Odyssey Study Questions Flashcards
What is Odysseus motivation for getting home?
Penelope and his child.
To whom is Homer praying?
A muse, epic poetry
Who is Odysseus divine guardian, and what effect does this have on him?
Athena, she gives him protection
Why is Odysseus held captive by calypso? How long was he with her?
She wanted to be loved/ lust… She had him for 7 years
Why do the gods help Odysseus?
They felt bad because there supposed to help the humans.
Where is Odysseus when the readers are first introduced to him? What is he doing? How is he treated?
He’s with a king telling him a story. He was treated kindly
What happened at the land of the Cicones?
They got attacked when the were drunk and lost 100 men
What happens to the men who eat the lotus and where is this plant found later in the story?
The men lose there desire to go home. The lotus flower was seen on the ship
Why does Odysseus go to the cyclops cave?
Curiosity
How does Odysseus greet Polyphemus upon first meeting him?
He talks about wining the battle of Troy
Why can’t Odysseus and his men leave the cave?
The rock is covering the entrance and they can’t push it.
In the Cyclopes episode, how does Odysseus show that he is clever with language?
When he first greeted him he said his name was “nohbody”
How does Odysseus trick Polyphemus to get out of the cave?
He tried him and his men to the sheep so Polyphemus (blind) couldn’t feel him.
What ultimately leads to the downfall of Polyphemus and Odysseus?
Polyphemus got drunk
What is Odysseus attitude when leaving the Cyclops’ island?
He’s prideful
