The Odyssey - Books 9-12

Question 1

Why doesn’t the cyclops practice the Greek custom of hospitality?

Answer 1

Because they do not fear the gods. In fact, they made the weapons of the gods.

Question 2

What weapons did the cyclops make for the gods?

Answer 2

Hades’ helmet of invisibility, Zeus’ thunderbolt, Poseidon’s trident

Question 3

How does Odysseus show hubris when dealing with Polyphemus?

Answer 3

Rather than leaving himself unnamed, Odysseus shouts his name at Polyphemus.

Question 4

How did Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus?

Answer 4

1. Odysseus says his name is “nobody”
   2.Odysseus offers Polyphemus undiluted wine.
2. Odysseus and his men use a sharpened stake to blind Polyphemus.
3. They wait for Polyphemus to open his cave.
4. They escape under the bellies of the sheep.

Question 5

What does Odysseus do at the land of the Cicones?

Answer 5

He and his men kill all the men and boys, plunder the city, and take riches and women.

Question 6

What happens at the land of the Lotus Eaters?

Answer 6

Odysseus and his men eat the lotus, which makes them sleepy and forget their journey home. They are dangerous.

Question 7

Why is book 9 central to the Odyssey?

Answer 7

Because it is Polyphemus’s curse that motivates all of Odysseus’ future wanderings, all of his troubles from this point on are because of this.

Question 8

Why don’t Odysseus’ men reach Ithaca after they leave Aeolia?

Answer 8

They open the bag of winds and get blown back.

Question 9

What is the purpose of Odysseus and his men going to Lastrygonia?

Answer 9

This stop is necessary to move the plot forward. All but one of Odysseus’ ships sink here because they are moored in the harbor and Odysseus’ isn’t.

Question 10

Who helps Odysseus overcome Circe’s magic?

Answer 10

Hermes

Question 11

Why is Odysseus technically not cheating on Penelope throughout the Odyssey despite his relations with other women?

Answer 11

Only women need to be faithful to men at this time due to the need to know who a man’s son is.

Question 12

How are Circe and Calypso different?

Answer 12

Calypso starts as helpful to Odysseus because he is shipwrecked on her shore. Then she poses a danger because she falls in love with him and wants to keep him.

Circe starts as a threat and comes to be very helpful. She gives Odysseus all the directions that he needs to succeed in the next part of his journey.

Question 13

Define: Katabasis

Answer 13

The journey to the underworld

Question 14

Nekyia

Answer 14

The rite by which ghosts were called up and questioned about the future

Question 15

What is the purpose of Odysseus’ going to the underworld?

Answer 15

In the Trojan War Odysseus “dies” and the Ithacan King emerges ready to take back his throne. While in the underworld, Odysseus gains knowledge from Tiresias, Anticleia, and Agamemnon about what has happened while he is gone and what he is supposed to do next.

Question 16

What information does Tiresias provide for Odysseus?

Answer 16

1. Poseidon is the one angry with Odysseus.
2. He will make it home with all his men IF they don’t harm the cattle of the sun.
3. If they do harm the cattle of the sun, Odysseus will return home late and alone.

Question 17

Why is Elpenor’s story important?

Answer 17

1. He represents a lack of meden agan.
2. His story guides readers from the land of the living to the land of the dead and back again.
3. His unburied body means his spirit cannot actually go into the Underworld. This tells readers about the importance of proper burial.

Question 18

Why did Anticleia die?

Answer 18

Of grief over her son being gone.

Question 19

What is going on with Laertes?

Answer 19

He is grieving, living as a poor farmer, and is sad and alone.

Question 20

Character: Laertes

Answer 20

Odysseus’ father.

Question 21

Character: Anticleia

Answer 21

Odysseus’ mother.

Question 22

Why does Odysseus include the list of women in his story?

Answer 22

For Arete. This is a reminder that he needs to impress her to get home.

Question 23

What does Agamemnon warn Odysseus about?

Answer 23

Agamemnon tells the story of his own murder, and warns Odysseus not to trust even Penelope.

Question 24

How do books 9-12 comment on Odysseus’ leadership skills?

Answer 24

Answers will vary. Think about his role in going to the cyclops cave, how his men feel about the bag of winds, Elpenor, what he tells them/doesn’t tell them about Circe’s directions, the choice whether or not to sail close to Charybdis or Scylla, and the crews thoughts about what to do at the cattle of the sun.

Question 25

What do the sirens represent?

Answer 25

A concrete example of a fatal distraction for Odysseus. He does not have to hear his story, he wants to.

Question 26

What is the problem with sleep?

Answer 26

Both with the bag of winds and the cattle of the sun, Odysseus falls asleep and is unconscious to the world around him. In both instances, his men go against his orders because they do not trust him.

He also uses sleep to absolve him from any blame about what happened in both those scenes.

Question 27

How does Helios threaten Zeus if he cannot punish Odysseus?

Answer 27

He threatens to go shine in the underworld and leave the world in darkness.

Question 28

Character: Eurylochus

Answer 28

One of Odysseus’ men who challenges his authority

Question 29

Scylla

Answer 29

six-headed monster who eats Odysseus’ men

Question 30

Charybdis

Answer 30

The whirlpool that ultimately kills off the last of Odysseus’ men

Question 31

Sirens

Answer 31

human-like creatures with beautiful voices that lure men to their deaths