Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 1
Calypso
Poseidon
Athena
Aegisthus
Orestes
Laertes
Odysseus
Polyphemus
Penelope
Telemachus
Phemius
Eurycleia
Antinous
Eurymachus
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What function do the first two paragraphs serve? Why would the poet want to
begin this way?
2. Why does Athena tell Telemachus that saveages hold his father?
3. How do Telemachus’ words reflect Zeus’ complaint about men?
4. Why are all the suitors in Ithaca?
5. What does Odysseus’ use of poison reveal about him? Does is make him less of a
hero? Why or why not?
6. What is Athena’s advice to Telemachus, and what motivates her to suggest this
course of action?
7. Compare Telemachus and Orestes.
Book 2
Themis
Laertes
Mentor
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What is ironic about Telemachus’ use of the simile comparing the king to a
father?
2. How do the suitors justify their behavior? Why is this logic faulty?
3. Describe Penelope.
4. Compare and contrast Odysseus and Penelope.
5. For what does Telemachus pray? What does this reveal about him?
6. Describe the bird image, and explain how it is interpreted.
7. Why does Mentor voice angry words?
8. How does the servant know the suitors’ plans/hopes for Telemachus?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 3
Nestor
Pisistratus
Menelaus
Agamemnon
Clytemnestra
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. How does the reception of Telemachus and Athena in Pylos compare/contrast
with Telemachus’ treatment of Athena in Ithaca?
2. Compare Telemachus and Odysseus. Why do they speak in the same manner?
3. Expain the dramatic irony in the scene in Pylos.
4. What motivates the poet to retell the story of Aegisthus and Orestes?
5. What advice does Nestor give the travelers? What is the dramatic purpose of this
scene?
6. Why is the scene of the sacrifice included?
Book 4
Helen
Proteus
Ajax
Medon
Iphthime
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why is Menelaus angry at the treatment Telemachus receives?
2. What motivates Helen to drug the wine?
3. How does Helen justify running away with Paris?
4. Explain the epic simile Menelaus uses.
5. How did Eidothea, daughter of Proteus, help Menelaus?
6. Why was Ajax killed?
7. What gift does Menelaus give Telemachus? Why?
8. What motivates Antinous to make his plans?
9. Why does Penelope’s sister appear?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 5
Hermes
Ino
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Explain the relationship between how Odysseus and Penelope spend their days
and their nights.
2. What double standard does Calypso reveal? Why did the poet include this idea?
3. Compare and contrast Penelope and Calypso.
4. Why does Odysseus distrust Ino? Is he justified in this thinking?
5. Recount Odysseus’ journey from Calypso’s island to land.
Book 6
Phaecians
Nausicaa
Alcinous
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why does Athena appear to Nausicaa?
2. Describe the first meeting between Nausicaa and Odysseus?
3. Why is Nausicaa concerned about gossip?
4. Why does Alcinous disapprove of his daughter’s behavior?
Book 7
Arete
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What is ironic about Odysseus’ landing in Phaecia?
2. Compare and contrast Arete and Penelope.
3. Describe the hall.
4. Juxtapose Alcinous and Odysseus.
5. What part of the trip from the island does Odysseus omit? Why?
6. What does the king offer Odysseus? Why?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 8
Demodocus
Laodamas
Broadsea
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why does Athena change Odysseus’ appearance?
2. Compare and contrast Odysseus’ reaction to the song to Telemachus’ earlier
reaction.
3. What is listed in the literary inventory? Why?
4. What challenge does Laodamas make to Odysseus?
5. Why is Odysseus insulted?
6. What is the dramatic purpose of the myth of Ares and Aphrodite?
7. Why do the people give gifts to Odysseus?
8. Why does Odysseus honor Demodocus?
9. Why is the epic simile describing Odysseus’ crying ironic?
Book 9
Cicones
Lotus-eaters
Polyphemus
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What temptation must Odysseus overcome in the land of the Lotus-Eaters?
2. Compare and contrast the Cyclopian society with the society of men.
3. What motivates Odysseus to visit the Cyclops?
4. Discuss both the wise and foolish actions Odysseus takes in the adventure with
Cyclops.
