The Odyssey
PART 1: THE WANDERINGS
Name:_______________________________#___
The Odyssey by Homer
A study Packet O’ Fun
Composed 700-900 B.C.
Setting of story 1200 B.C.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Homer’s first epic, Illiad, describes 10-year Trojan War. Much of the Illiad is based on
history. You can still see ruins of Troy in western Turkey.
Cause of Trojan War: Helen (very hot) left her Greek husband, King Menelaus. She
paired up with this Paris dude, prince of Troy.
Homer’s next epic, The Odyssey tells the story about one man’s attempt to return home
after the Trojan War. His name is Odysseus.
TROJAN WAR
Greeks attacked Troy to support King Menelaus of Sparta. After all, his wife left with
Paris of Troy. You might as well attack the whole country. Leader of Greeks: King
Menelaus; his brother Agamemnon; king of Mycenae. They sailed across Aegean Sea to
attack Troy. They burned Troy to the ground.
Talk about a lack of gratitude. When Agamemnon returned from Troy, his unfaithful
wife murdered him.
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Calypso, The Sweet Nymph (BOOK 5)
1. The name Calypso comes from the Greek verb “to hide.” Cool, huh? So don’t calypso when I
need a volunteer. This Calypso nymph makes a tempting offer. What does she promise
Odysseus if he stays with her? (654)
Similes were used even 1000s of years ago. What is Hermes compared to? (652, lines 39-45)
List 3 details that make the setting attractive, almost heavenly. (652)
This is the first time we see O. What’s he doing? (653, lines 77-88)
How is O’s night behavior different than his day behavior and why? (653, lines 82-86)
(653, line 88) Guess what forlorn means:
(653) Guess what pine means:
Make sure you look up both words before our next quiz.
Odysseus mentions facing adversity What kind of “stuff” do you think this means he’ll face?
What argument does Calypso nymph use to convince O to stay? (653, lines 109-111)
In what way is O a strategist?
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We skip Books 6-7-8. Here’s what happens. Poseidon is still ticked off. Mr. Big Bad sea god
makes the sea rough for our buddy Odysseus. O washes ashore on Scheria, home of Phaeacians.
He meets Princess Nausicaa and her father, King Alcinous.
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I am Laretes’ Son (BOOK 9)
[Keep in mind that O is doing nearly all the talking in Book 9. He is the storyteller!]
Opening scene: O is used to disguising himself. This is one of the few passages in which he
reveals his identity. (656)
O says things that the modern reader may find boastful (though the Greeks would not have).
What does he say that sounds boastful? (656, lines 127-30 )
According to this, how does O feel about his homeland, Ithica?
The Lotus Eaters
What happens when you drink fruit from lotus plant? (658)
O sends 3 scouts to learn about Lotus Eaters. What happens to the 3 men?
(658, Lines 204-210)
What does O finally have to do to these men? (658, lines 211-215)
The Cyclops
What does Mr. Cyclops put in front of the opening in his cave? (661, lines 228-33)
“You are a ninny.” (661, line 263) A good line to memorize! What’s a ninny?
Page 663, line 271: Who is “I”?________________________
Why does O tell a lie about his ship? (663, lines 273-276 )
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Mr. tough guy Cyclops is unimpressed with O’s story about the ship. What does Mr. C do next?
(663, lines 278-283)
Why doesn’t O stab Mr. Cyclops? (663, lines 293-295). What aspect of O’s personality does this
show?
How does O plan to kill Mr. Cyclops? (664, lines 324-29)
What “pets” enter the cave with the sheep? (664, lines 330-33)
What is O’s fake name? (665) __________________
Cyclops falls asleep. O and his men attack. Cyclops screams. Why do his fellow Cyclopes come
but then leave? (666, lines 398-410)
Blind Cyclops waits at the entrance of his cave doing what? (666, lines 411-415)
Check out the picture of the vase on 666. What’s happening?
O says Nanananana. He taunts Cyclops. Is this a good idea? Explain. (See 668)
O cups his hands to yell again. What does crew say? (669, lines 493-499)
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Does O listen to his crew? What does he say? (669, lines 500-505)
Cy’s response: “I knew it!” Explain. (669-670)
Do O and Cyclops kiss and make up? Explain. (670)
Circe
1. Who is the God of Wind and what do he give to O? (673)
2. Those darn sailors mess it up. How? (673)
3. The men get to Circe’s island. What makes them decide to trust her?
4. Deja Vu? Circe gave Pramnian wine with a hint of her own vile that made them
forget their fatherland just like when they ate the _______________________.
5. Suddenly, Pirates of the Caribbean becomes the movie Babe. What happens? (674)
6. Problem solved: O fixes the men’s solution thanks to ____________. What does O do?
(675)
7. How does Circe ultimately turn and help O? (675)
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Land of the dead
1. Why does Odysseus GO to the land of the dead? Does he have a death wish? (675)
2. Does O “pull a Prometheus” and try to fake his sacrifice to Teiresias or does he follow
through? (675-676)
3. O mentions offering things for “sovereign Death and pale Persephone.” This sounds familiar!
Remind me, who/where are they? (676)
4. What does Teiresias predict for him? (676, L 618-655)
5. The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis
 O continues to tell his story to Alcinous. After the ordeal, O ends up back at Circe’s island,
where she offers him the following warning: (678)
6. She gives him two choices so that he won’t succumb to the Sirens’ seductive voices. What
are they? (678)
Put your artwork to the test... draw
A.
a picture of Scylla here:
B.
7. What’s the deal with Scylla? (678, L 679-694)
Keep Testin’... draw a picture of
Charybdis
8. Now, tell me about Charybdis (678, L 697-704).
What will Char do if O gets too close?
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9. O told his men to tie him up, but he didn’t tell them
everything. What did O NOT tell his crew? Why do you think he chose to keep this from
them? (682, L 790-792)
The Cattle of the Sun God
10. Describe the circumstances of O’s shipmates’ deaths.
Is it his fault? (684-686)
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PART 1: THE WANDERINGS
Below, summarize the external conflict and its resolution
Adventure
Summary
Art/Symbol
Calypso
Lotus
Eaters
Cyclops
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The Odyssey
PART 1: THE WANDERINGS
Adventure
Summary
Art/Symbol
Circe
Land of
the Dead
Sirens;
Scylla and
Charybdis
Cattle of
the Sun
God
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