The Odyssey

What was the effect of the Lotus plant

It makes you not want to go home

How heavy is the door of the Cyclops' cave

Not even 2 dozen horses could move it

What is the first villainous thing the Cyclops' does

He eats 2 of Odysseus's men

Why doesn't Odysseus kill the Cyclops when he has the chance

Odysseus wouldn't be able to open the door

What does Odysseus give the Cyclops as a gift

Potent wine

What gift does the Cyclops give in return

He will eat Odysseus last

What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops that his name is

Noman

How does Odysseus and his men sneak out of the Cyclops cave

They hid underneath sheep

What foolish thing does Odysseus do

Gives the Cyclops his real name

What does the Cyclops ask his father Poseidon to do

Curse Odysseus

When Odysseus arrives in Ithaca whom does he visit first?

Eumaeus

Where does Odysseus find Eumaeus?

outside his hut

What does Eumaeus do when he sees Odysseus?

Although Eumaeus doesn't recognize the withered traveler as his master, he invites him inside.

What does this person say about Odysseus?

Eumaeus heaps praise upon the memory of his former master, whom he fears is lost for good

What does Odysseus say about Eumaeus' lost master?

Odysseus predicts that Eumaeus will see his master again quite soon

Why does Eumaeus deny what Odysseus says?

he has encountered too many vagabonds looking for a handout from Penelope in return for fabricated news of Odysseus

Does Odysseus tell Eumaeus the truth about himself?

No, he makes up another story in order to test his swineherd for loyalty.

What is Odysseus' fake tale?

Odysseus lies that he is from Crete. He fought with Odysseus at Troy and made it home safely, he claims, but a trip that he made later to Egypt went awry, and he was reduced to poverty. It was during this trip, he says, that he heard that Odysseus was still alive.

How does Odysseus feel about the job Eumaeus has done while he was away?

He is pleased with Eumaeus' loyalty

Examples that describe Eumaeus.

loyal, good host, fears the gods, loyal to swine and Ody's property

Eumaeus

Old swineherd and friend of Odysseus

What does Athena do to Odysseus' appearance after he arrives back on Ithaca?

She changes him into a beggar so he can go unrecognized.

Which god hates Odysseus?

Poseidon, because he blinded Polyphemus.

Athena

The goddess who helps Odysseus, and she loves him for his cleverness and sharp mind.

After Odysseus finishes telling King Alcinous his story, he finally goes home to Ithaca. How does he get there?

King Alcinous' men row him home.

How and why does Athena disguise Odysseus?

Athena disguises him as an old, homeless man so he can surprise the suitors at his house.

Why does Athena want Odysseus to visit his old swineherd, Eumaeus?

Athena wants Odysseus to visit Eumaeus to find out what's happening in Odysseus' house, and so Odysseus can see his son, Telemachus.

What three things does Athena tell Telemachus?

1. Go home. (Telemachus had been traveling around, searching for news about his father.)

2. The suitors are planning to kill him.

3. He should stay with Eumaeus for the night.

Ithaca

Odysseus's home and kingdom

One of the things that the Greeks regarded as most offensive to the gods was to

mistreat guests

Telemachus

Odysseus and Penelopes' son

Laertes

Odysseus' father

Shepherd

The person Odysseus meets first when he returns to Ithaca; it is really Athena.

Poseidon

Turns the Phaeacians' ship into a rock as it is returning to Scheria.

Alcinous

Offers sacrifices to Poseidon so he will not bury Scheria under a mountain according to an old prophecy.

Crete

Land the beggar Odysseus claims is his home.

Pisistratus

Leaves Telemachus at his ship before he returns to his home at Pylos.

Theoclymenus

Runaway who is taken aboard Telemachus' ship, and who prophesies success for Telemachus.

Ctimene

Odysseus' sister and a companion of Eumaeus as he was growing up

Phoenician woman

Kidnapped Eumaeus; he was sold as a slave after her death.

Piraeus

Friend of Telemachus who houses Theoclymenus when he comes to Ithaca.

Phoenicians

Famous sailors and traders who Odysseus claimed had helped him.

Eumaus' hut

location: the setting of Book 16

Eumaeus

character: the swineherd who hosts Odysseus when he arrives in Ithaca

A fond father welcoming back his son from nine years abroad

simile: Eumaeus greeting Telemachus

'light of my eyes'

How Eumaeus addresses Telemachus

Crete

Eumaeus says this is where Odysseus claims to be from

He is not strong enough to defend himself in a fight; his mother is still unsure whether to remarry; the Suitors might insult Odysseus

3 reasons Telemachus does not want Odysseus-the-beggar to go to the palace

Athena

character: she tells Odysseus to reveal himself to Telemachus

Disbelief/a trick of the gods

Telemachus' first reaction to Odysseus revealing his identity

Vultures who have been robbed of their young

simile: Odysseus and Telemachus when they are reunited

108

the number of Suitors recounted by Telemachus (excluding their servants)

The messenger from the ship blurts it out

How the Suitors find out Telemachus is back

Antinous

character: he tells the assembly they must think of a way to kill Telemachus

Amphinomus

character: he recommends that the Suitors find out the gods' will before attacking Telemachus

Eurymachus

character: he reassures Penelope that the Suitors don't intend to harm Telemachus, despite his true intentions