k“) v. To call with earnest desire; to appeal to laurel (lôr“…l) n. small evergreen tree in Europe used as a symbol of victory mettle (mμt“l) n. Disposition or temper; spirit or courage moor (m‹r) v. To secure in place; to fix firmly pall (pôl) n. A cloth for spreading over a coffin pelt (pμlt) v. To strike or assail repeatedly with blows or missiles; bombard; to cast, hurl, or throw objects; to strike repeatedly plaintive (pl³n“t¹v) adj. Wistful, sorrowful; sad plausible (plô“z…-b…l) adj. Appearance of truth or reason; specious portend (pôr-tμnd“) v. To signify or indicate beforehand as an omen prate ((pr³t) v. To talk too much with empty meaning; chatter precipice (prμs“…-p¹s) n. A cliff pretense (pr¶“tμns”) n. Make-believe; pretending, feigning propriety (pr…-prº“¹-t¶) n. Conformity to standards of behavior and manners quail (kw³l) v. To lose courage; to shrink with fear redoubtable (r¹-dou“t…-b…l) adj. Feared, formidable; commanding respect redound (r¹-dound“) v. To have an unexpected result; to bounce back requite (r¹-kwºt“) v. To repay or return as in retaliation respite (rμs“p¹t) n. A relief or delay in time ribald (r¹b“…ld) adj. Abusive or irreverent speech; offensive; lewd humor rue (r›) v. Repent; regret bitterly sally (s²l“¶) v. A sudden rush of activity of troops on an enemy; incursion; attack; foray scion (sº“…n) n. A young shoot, twig or sprout of a tree; also a descendant scruple (skr›“p…l) n. Hesitation, reluctance for conscientious reasons shirk (shûrk) v. Evading, avoiding or dodging one's work or service shrift (shr¹ft) n. Confession made to a priest shun (sh¾n) v. To avoid or keep away from smite (smºt) v. To hit hard squalid (skw¼l“¹d) adj. Foul and repulsive; dirty, filthy; wretched subtlety (s¾t“l-t¶) n. Fine distinction or nicety of thought supersede (s›”p…r-s¶d“) v. To set aside; replace in power, use or acceptance swoon (sw›n) v. To faint; lose consciousness tawny (tô“n¶) n. Yellowish-brown color or complexion vassal (v²s“…l) n. A servant or slave; a dependent; a feudal tenant who holds land for his superior vie (vº) v. To strive in competition; rival another vixen (v¹k“s…n) n. A quarrelsome or ill-tempered woman; a female fox wantonness (w¼n“t…n-n¹s) n. Recklessness, maliciousness; unruliness, immoral behavior welter (wμl“t…r) v. To roll, toss, heave; tumble yoke (y½k) v. To unite, link, join parts

The Odyssey (Lessons 1–5) Vocabulary Quiz #1 Instructions: Match the word with its definition.

A. adze

1. _____

urgent or persistent in demands

B. ambrosia

2. _____

food of the gods

C. bandy

3. _____

a poet

D. bard

4. _____

a fortress near a city to protect it

E. chaff

5. _____

dishonor by an unequal union

F. chalice

6. _____

justly, fairly; reasonably

G. citadel

7. _____

to strive in competition; rival another

H. disparaging

8. _____

throw back and forth; to give and take

I. equitably

9. _____

refuse; separated husk from grain

J. importunate

10. _____

to faint; lose consciousness

K. ingenious

11. _____

a cup of wine

L. mettle

12. _____

cleverness of invention; skillful

M. prate

13. _____

disposition or temper; spirit or courage

N. redoubtable

14. _____

chisel-like tool used for chipping wood

O. rue

15. _____

to talk too much with empty meaning

P. scion

16. _____

acuteness; penetration of the mind

Q. shrift

17. _____

feared, formidable; commanding respect

R. subtlety

18. _____

repent; regret bitterly

S. swooning

19. _____

confession made to a priest

T. vie

20. _____

a young shoot or sprout of a tree; also a descendant

The Odyssey (Lessons 6–10) Vocabulary Quiz #2 Instructions: Match the word with its definition.

