The Odyssey
Study Guide
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Introduction
Homer invokes the Muse, asking her to help him tell the story of Odysseus’ adventures. Homer
mentions Odysseus’ hardships, his valor, and his struggle to save his life and bring his
shipmates home. He reminds us that the shipmates died because of their own recklessness. He
says he will begin his story when all the other warriors had gotten home but only Odysseus
still hungers for home and wife. Odysseus is now held captive to Calypso, who craves him for
her own. Homer foreshadows the trials and hungers that lie ahead for Odysseus, though all
the gods, except Poseidon, pity him.

The Odyssey begins in media res, or in the middle of things. This means that Homer
begins the story in the middle of Odysseus’ journey home
o Later in the book there will be a flashback
o The story ends where it began – At Odysseus’ house
1. What does the poet ask of the Muse?
2. Where is Odysseus when the poet invokes the Muse? Why can’t he leave?
Calypso, The Sweet Nymph
Scene: When we first meet Odysseus he is longing for home. This is in the present. He has
been on Calypso’s island for _________ years and gone from home for ________ years. After
leaving her island he arrives at the land of the Phaecians, where he tells his story. This is
where we’ll learn about how Odysseus spent the three years before he got to Calypso ad how
he lost all of his men. When Odysseys is on Calypso’s island he has been gone from Ithaca for
a total of _________ years and has lost all of his men.
Pay attention to:

Odysseus weeping, his longing for home – shows _______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

The lushness of the island, the beauty of Calypso – shows ________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Hermes’ appreciation for the lushness – shows _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Odysseus when he explains to Calypso why he wants to go home – he says it is because
he misses home and his land, not his wife – shows ______________________________
________________________________________________________________________

The sexual nature of their relationship.
Summary: At Athena’s request, Odysseus is let go from Calypso’s island. Athena asks her father
Zeus to tell Calypso that Odysseus must be allowed to leave. Hermes, the messenger god, goes
to the island with that message.
Questions:
1. How long does Odysseus stay on Calypso’s island?
2. What do we learn of Calypso’s feelings for Odysseus?
3. What will Calypso give Odysseus if he stays with her?
4. Calypso asks Odysseus to compare her with Penelope; does Odysseus respond
adequately?
Scene: In the palace of King Alcinous in the land of the Phaeacians where Odysseus tells of his
adventures in the Land of the Cicones and the Lotus Eaters as well as the Island of the Cyclops.
Odysseus has just been released from Calypso’s island. Remember – when Odysseus is telling
the story of his journey ten years have already passed since the Trojan War has ended. This
stop on Phaeacia is the last stop before Ithaca, his home. All of his men have been killed and he
is telling the court of King Alcinous the story of how he lost his crew and got to where he is
today.
“I am Laertes’ Son”
Scene: The island of the Cicones (first stop after leaving Troy) after the winds carried him
there. He his now telling his story to Alcinous, King of Phaeacia.
Pay attention to:

The treatment of Odysseus when he first arrives on Phaeacia (also known as Scheria
island, home of the Phaeacians, and the kingdom of Alcinous).

His discription of Ithaca
o p. 896

His telling of the events on the island of Cicones
o p. 896
o

The result of the fighting
o p. 897

The weather after they depart from Cicones
o p. 818
o
o
Questions:
1. What impression do you get of Odysseus from his description of himself?
2. What central theme does Odysseus express in the passage on pg. 895 lines 135-146?
3. Why did the men feel that it was necessary to enslave the women and make their
riches?
4. What do the actions of Odysseus’ men on the island of the Cicones indicate?
5. Does their mutiny reflect unfavorably on Odysseus?
6. What was the ritual of the dead?
The Lotus Eaters
Scene: Second stop after Troy. After fighting the Cicones and when the sea rests, they land on
this island.
Pay attention to:

His rescuing them in the land of the Lotus Eaters

Describe the temptation they faced:
The Cyclops
Scene: Third stop after Troy: Odysseys is still speaking to the court of King Alcinous. Why is
intelligence associated with his name?
What causes Odysseus to seek the Cyclops’ cave?
Pay attention to:

The way Odysseus saves his men in the land of the Cyclops

The reverse of the hospitality found in Phaeacia

The role of the gods (fate v. free will)

Odysseus’ cleverness in calling himself “Nobdhy”

Odysseus’ flattery of the Cyclops

The vividness of Odysseus’ “attack” and the similes used to describe this

The cleverness of his escape

The curse of Polyphemus

Odysseus’ leadership qualities; his adventurous spirit; his courage and cleverness; his
lapse into pride (hubris)
Questions:
1. What did you learn in an earlier episode that explains why Odysseus gives the Cyclops
this warning?
2. Do you think it was courageous or foolish for Odysseus to demand to be treated with
respect?
3. What does Odysseus’ lie about the condition of his ship suggest?
4. Why didn’t Odysseus just kill the Cyclops?
5. List the similes used to describe the attack on Odysseus’ men.
6. Who does Odysseus pray to for help? Why?
7. What’s the plan?
8. Is it smart to have a coin toss to determine which men will be chosen to carry out the
plan to escape from the Cyclops? Why or why not?
9. “The rams as well, this time, entered the cave: by some sheepherding whim – or a god’s
bidding – none were left outside.” What does Odysseus mean by ‘a god’s bidding’?
Relate this to the idea of fate.
10. What is the gift promised to Odysseus?
11. How did the name “Nobdhy” prove to be so helpful?
12. How was Odysseys able to escape from the cave?
13. How does Odysseus’ pride get them in trouble?
14. What was the curse?
At this point in the story, Odysseus has left Troy and lost men in the battle of Cicones, almost
lost men to temptation by the Lotus Eaters, and lost men as a result of his curiosity with the
Cyclops. He is still not close to getting home.
The Witch Circe
Scene: Odysseus is still telling the story of his travels and how the winds took him to Aeaea, the
home of the witch Circe. Only Odysseus’ ship remains.
Pay attention to:

