STUDENT NAME:
READING QUIZ
The Odyssey: Land of the Dead
Reading Quiz
When we came to Circe's island, no one was eager to go exploring,
but I divided the company in two and we drew lots. My group
stayed behind while the other set out under my kinsman Eurylochus
to reconnoiter.
Before long they came to a stone house in the middle of a tangled
wood. Strange to tell, it was surrounded by lions and wolves of
extraordinary MEEKNESS. None of the animals were aggressive or
threatening towards us. Hearing singing from within, the men saw
no harm in making their presence known.
Circe came out and welcomed them inside. All but Eurylochus
accepted the invitation. He had a PREMONITION. And sure
enough, after she had given them food and honeyed wine mixed with
a pinch of something, she waved her wand and turned them into
swine.
Eurylochus came running back to the ship and spread the alarm. I now shouldered the burden of
command and set out to investigate.
Fortunately I met Hermes along the way. Zeus's herald warned me that I too would be transformed
by Circe's witchery unless I followed his instructions. I was to accept the potion that she gave me,
knowing that I would be protected by a godly charm -- a sprig of herb called moly that mortals dare
not harvest. Then when she raised her wand I was to draw my sword.
Hermes gave me the moly, then departed. I made my way to the house in the clearing and Circe
bade me enter. I downed the potion. Then just as she showed her wand, I unsheathed my sword and
held it to her throat.
She fainted to the ground and clutched my knees. 'You can only be Odysseus. Hermes warned me
that this day would come. Let me be your friend and lover.'
First I made her swear an oath.
Later we feasted splendidly and her servants danced attendance. But she could see that I was in no
mood for LEVITY. Divining the cause, she waved her wand once more and restored my shipmates
to human form. She even sent me to summon the men from the ship, who never thought they'd see
me again alive.
STUDENT NAME:
READING QUIZ
When many months had passed, the crew reminded me of home. Now it was my turn to take Circe's
knees in supplication. The goddess was willing to let me go, but it was not as simple as that.
'You will never see your home again,' she said, 'by sailing there directly. You must detour to Hades,
the land of Death, there to consult the blind prophet Tiresias. He alone can chart your course.'
"At the furthest edge of Ocean's stream is the land to which all journey when they die. Here their
spirits endure a fleshless existence. They can't even talk unless re-animated with blood.
Accordingly, I did as Circe instructed, bleeding a sacrificed lamb into a pit. Tiresias, the blind
prophet who had accompanied us to Troy, was the soul I had to talk to. So I held all the other
shades at bay with my sword until he had drunk from the pit.
Tiresias gave me warnings about my journey home. He told me the way I must travel in order to
reach Ithaca, but the passage was PERILOUS. He told me of the beasts that I must face in order to
get home, and his words filled me with DREAD. Tiresias also told me what I must do to ensure a
happy death when my time came.
As I left Hades, I met the shades of many famous women and heroes, including Achilles, best fighter
of the Greeks at Troy. Yet, out of all of the dead spirits that I saw, one truly filled my soul with pain
and agony. My own mother, who was alive when I left for Troy, was among the dead. Upon seeing
her, I cried out, “Mother, why are you here? You should be at home with Penelope and
Telemachus.”
My mother replied in a deathly voice that sent chills down my spine. “I waited for you, my son,” she
said. “Yet, as the years passed, I could bear no more, so I took my own life. I am sorry, but you must
not dwell on me. You have other urgent matters at home. Men who claim to be suitors have come to
Ithaca. They want your kingdom and your wife. They are trying to force Penelope to admit that you
are dead, so she will choose another to be her king. I fear not only for Penelope but also your son,
Telemachus. His life is in great danger. These men want him dead. You must hurry, Odysseus.
Hurry, or you will not have a home to return to.”
As she finished her words, her spirit walked back into the flames of Hades. Heartbroken and weary
as I was, I was now more determined than ever to reach Ithaca. Men were trying to steal the
kingdom that I built with my own hands, and I would not allow that to happen as long as I was still
among the living.
STUDENT NAME:
READING QUIZ
1. Where are Odysseus and his men at the start of the chapter?
2. Based on how the word is used in paragraph 2, what does MEEKNESS most likely mean?
a. angry
b. lazy
c. violent
d. calm
3.
Based on how the word is used in the third paragraph, what does PREMONITION most
likely mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
feeling of guilt about the past
feeling of joy
feeling of curiosity
feeling of warning about the future
4.
What EFFECT did Circe’s invitation of food and wine have on the men?
5.
Why was Odysseus willing to accept Circe’s potion?
6.
Based on how the word is used, what does LEVITY most likely mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
lightheartedness
serious behavior
heavy
debate
7.
Why does Circe tell Odysseus that he must go to Hades, the Land of Death?
8.
Which word BEST DESCRIBES the MOOD of Hades?
a.
b.
c.
d.
exciting
majestic
dreary
dull
9.
When Odysseus says, “I held all the other shades at bay,” What are the shades?
STUDENT NAME:
READING QUIZ
10.
Based on how the word is used, what does PERILOUS most likely mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
adventurous
safe
popcorn
dangerous
11.
Based on how the word is used, what does DREAD most likely mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
fun
fear or terror
dead
mysterious
12.
When Odysseus sees his mother in Hades, what EFFECT does this have on him?
a.
b.
c.
d.
He is happy to see his mother.
He is filled with sorrow and shock.
He becomes enraged.
He loses all hope of ever returning to Ithaca.
13.
Why does the mother of Odysseus tell him that he must hurry up and get back to Ithaca?
14.
Based on how this chapter ends, what can we logically PREDICT will happen in the next
chapter?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Odysseus will try to rescue his mother from Hades.
Odysseus will set course for Ithaca and face more dangers on his journey.
Odysseus will return to Circe’s island for further instructions.
Odysseus will remain in Hades.
15.
Which word BEST DESCRIBES the character of Odysseus at the
end of this chapter?
a.
b.
c.
d.
fearless
angry
desperate
calm
STUDENT NAME:
READING QUIZ
“THE LAND OF THE
DEAD”ONE-PAGER
After reading “The Land of the Dead” and after you answer the quiz questions
based on the chapter, you then need to create a ONE-PAGER SUMMARY of
that chapter. Attached to this rubric is a sheet that tells you specifically which
chapters require you to create a ONE-PAGER
Remember, ALL ONE-PAGERS should include the following items below:
1. At the top of each one-pager, the student needs to indicate which chapter of the
Odyssey his/her one-pager is representing.
2. Also, each one-pager should include a written summary of the chapter (at least 5
sentences.
3. Each one-pager also needs one direct quote from the chapter. Be sure you put
quotation marks around the direct quote.
4. Each one-pager needs a student-created quiz question based on the chapter.
5. Finally, each one-pager needs to include a visual (drawing. Picture, clip art, image,
etc.) representing some aspect of the chapter. Add color to your visual.