A. charlatan

1. _____

to avoid or keep away from

B. coherent

2. _____

European evergreen; symbol for victory

C. curvet

3. _____

sticking together; agreement of parts

D. endow

4. _____

to lose courage; to shrink with fear

E. exploit

5. _____

to hit hard

F. fawn

6. _____

to set aside; replace in power

G. gambol

7. _____

to provide with steady source of income

H. hilt

8. _____

to use for selfishly for one's own profit

I. hullabaloo

9. _____

to result; to accrue credit or discredit on

J. invoke

10. _____

to seek favor by service

K. laurels

11. _____

to skip and dance about playfully; frolic

L. moor

12. _____

the handle of a weapon or tool

M. propriety

13. _____

clamorous noise; an uproar

N. plausible

14. _____

to call with earnest desire; to appeal to

O. redound

15. _____

to leap or bound like a horse

P. quailed

16. _____

to secure in place; to fix firmly

Q. shun

17. _____

conformity to standards of behavior

R. smite

18. _____

appearance of truth or reason; specious

S. supersede

19. _____

a quack; one who pretends to have skill

T. vassal

20. _____

a servant or slave; a feudal tenant who holds land for his superior

The Odyssey (Lessons 11–14) Vocabulary Quiz #3 Instructions: Match the word with its definition.

A. abominable

1. _____

movable article of property

B. amass

2. _____

hesitation for conscientious reasons

C. bane

3. _____

to accrue or gather for oneself

D. billet

4. _____

persuade by flattery; wheedle or coax

E. buffet

5. _____

make-believe; pretending, feigning

F. cajole

6. _____

evading, or avoiding one's work

G. chattels

7. _____

reckless, malicious; unruly, wild

H. clouts

8. _____

unite, link, join

I. compunction

9. _____

blows, punches

J. doughty

10. _____

to strike or hit with the hand or fist

K. fray

11. _____

uneasiness of conscience; regrets

L. Frugal

12. _____

anything that cases death and destruction

M. importunity

13. _____

strong; valiant

N. insatiable

14. _____

fight, brawl or skirmish

O. precipice

15. _____

prudent in saving; making little expense

P. pretence

16. _____

urgent or persistent beg

Q. scruple

17. _____

unable to be satisfied

R. shirking

18. _____

detestable, loathsome

S. wantonness

19. _____

a cliff

T. yoke

20. _____

official order for private lodging of a soldier

The Odyssey (Lessons 15–19) Vocabulary Quiz #4 Instructions: Match the word with its definition.