5. For what does Polyphemus pray?
6. How might Odysseus’ words be the real cause of Poseidon’s anger?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 10
Aeolus
Laestrygonians
Circe
Eurylochus
Elpenor
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What human flaw causes problems for Odysseus? How?
2. Why are the giants so brutal?
3. Why does only one ship escape (from a narrative point of view)?
4. What motivates Hermes to aid Odysseus?
5. Explain the conflict between Eurylochus and Odysseus.
6. Why must Odysseus go to Hades?
Book 11
Elpenor
Anticleia
Achilles
Tantalus
Persephone
Tiresias
Helios
Neoptolemus
Sisyphus
Heracles
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Explain Tiresias’ prophecy.
2. Describe Odysseus’ relationship with his mother.
3. What is the purpose of the literary inventory of souls?
4. What advice does Agamemnon give Odysseus?
5. How does Achilles reflect the Greek attitude toward death?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 12
Sirens
Amphitrite
Scylla
Charybdis
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why are the sirens a threat?
2. Why does Odysseus tell his men of the journey? What does he leave out?
3. Why is the sight of Scylla eating his men the most pitiable for Odysseus,
considering the other horrors he has seen?
4. How is sleep Odysseus’ enemy?
Book 13
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why does Poseidon take revenge? How?
2. Why does Odysseus lie to Athena?
3. Compare Athena and Odysseus.
4. Why does Athena disguise Odysseus?
Book 14
Eumaeus
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. How does the swineherd first treat Odysseus? Why is this important?
2. How does Odysseus’ fictional beggar life parallel his own?
3. Why does Odysseus tell the story about the cloak during the war?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 15
Theoclymenus
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What does Athena reveal about the Greek attitude toward women?
2. Explain the omen of the eagle and the goose.
3. What is the dramatic purpose of the swineherd’s life story?
Book 16
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Describe the meeting between Odysseus and Telemachus.
2. How does Telemachus contribute to the plan?
3. How is Telemachus impatient, after 20 years of waiting?
4. What do the suitors plan? Why is this important?
Book 17
Medon
Melanthuis
Argos
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Describe Telemachus’ homecoming.
2. Who first recognizes Odysseus? What dramatic effect does this have?
3. Describe Odysseus’ homecoming.
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 18
Arnaeus (Irus)
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Explain why the name Irus is appropriate.
2. Describe the battle of the beggars.
3. What is ironic about the congratulations Odysseus receives?
4. What is Odysseus’ view of man?
5. Why does Penelope ask for gifts?
6. What is the significance of Odysseus’ different challenges to Eurymachus?
Book 19
Melantho
Eurynome
Aethon
Autolycus
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Describe the first meeting between Odysseus and Penelope.
2. Why doesn’t Odysseus retell his fictional life first? Why does she tell is when she
asks again?
3. How does Penelope test Odysseus? Why is this significant?
4. How does Eurycleia recognize Odysseus?
5. What contest has Penelope designed?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 20
Philoetius
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why does Athena scold Odysseus?
2. What omen reassures Odysseus?
3. How and why has Telemachus changed? How do you know?
4. Why does Theoclymenos leave? Why is this important?
Book 21
Leodes
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What is significant about Odysseus’ bow contest?
2. How does Odysseus prove his identity to his loyal servants?
Book 22
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why does Odysseus kill Antinous first?
2. What is significant about Telemachus’ leaving the storeroom door open?
3. Why is one man not killed immediately?
4. Who is saved? Why?
5. How are the disloyal maids punished?
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Odyssey Study Questions
English I Butler
Book 23
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. Why is Penelope reluctant to believe the nurse?
2. How does Penelope test Odysseus? Why is this significant?
3. What is the dramatic purpose for retelling Odysseus’ story?
Book 24
Reading Comprehension/Literary Analysis Questions
1. What is the purpose of Agamemnon and Achilles’ conversation?
2. Why do the men think Odysseus planned the bow contest?
3. What is the significance of Agamemnon’s praise of Penelope, and then his
contrasting her with his own wife?
4. Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal his identity to his father at once?
5. How is peace established?
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