The Odyssey Book 10 - Quick Questions

What is the name of the floating island where Aeolus lives?

Aeolia

What did Aeolus give to Odysseus to help him return to Ithaca?

A bag containing all the 'boisterous energies' of the winds

What is the name of the floating island where Aeolus lives?

Aeolia

What did Aeolus give to Odysseus to help him return to Ithaca?

A bag containing all the 'boisterous energies' of the winds

How many children does Aeolus have, and who are they married to?

6 sons and 6 daughters; each other

How long does Odysseus spend on Aeolia after receiving perfect xenia from Aeolus?

A month

What did Odysseus secure the ox-skin bag gifted to him from Aeolus with?

Burnished silver wire

How long do Odysseus and his men sail for after leaving Aeolia, and before seeing Ithaca?

9 days and nights

What does Odysseus see the people of Ithaca doing when he pulls near in his ship?

"Tending to their fires"

Why did Odysseus fall asleep after catching sight of Ithaca?

He alone had steered the ship during the voyage

What did the men think Aeolus had given Odysseus?

A fortune in gold and silver

Despite Aeolus' help, why did Odysseus fail to get home?

The greed of his men; his men opened the bag of winds

What did Odysseus consider doing after seeing what his men had done to steer them away from Ithaca?

Commit suicide by jumping into the sea

Who did Odysseus take with him to appeal to Aeolus for a second time?

A messenger and one of his comrades

Where did Odysseus and his men sit when appealing to Aeolus for the second time?

The threshold by the door-posts

Why did Aeolus cast Odysseus off his island after seeing him return?

He took his return as proof of Odysseus' unpopularity amongst the other gods

For how long were Odysseus and his men at sea for after leaving Aeolus' island for the second time?

6 days and nights

Where did Odysseus and his men land after sailing from Aeolia the second time?

Telepylus

What did Odysseus comment on about Telepylus?

The days and nights were very short ("nightfall and morning tread so closely on each other's heels")

What was notable about the harbour of Telepylus?

The waters were completely calm

Did Odysseus see any signs of civilisation on Telepylus (bar the plume of smoke from the countryside)?

No

Who did Odysseus send to see "what sort of people the inhabitants were" of the island?

2 men and a messenger

What did the search party find near the town of the Laestrygonians?

A well worn track

What was strange about the daughter of Antiphates?

She was doing physical labour (would have been seen as barbaric by the Greeks)

What appalled Odysseus' men about the wife of Antiphates?

She was "a woman of mountainous proportions"

Who was Antiphates?

Chief of the Laestrygonians

Rather than offer them xenia, what does Antiphates do upon seeing Odysseus' men?

Killed one of them to eat for his supper

What does Homer compare the attacking Laestrygonians to?

Giants

How do the Laestrygonians attack Odysseus and his ships?

They pelted stones (heavier than any man could carry) from the cliffs above

What simile does Homer use when referring to the men killed by the Laestrygonians?

Fishes on a spear

How did Odysseus escape Antiphates' attack?

He and his men escaped to his ship and sailed away

What is the name of Circe's island (where Odysseus and his men next travelled to)?

Aenea

What is the name of Circe's brother?

Aeetes

What are the names of Circe and Aeetes' parents?

Helios and Perse (a sea nymph)

For how long do Odysseus and his men rest on the shores of Aenea?

2 days and nights

How did an unnamed god show sympathy for Odysseus when he was returning to his ships?

Sends a great antlered stag

How did Odysseus bring the stag back to his ships?

Made a rope of undergrowth and willows

What did the men remember that made them burst into tears?

The savagery of Polyphemus and the Laestrygonians

The day following their arrival on Aenea, who does Odysseus put in charge of the investigation party?

Eurylochus

How many men accompanied Eurylochus in his search party?

Twenty-two

What about the patrolling mountain wolves and lions frightened Eurylochus and his men?

They were docile (having been drugged by Circe)

What was Circe doing when Eurylochus and his men arrived?

Weaving a fabric

Which of Eurylochus' men took the lead when going into Circe's home?

Polites

What did Circe do to Odysseus' men?

Turned them into pigs

How come Eurylochus was not turned into a pig and managed to escape?

He suspected treachery and waited outside

How did Eurylochus appeal to Odysseus to convince him to stay with the ships?

He entered a pose of supplication

What advice did Hermes give to Odysseus?

Eat the moly, draw his sword, run at her, make her swear an oath, and sleep with her

How does Homer describe the moly that Hermes plucks from the ground?

Having a black root and a milk-white flower

How does Circe know Odysseus identity as soon as he lunges at her with his sword?

Hermes warned her Odysseus would arrive on his way back from Troy

How many maids did Circe have in her service?

4

What did Circe's maids do for Odysseus and his men?

Prepared a great feast

What did Circe do for Odysseus before he told the rest of his men to come to Circe's home?

Reversed the spell that had turned his men into pigs

What Homeric simile is used to describe Odysseus' men after they see him return from Circe?

Cows "welcomed by their frisking calves"

To what extent were Odysseus' men moved by his return?

They felt as if they were standing in Ithaca once more

Which of Odysseus' men at first refuses to go with Odysseus, blames him for their previous hardship, causing Odysseus to attempt to kill him?

Eurylochus

For how long do Odysseus and his men stay with Circe?

A year

Who does Circe tell Odysseus he must find before he can return home?

Teiresias (a blind prophet granted continuing wisdom by Persephone despite the fact he is dead)

What ritual does Odysseus have to perform in order to speak with Teiresias in the Underworld?

Dig a trench; pour mixtures to the gods (one with milk and honey, one with sweet wine, and one with water); sprinkle white barley over the now full trench; start praying to the ghosts of the dead; promise to sacrifice a barren heifer in Ithaca; heap the pyre with treasures; promise Teiresias the finsest jet-black sheep in his flock; sacrifice a ram and a black ewe; have his men hold their heads down towards Erebus, and hold his own head down to face the River of Ocean; have his men flay the sheep lying there and burn the remains, in honour of Hades and Persephone; stop any ghosts from coming near whilst speaking to Teiresias; and the prophet (finally) will arrive.

Which of his comrades does Odysseus describe as stupid near the end of book 10?

Elpenor

How did Elpenor die?

Fell off a roof after drinking too much