English Odyssey

Why hasn’t Odysseus gotten home? (Book 1)

A nymph, Calypso, trapped him on the island of Ogygia

Who is occupying Odysseus’ house, and why do they do so? (Books 1-2)

Many young men are in his house hoping to marry Odysseus’ wife

Why do all Achaeans (the Greeks), including Nestor and Telemachus, admire Orestes? (Book 3)

He avenged his father’s death by murdering his killer, Aegisthus

Who was Menelaus’ brother, and by whom was he killed? (Book 4)

Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, killed by Aegisthus’ men

Who almost kills Odysseus? (Book 5)

Poseidon

Who is Alcinoos, and how does he treat Odysseus? (Books 6-8)

Alcinoos is the king of Phaeacia, and is very hospitable; welcoming Odysseus and giving him gifts and a place to sleep

How do Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus’ cave? (Book 9)

Odysseus uses a stick to stab out Polyphemus’ eye, and then they leave the cave hanging onto the underbelly of Polyphemus’ sheep. Polyphemus’ friends ask who attacked him and they do not come to help because he says “Nobody!”, as he believes that is Odysseus’ name.

What does Polyphemus ask Poseidon to do? (Book 9)

He prayed that Poseidon would not let Odysseus return home, or if he must, only after a long journey of suffering and the death of his friends will he return to trouble waiting at home

Why do Odysseus and his men return to Aeolia? (Book 10)

His crew released the winds captured by the king, which blew them back to Aeolia.

Why does Circe’s spell, which transformed Odysseus’ men into pigs, fail to work on Odysseus? (Book 10)

He was given magic herbs that blocked Circe’s spells

What warning does Tiresias give Odysseus? (Book 11)

To never touch or kill Helios’ cattle

Why do Odysseus’ men tie him to the mast of their ship? (Book 12)

So that he can listen to the sirens’ song but be unable to abandon the ship and follow the sirens

Why does Odysseus think that he and his men are doomed? (Book 12)

His men ignored the warning and ate one of Helios’ cows

Why, according to Athena, does Athena disguise Odysseus as an old beggar? (Book 13)

So that no one will know he is back until he speaks with Eumaeus

How does Eumaeus treat the old beggar (Odysseus)? (Book 14)

Eumaeus gives him food and news of the palace, and asks not to be given false hope for Odysseus’ return

What does Antinoos want to do about Telemachus? (Book 16)

He thinks they should kill Telemachus before he gets back to the palace

Who dies after waiting twenty years to see Odysseus? (Book 17)

Argos, the dog that Odysseus raised

How does Antinoos treat the old beggar (Odysseus)? (Book 17)

He is mean and angry that a stranger is taking their food; even throwing a chair at him.

What does Penelope do immediately after the old beggar (Odysseus) claims to have hosted Odysseus in Crete before the Trojan War? (Book 19)

She asks him what Odysseus was wearing as proof of his story

Why does the prophet Theoclymenus predict doom for the suitors? (Book 20)

He says that the gods already have their fate in store for them and says, “This hall is filled with shades of the dead”

What prize does Penelope promise to the “man who wins” the contest of the bow, and who wins the contest? (Book 21)

She promises her hand in marriage and Odysseus wins, disguised as a beggar

Why does Odysseus shoot Antinoos in the throat – what do Antinoos’ throat and mouth symbolize about his personality or actions? (Book 22)

He shoots him for eating his food and persuing his wife while he was away. His throat and mouth are symbolic because they are what he uses to eat Odysseus’ food and voice encouragement for his wrongdoings

How does Penelope initially react to the news that Odysseus has returned? (Book 23)

She is at first skeptical, but then is overjoyed and asks for forgiveness

When Athena intervenes in the battle, she gives Odysseus a choice. What does he choose? (Book 24)

She says if he puts down his weapons he will die of old age as a legend, and he chooses this over revenge