Studied by 11 people
What is an epic?
Long narrative poem, the great deeds of heroes, lofty language, and contains values of the society that produced it
When the Odyssey was written?
800 BC
What time period was the Odyssey set in?
1200-1250 BC
What was Homer’s first epic called?
The Iliad
Who was Homer?
A blind poet
What is a rhapsode?
A person who recites epics
What is a Homeric simile?
A longer comparison using like or as comparing the ordinary to the extraordinary
What is Odysseus’ most important quality or characteristic
His wits
How did Odysseus win the Trojan War?
The Trojan Horse
Where was Odysseus the king of?
Ithica
What is an invocation?
Invoking a particular individual for help in writing the epic
Who were the muse?
9 daughters of Zeus
What happens when Odysseus’ men eat the lotus flower?
They don’t want to leave and lose all motivation
What was the name of the Cyclops?
Polyphemus
Why does Odysseus not kill the Cyclops?
They won’t be able to leave the cave
How does Odysseus save his men from the Sirens.
He plugged their ears with beeswax
Why doesn't Odysseus warn his men about Scylla?
Because they’ll get scared, and they might get too close to Charybdis
What was the prophecy of Circe and Teiresias that Odysseus withholds from his men?
All of the men will die except Odysseus
What did Circe do to Odysseus’ men?
Turned them into animals
Why is Circe unable to use her magic on Odysseus?
Hermes gave Odysseus a plant called moly to protect him
What did Calypso want to do for Odysseus to make him agree to stay with her on her island?
Make him immortal
What did Athena disguise Odysseus as?
An old beggar
Which important character is the last to learn who the beggar really is?
Penelope
What task does Penelope set for her suitors?
She would marry whoever could string Odysseus's bow and fire it through 12 axes
Who shows hospitality to Odysseus once he gets home?
Eumaeus
Why were the maids executed?
They slept with the suitors
What does Odysseus do after killing the worst suitor
Kills everyone else
Which god made Odysseus’ journey home so difficult?
Poseidon
Who is Odysseus’ son?
Telemachus
How does Odysseus prove his identity to Penelope?
He explains that he built their bedroom around an ancient olive tree, which is unmovable