A. absurd

1. _____

a relief or delay in time

B. amply

2. _____

foul and repulsive; dirty, filthy

C. bereft

3. _____

yellowish-brown color or complexion

D. chafe

4. _____

to repay or return as in retaliation

E. chivalry

5. _____

a quarrelsome or ill-tempered woman

F. fatuous

6. _____

deprived or made desolate by loss

G. gibe

7. _____

to wear away; rub off

H. imposing

8. _____

contrary to reason; ridiculous

I. pall

9. _____

enough; sufficient

J. plaintive

10. _____

foolish or silly in a flippant manner

K. portended

11. _____

to ridicule, scoff or make fun of

L. requite

12. _____

abusive or irreverent speech; offensive

M. respite

13. _____

laying on, making an impression on

N. ribald

14. _____

a cloth for spreading over a coffin

O. sally

15. _____

wistful, sorrowful; sad

P. squalid

16. _____

indicated beforehand as an omen

Q. tawny

17. _____

roll, toss, heave; tumble

R. vixen

18. _____

a sudden rush of activity of troops on an enemy; excursion

19. _____

code of knights characterized by courtesy, agility, valor, and generosity

S. welter

Answer Keys to The Odyssey Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. bard 2. ingenious 3. prate 4. mettle Lesson 1 1. Calypso wanted Odysseus to be her husband. 2. Odysseus had blinded Neptune’s son (the Cyclops). 3. Athene disguised herself as a visiting man with a spear in his hand. 4. The crowd was composed of men courting Penelope in order to marry her. 5. Athene counseled Telemachus to go on a voyage to learn about the fate of his father. 6. Zeus sent a pair of eagles, which glided for a time, and then they attacked each other. 7. The nurse tries to persuade Telemachus not to go, because she believed Odysseus to be dead already. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. bandy 2. subtlety 3. citadel 4. redoubtable Lesson 2 1. Telemachus is aided by Athene as he makes his journey. 2. Telemachus seeks information about his father from Nestor. 3. Nestor told him that the suitors in Telemachus’ house would eat up all his food and waste his substance, and therefore Telemachus would have been on a fool’s errand. 4. Athene changed into an osprey. 5. Telemachus employed a chariot as well as a ship to travel. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 3 1. chalice 2. rue 3. ambrosia 4. prevaricate 5. shrift Lesson 3 1. The wife of Menelaus was Helen. 2. Telemachus admired the house, because it was as glorious as the sun and moon--all bedecked with gold, silver, and ivory. 3. Menelaus grieved because of the murder of his brother and the death of all the valiant men in the battle of Troy 4. Helen noticed the likeness of Telemachus to Odysseus. 1

5. Menelaus and two men dressed in sealskins and lay in ambush for the man, then they held him tight till he talked. 6. Odysseus was trapped on an island with the nymph Calypso. 7. The suitors planned to kill Telemachus. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 4 1. equitable 2. chaff 3. adze 4. swooned Lesson 4 1. Mercury was sent to Calypso. 2. Poseidon stirred up the waters with a storm. 3. Athene helped Odysseus by binding the winds. 4. Odysseus was swooning from sheer exhaustion. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 5 1. vie 2. importunate 3. disparage 4. scion Lesson 5 1. Nausicaa went to the river to wash her clothes. 2. The shouts of young women who were playing ball near Odysseus awoke him. 3. Odysseus said Nausicaa was the most beautiful mortal he had ever seen. 4. The young women washed Odysseus, anointed him, clothed him, and showed him the way to the city. 5. Athene shielded Odysseus with a thick cloud of darkness. 6. Odysseus had been with Calypso for over seven years. 7. Alcinous wanted Odysseus to stay and to marry his daughter Nausicaa. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 6 1. charge 2. boorishness 3. delay 4. withdraw Lesson 6 1. Alcinous urged the assembly to escort Odysseus back to Ithaca in a ship. 2. Odysseus did not want the people to see his weeping. 3. Odysseus did so well that he placed first among the contestants. 4. Odysseus was especially skilled in archery. 5. Alcinous commanded everyone to give gifts to Odysseus.

2

Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 7 1. ignore 2. refuse 3. discover 4. detour Lesson 7 1. There is nothing so dear as a man’s home, parents, and country. 2. Odysseus and his men were trapped in the cave of the Cyclops, Poseidon's son. 3. The Cyclopes were stronger than the gods. 4. The Cyclops determined that Odysseus would be the last to be killed and eaten. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 8 1. loosen 2. defy 3. promotion 4. stumble Lesson 8 1. The captain of the winds was Aeolus. 2. The men thought the bag was full of silver and gold. 3. The people that lived in Telepylus were horribly cruel savages. 4. Circe’s poison made the men forget their family and friends. 5. Circe turned Odysseus' men into pigs. 6. Hermes gave Odysseus an herb that would protect him against the poison. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 9 1. doubt 2. detective 3. truthful 4. augment Lesson 9 1. The Cimmerians were to be pitied, because they had to live in darkness all the time. 2. The first ghost to see Odysseus was his comrade Elpenor. 3. Poseidon was angry with Odysseus, because he had blinded his son the Cyclops. 4. Odysseus had to let his mother’s ghost drink the blood. 5. Tantalus was chin deep in water, but never could get a drink of the water. 6. Sisyphus had to roll a huge stone up a mountain, then when he reached the top, it would roll back down again and he would have to begin all over again. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 10 1. disorderly 2. welcome 3. sleep 4. landlord 3

Lesson 10 1. The men got the body of their comrade Elpinor and buried it. 2. The listener would forget wife, children and home, and would die listening to the Sirens’ sweet song. 3. Circe says to Odysseus that the men would be killed, but Odysseus would barely escape. 4. Odysseus knew this men would not go on rowing, but would huddle together in the hold of the ship. 5. Zeus struck the ship with a bolt of white lightning. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 11 1. boldness 2. toss 3. coward 4. generous 5. divide 6. openness 7. glance 8. valley 9. projectile Lesson 11 1. The common lot of all men is Age and Death. 2. Poseidon turned the ship into stone in front of many onlookers, and he buried their city under a mountain. 3. Odysseus was disoriented after so many years. 4. Athene disguised Odysseus as an old man in rags. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 12 1. sever 2. invite 3. talkative 4. refuse Lesson 12 1. Athene tells Telemachus to return home. 2. Helen gives Telemachus a beautiful robe for his bride. 3. An eagle with a goose in its talons flew by on the right side. 4. Telemachus goes to the home of the faithful swineherd. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 13 1. blessing 2. parade 3. rashness Lesson 13 4

