The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
Book 13
1. How will King Alcinous pay for the gifts for Odysseus?
2. What does Poseidon do to the Phaeacian ship?
3. What do the Phaeacians do to try to prevent Poseidon from burying their
city?
4. What are Odysseus’ thoughts when he first wakes in Ithaca?
5. For what does Athena scold Odysseus?
6. Describe the disguise Athena gives to Odysseus.
7. Athena and Odysseus go in different directions at the end of Book XIII (Book
13). Where does each go?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
Book XIV (Book 14)
8. What does Eumaeus say the suitors demand daily?
9. Find three ways the fictional story Odysseus tells Eumaeus parallels his true
experience. Odysseus’ fictional story is on pages 148-150. Use the table
below and the example to guide your work. NOTE: You may have to review
previous sections of the book OR your study guide to remember details.
Odysseus’s fictional story
Odysseus’s real experience
EXAMPLE:
Beggar claims he fought in the Troy for nine
years as a leader for the Cretans
EXAMPLE:
Odysseus fought in Troy for nine years as a
leader
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
10. Why doesn’t Eumaeus believe Odysseus’ story that Odysseus will return?
11. List one thing that shows Eumaeus’ loyalty to Odysseus. Include the first five
words of the passage and the page citation.
12. How does Odysseus get Eumaeus to let him stay overnight?
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
Book XV (Book 15)
13. What lies does Athena tell Telemachus to motivate him to return home?
14. What directions does Athena give Telemachus? Be specific!
15. What gifts does Telemachus receive from Menelaus and Helen? What could
they symbolize?
16. Who does Telemachus take on his ship? Explain who takes care of this
person once they reach Ithaca.
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
Book XVI (Book 16)
17. How does Eumaeus greet Telemachus?
18. What about the stranger from Crete (Odysseus in disguise) stresses
Telemachus? What is his solution for the problem?
19. How does the stranger (Odysseus in disguise) scold Telemachus?
20. What does Telemachus decide to do with his grandfather, Laertes?
21. Describe Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ reunion.
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The Odyssey
Study Guide
Books 13-16
Name:____________________________
22. Why do the suitors want to kill Telemachus? Which suitor does NOT want to
kill Telemachus? Why?
23. How does Penelope know about the suitors plan to kill Telemachus?
24. What does she do about it?
25. Pick ONE character and find ONE example of how that character
demonstrates a heroic Greek trait.
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