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The Odyssey Annotations
Directions: Use these questions as a way to annotate The Odyssey as you are reading.
Questions
“The Cyclops”
1. Record Odysseus’ descriptions of
the island as he is traveling to the
cave.
2. How does Odysseus' curiosity put
everyone in danger once the men
are in the cave? (Hint: Why
doesn’t Odysseus want to leave
before the Cyclops returns?)
3. How does the Cyclops prove his
barbaric and violent nature soon
after he meets Odysseus and his
men?
4. What does Odysseus answer when
the Cyclops asks him about his
ship? When Cyclops asks for
Odysseus’ name? How is his
answer humorous later?
Annotations
Questions
“Cyclops”
5. Why doesn’t Odysseus stab the
Cyclops when he has the chance
the first night he falls asleep?
Why does the Cyclops fall asleep
so quickly the next night?
6. How does Odysseus save his men
and make it safely out of the cave?
7. What critical error does Odysseus
make with Cyclops as he is leaving
on his ship? How does this help
Cyclops and how does he respond?
Quick Write#1: What Central Idea does
Homer develop about pride in this
adventure? How do Odysseus’ character
and actions help to develop that Central
Idea? Use textual evidence as support for
your answer.
Annotations
Questions
“The Sirens”
1. Who warned Odysseus of this next
adventure?
2. What is magical about the Sirens?
3. How does Odysseus protect his
men? Himself?
4. How did the men “disobey”
Odysseus?
Quick Write #2: How is the Sirens story
significant in terms of Odysseus’s character
development? How has he changed?
Annotations
Questions
“Cattle of the Sun God”
1. Why do the men stay so long on an
island that poses a threat to them?
2. Why do the men even think about
eating the cattle in the first place?
3. Why isn’t Odysseus part of the
group that eats the cattle?
4. How are the men convinced to
actually eat the cattle?
5. How does Zeus find out what the
men have done?
6. Why is Zeus “forced” to retaliate
against the men?
Annotations
Questions
“Cattle of the Sun God” Continued
7. How are the men punished?
8. What happens to Odysseus?
9. How does Zeus help Odysseus out
once he is floating alone at sea?
10. Where does Odysseus end up?
Annotations
Questions
“Father and Son”
1. How is Odysseus disguised by
Athena so that he is unrecognized
by others? How will this disguise
help him later at the palace?
2. Describe Telemachus’ initial
reaction to Odysseus. Include the
Homeric simile Homer uses to
describe the moment.
3. What information does
Telemachus give to Odysseus
about the suitors and what they
will have to contend with back at
the palace?
4. Odysseus has a plan and he gives 3
specific instructions to
Telemachus…what are they?
Annotations
Questions
“The Suitors”
1. How does Antinous treat the
“beggar” Odysseus? Give details.
2. How does Odyssues react? What
does he say?
3. How do the other suitors react to
Odysseus and Antinous’s actions?
4. What is Telemachus’s reaction?
5. What does Penelope ask Eumaeus
to do with the “beggar”?
Quick Write #3: How has the character of
Odysseus changed in this section? Use
textual evidence from the reading to show
that Odysseus is learning to rely on wisdom
rather than pride to succeed.
Annotations
Questions
“Penelope”
1. What does Penelope ask about the
“beggar” and how does Odysseus
respond?
2. What does Penelope tell Odysseus
about how it’s been for the past 20
years and how she has been trying
to deal with the suitors in her
house?
3. What is the final promise the
“beggar” gives to Penelope about
Odysseus?
Annotations
Questions
“The Challenge”
1. Describe the “challenge”
2. Describe in detail how Odysseus
faces achieving the challenge.
3. Describe some of the suitors’
comments and why they are ironic.
4. Explain how Odysseus and
Telemachus then react to the suitors
– What does Odysseus say to his
son? What does Telemachus do?
Quick Write #4: In what ways are
Penelope and Odysseus similar characters?
Use textual evidence as you develop your
answer.
Annotations
Questions
“Odysseus’s Revenge”
1. How does Odysseus transform?
2. Who is the first to die? How?
3. Once the first man dies, Odysseus
clearly reveals himself to the rest of
the suitors and then tells the men
what?
4. Who is the next suitor to die and
how does he try to save himself and
the rest of the suitors? Odysseus’
response?
5. Describe the rest of the massacre,
include where Telemachus goes.
Annotations
Questions
“Penelope Tests Odysseus”
6. Odysseus is made handsome and
muscular by Athena before he faces
Penelope; according to Odysseus,
how does she immediately react to
him?
7. Penelope gives the nurse, Eurycleia,
a specific order, at which Odysseus
becomes enraged. What was the
order and why was Odysseus so
mad?
8. Briefly finish this section
“Postscript”
1. Describe what happens the next day
after Odysseus’ return.
Annotations