Name _________________________________
The Odyssey – Study Guide (50 pts. Due on test day)
Per ______
Part 1 Summary
A. Sailing from Troy
 Who does Homer ask for inspiration at the beginning of the story? Explain who they are
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Who is Homer?
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Who is Calypso and what does she do to Odysseus?
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Does Odysseus give his heart to Calypso? How do you know?
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What happened at the island of the Cicones? Be specific.
B. The Lotus-Eaters
 How long did they drift after Zeus created a storm?
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What is a lotus?
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What effect does the lotus have on the people who eat it?
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How does Odysseus’ crew escape the lotus eaters?
C. The Cyclops
 What is the Cyclops’ name? What does it mean?
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Why is the Cyclops immediately angry with Odysseus and his men?
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What is the Greek custom of hospitality?
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How can hospitality be applied in this story?
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What plan does Odysseus come up with to escape the cave?
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What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops his name is?
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Why was this a good idea? What happened?
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What is hubris? How does this apply to
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What does Odysseus do to the Cyclops when he leaves?
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How does the Cyclops react? What happens as a result?
D. The Land of the Dead
 What happens in Aeolia?
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What does King Aelous give Odysseus? Be specific.
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In regards to the gift, how does Odysseus’ men act mutinous?
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What happens as a result?
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Who are the Laestrygonians?
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What does Circe do to half of Odysseus’ men?
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Circe tells Odysseus to go to the Land of the Dead to meet with who??
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What is this person going to do for Odysseus?
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Besides Tiresias, who does Odysseus see in The Land of the Dead? How did those people die?
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List all parts of the prediction Tiresias tells Odysseus:
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Circe told Odysseus he would encounter three more dangers. What were they?
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E. The Sirens
 What are the Sirens?
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What effect do they have over the men?
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What does Odysseus have to do to avoid the Sirens. There are TWO things.
F. Scylla and Charybdis
 Describe Scylla?
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Describe Charybdis?
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Why does Odysseus not tell his crew about Scylla and Charybdis?
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Odysseus gives his men a “pep talk”. What examples does he use?
G. The Cattle of the Sun God
 Who is the Sun God?
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What did Tiresias tell Odysseus about the cattle?
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What happens with the cattle? Why?
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How does Zeus react?