Study Guide for the Odyssey and Poetry Unit
1. What is an epic? A myth?
An epic is a long narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a culture.
A myth is a story that explains the actions of gods or human heroes, the reasons for certain traditions, or the
causes of natural features and events.
2. How does Homer make his heroes seem believable and human?
His heroes portray both good and bad character traits.
3. What trait does Odysseus demonstrate by lying about his name to Polyphemus (the cyclops)?
Cunning, Creativity
4. Describe what Odysseus does to Polyphemus (the cyclops)?
He gets him drunk and when he falls asleep his men jam a sharpened tree branch through his eye, blinding him.
When the cyclops opens the door to the cave the men sneak out by riding underneath the rams.
5. What does Odysseus use to protect his crew from the Sirens?
He fills their ears with beeswax. This prevents the crew from being able to hear the songs.
6. Why doesn’t Odysseus warn his crew about Scylla (sea monster)?
The men would begin to panic, which would put their boat in danger.
7. What test does Penelope put her suitors through before she agrees to marry?
They must shoot an arrow from Odysseus’ bow through 12 axe-handles.
8. How does Odysseus prove his identity to Penelope?
He describes in detail how he built their bed.
9. What does the item used to prove his identity symbolize?
The bed symbolizes Penelope’s faithfulness to her husband and their marriage after Odysseus had been gone for
20 years.
10. How does Antinous treat Odysseus when he asks for food (act is most offensive to the gods)?
He mocked him and threw a chair at him. According to Odysseus, the gods say that you must always treat your
guests well.
11. What does this myth primarily express (what should you take away from reading the story)?
The values of Greek society and civilization.
12. How does Odysseus exhibit traits of an epic hero?
He was able to string the bow when no one else could. Remember that when Odysseus does this he is still dressed
as an old beggar.
13. What themes are included in the Odyssey?
Be loyal to friends and family.
Learn how to overcome obstacles.
Maintain strong relationships between humans and the gods.
14. This myth is a story of Odysseus triumph over who (or what)?
Odysseus faced many temptations and obstacles during his journey that he had to triumph over in order to return
to Ithaca.
15. How does Odysseus triumph over temptation and hardship?
He is very courageous and brave. He is also very intelligent and plans resourcefully.
16. What is Odysseus’ personality like?
He is smart, curious, proud, funny, brave, and strong.
17. What character traits best describe Penelope?
She is very loyal.
18. What is the irony in the part of Odysseus dressed as a beggar and stringing his old bow?
Because the people thought he was an old beggar, they did not think he would be strong enough to complete the
task.
19. How do you identify the rhyme scheme of a poem?
The last word in each line of a poem. Identify rhyme pairs with a letter from the alphabet. Each pair gets a new
letter.
20. What is alliteration?
The repetition of consonant sounds.
EX: Sally sold sea shells by the sea shore.
21. What are couplets? Stanzas? Quatrains? Cinquains?
Couplets – a pair of rhyming lines.
Stanzas – repeated grouping of two or more lines in a poem.
Quatrains – a poem of four lines.
Cinquains – a poem of five lines.
22. What is an onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates a sound.
EX: sizzle, bang, pop, zip.
23. What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile compares two things using like or as.
A metaphor compares two things without using like or as.
24. What is a free verse poem?
A poem that does not follow a regular meter or rhyme.
25. What is a haiku?
A three lined poem that conveys an emotion. The first and third lines have five syllables each and the second line
has seven syllables.
26. What is the difference between a lyric poem and a narrative poem?
A lyric poem uses highly musical verse. Expresses thoughts, observations, and feelings of the speaker.
A narrative poem tells a story.
27. What are the five senses that imagery appeals to?
Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, Taste
28. What is an allusion?
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.
29. What is an assertion?
A declaration made – particularly in an argument. A statement of facts.
30. What is personification?
Giving a nonhuman any human like characteristic.
31. What does it mean to paraphrase something?
To shorten and reword something that is written or spoken.
32. What is assonance? Consonance?
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonants.
Consonance is the repetition of final consonant sounds.
33. What is a hyperbole?
A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.