The Odyssey Flashcards

Stops on the Journey/Matching

• Troy: Site of the Trojan War. Odysseus and his men fought in this war.
• Ismarus: Location where Odysseus and his men raided the city.
• Land of the Lotus Eaters: A place where some of Odysseus's men ate intoxicating lotuses and lost their desire to return home.
• Cyclops' Land: The island inhabited by Polyphemus, a cyclops, where some of Odysseus's men were eaten.
• Aeaea: The island where Odysseus and his crew encountered Circe, a witch, and stayed with her for a year.
• Land of the Dead: The underworld, where Odysseus meets the prophet Tiresias.
• Ithaca: Odysseus's home, ruled by the king, where they explain their journey.

Literary Terms

• Epic:
  • A long narrative poem recounting the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures.
  • Often derived from ancient oral tradition.
  • Narrates the history of a nation.
• Quest:
  • A character is in search of something.
• Invocation of the Muse:
  • A formal appeal or request for inspiration and guidance.
  • Often made to a deity or muse.
  • Typically appears at the beginning of an epic poem.
• In Medias Res:
  • A technique of beginning a story by dropping the reader in the midst of the action.
• Epic Simile:
  • An extended comparison, typically found in epic poems.
  • Used to compare two seemingly dissimilar things using "like" or "as".

Character Matching - Gods, Monsters, Guides, and Mortals

• Odysseus:
  • Laertes' son.
  • Seeking his home in Ithaca.
  • Warrior in the Trojan War.
  • Leader who tries to get his men home safely.
• Penelope:
  • Odysseus's wife.
  • Loyal supporter to her husband.
  • Remains faithful to him despite his long absence.
• Telemachus:
  • Odysseus's son.
  • Young boy with potential.
  • Confused about his parents' past.
• Eurylochus:
  • Odysseus's crew member.
  • Brave and willing companion.
  • Loyally stays with his captain through all hardships.
• Elpinor:
  • Odysseus's companion.
  • A foolish warrior who fell into a trap.
  • A spirit who wants a proper burial.
• Scylla:
  • Monster who almost killed Odysseus.
• Charybdis:
  • Monster who almost killed Odysseus.
• Calypso:
  • A goddess.
  • Imprisons Odysseus.
  • Unwilling to let her guest go.
• Polyphemus:
  • Poseidon's son.
  • A cyclops.
  • Failed to kill Odysseus.
• Sirens:
  • Creatures who lure sailors to their deaths with their enchanting songs.
• Lotus Eaters:
  • People dependent on lotuses.
  • They trap Odysseus's men.
  • Eaters who have lost their purpose.
• Athena:
  • Noble daughter of Zeus.
  • Persistent helper of Odysseus.
  • Supporter of Odysseus's return home.
• Zeus:
  • King of the Gods.
  • A warrior himself.
  • Final decider of Odysseus's fate.
• Circe:
  • A disguised witch.
  • Cunning trickster.
  • Monster who almost killed Odysseus.
• Poseidon:
  • Polyphemus's father.
  • King/God of the seas.
  • Enraged at what Odysseus did to his son.
• Tiresias:
  • Underworld's prophet.
  • Blind spirit.
  • Dead soul who knows it all.
• Muse:
  • Goddess of art and memory.
  • Women who were the inspiration for the Odyssey.