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Telemachus came to the swineherd’s lodging. Telemachus did not have any brothers. When they saw Athene, the dogs did not bark, but rather whined and slunk away. Odysseus and Telemachus planned to take revenge on the suitors by killing them. Eurymachus was no friend, because he planned to murder Telemachus.

Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 14 1. satisfied 2. consideration 3. advantage 4. enormous Lesson 14 1. Telemachus wanted to let the old man beg at the house of Odysseus. 2. The suitors were playing at sports in the yard. 3. Odysseus had suffered so much at war and at sea that he was hardened to it. 4. Antinous threw a footstool at Odysseus and hit him in the back. 5. Penelope was curious about the old beggar and wanted to hear about his adventures in case he had seen her husband. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 15 1. vixen 2. tawny 3. gibe Lesson 15 1. The name of the “tramp” is Arnaeus, or Irus. 2. Athene gives extra strength to fight the tramp. 3. Penelope stated that she lost her beauty on the day Odysseus sailed to Troy. 4. A suitor generally supplied food for the lady’s friends and offers presents, which her suitors have not done. 5. Athene wanted Odysseus to become more and more bitter with the suitors. 6. The cupbearer was hit by the footstool. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 16 1. plaintive 2. chafe 3. squalid 4. fatuous 5. portended Lesson 16 1. Penelope wanted information about her husband. 2. Penelope began stitching a pall for Laertes, telling the suitors she could not marry until it was finished. Then at night, she would pick out all the stitches she had put in that day.

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3. Penelope asked the beggar what Odysseus was wearing when the old man saw her husband last. 4. The nurse recognized Odysseus by the scar on his leg when she was bathing him. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 17 1. pelted 2. ribald 3. bereft Lesson 17 1. Odysseus was troubled and was not trusting Athene even though she had seen him through all his past troubles. 2. Zeus sent Odysseus the sign of thunder without rain. 3. The sign was a miller-woman’s speech about the thunder. 4. Athene wanted Odysseus to be completely stirred up against them. 5. Penelope would marry the one who could string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes that had been lined up in the yard. 6. The suitors were afraid the beggar (Odysseus) might somehow string the bow and put them all to shame in the town. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 18 1. prepare 2. organize 3. believable 4. overtime Lesson 18 1. The first suitor to be killed was Antinous. 2. The other suitors thought the killing of Antinous had been an accident. 3. Odysseus and his men used the armor and weapons they had hidden and the secret door in the wall 4. Athene made the suitors’ weapons and shots to have little effect. 5. The women were hung. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 19 1. barbarity 2. turret 3. extraordinary 4. lackluster 5. retreat Lesson 19 1. Odysseus and Telemachus went into the woods to Laertes’ house. 2. Laertes looked old from grief and was unkempt. 3. No, only about half of the families tried to get revenge. 4. The two warring factions made a covenant of peace at Athene's request. 6

Odyssey Quiz #1 1. J 2. B 3. D 4. G 5. H 6. I 7. T 8. C 9. E 10. S 11. F 12. K 13. L 14. A 15. M 16. R 17. N 18. O 19. Q 20. P

Odyssey Quiz #2 1. Q 2. K 3. B 4. P 5. R 6. S 7. D 8. E 9. O 10. F 11. G 12. H 13. I 14. J 15. C 16. L 17. M 18. N 19. A 20. T

Odyssey Quiz #3 1. G 2. Q 3. B 4. F 5. P 6. R 7. S 8. T 9. H 10. E 11. I 12. C 13. J 14. K 15. L 16. M 17. N 18. A 19. O 20. D

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Odyssey Quiz #4 1. M 2. P 3. Q 4. L 5. R 6. C 7. D 8. A 9. B 10. F 11. G 12. N 13. H 14. I 15. J 16. K 17. S 18. O 19. E

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