The assumptions about Circe’s personality and intention

Eurylochus’ hesitation

The tendency to give in to temptation
Questions:
1. Look at lines 565-569: At what other point in the epic have some of Odysseus’ men
eaten something that made them lose their desire for home?
2. What did Circe do to Odysseus’ men?
3. Where does Circe command that Odysseus go? Who must he seek and why?
The Land of the Dead
Scene: Odysseus arrives in Hades after Circe’s suggestion. A mortal’s entrance into Hades is
considered an elite privilege.
Pay attention to:

Teiresias’ prophecy
Questions:
1. Why is Poseidon punishing Odysseus and his men?
2. What are some things Teiresias predicts for Odysessus?
The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis
Scene: Before he encounters Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus returns to Circe’s island and is
warned of what lies ahead.
Pay attention to:

Circe’s prophecy and warning of the sun god

Odysseus’ leadership and what he shares from Circe’s prophecy

Questions:
1. How does Odysseus prevent his oarsmen from hearing the song of the Sirens? Why
does he do this?
2. How does Odysseus escape hearing the Sirens?
3. How does Odysseus encourage his men to keep rowing?
4. What are the consequences of traveling by way of Scylla?
5. What are the consequences of traveling by way of Charybdis?
6. Does Odysseus choose to travel alongside Scylla or Charybdis? Why? What happens?
7. What is Odysseus’ reaction to this event?
8. What did Circe and Teiresias both tell Odysseus to avoid?
The Cattle of the Sun God
Scene: Odysseus is still telling the story of his journey to Alcinous’ court. He has been warned
more than once about landing on the island of the sun god, but his men insist on landing there
regardlessly.
Pay attention to:

How the warnings Odysseus received previously play out

The “warnings” Odysseus gives his crew

When prayers to Zues are offered
Questions:
1. What happens after Odysseus prays to the gods of Olympus? Why is this bad?
2. How has Eurylochus’ attitude changed from when he met the witch Circe?
3. What does the crew do wrong on the island of the sun god?
4. What does Lord Helios ask Zeus to do?
5. What happens to the men once they leave the island?
6. How was this foreshadowed?
Part Two: Coming Home
The Meeting of Father and Son
Scene: At this point Odysseys has been away from home for ________ years and Telemachus
has been away from Ithaca for __________ year. During this time, because Odysseus has been
presumed dead, suitors have moved into house to court Penelope. Telemachus was warned
that the suitors are bad news and returned home at the same time as Odysseus. Odysseus is no
longer telling of his travels, at this point Homer resumes narration.
Pay attention to:

Athena’s advice for Odysseus & when she intervenes

Telemachus’s response to Odysseus’ transformation and what it suggests about the
relationship between the ancient Greeks and their gods
Questions:
1. What does Athena advise Odysseus to do when he returns home?
2. What kind of person is Eumaeus?
3. How does Telemachus react to Odysseus’ revelation of himself, initially? Why is this his
reaction?
The Beggar and the Faithful Dog
Scene: Odysseus has returned home to Ithaca and the only person who has seen him is
Telemachus. He disguises himself as a beggar one again before returning to his house where
Penelope remains.
Pay attention to:

The emotions that the characters show

How and when Athena intervenes

The characteristics Penelope reveals about herself
Questions:
1. Who is the first to recognize Odysseus when he returns to his house? What is
Odysseus’ reaction?
2. What does Eumaeus believe happened to Odysseus?
3. What happens to Argos?
4. Why does Penelope invite the “beggar” into her house?
5. What does the “beggar” tell Penelope? What is Penelope’s reaction?
The Test of the Great Bow
Scene: Penelope stages a challenge for the suitors to complete. She knows that no one other
than Odysseus can successfully complete this task.
Pay attention to:

Penelope’s acceptance as Odysseus as a “suitor”

Odysseus’ internal conflict regarding his revelation

The reactions of the suitors and Peneople at Odysseus’ request
Questions:
1. What challenge does Penelope propose for the suitors?
2. What does Odysseus promise for Eumaeus and the herdsman?
3. What reaction do the suitors give to Odysseus’ request to string the bow?10
Death at the Palace
Scene: Odysseus has successfully strong the bow and is going through with his plan to
eliminate the remaining suitors.
Pay attention to:

The description of Antinous’ death

The use of Athena’s shield and the reaction of the suitors

The climax of the story – what major question does it answer?
Questions:
1. What happens in the palace in this chapter?
2. “…turning to strike and strike again, while torn men moaned at death, and blood ran
smoking over the whole floor…” Describe the imagery Homer uses in this sentence.
Odysseus and Penelope
Scene: Odysseus has just defeated and killed all of the suitors. She learns that the “beggar” is
Odysseus but she cannot be sure so she gives him another test so he can prove his identity.
Pay attention to:

How Odysseus reacts to Penelope’s testing

The process by which Penelope intelligently challenges Odysseus

The caution Penelope has in trusting Odysseus
Questions:
1. How does Penelope Odysseus to reveal his true identity?
2. How does Penelope react when she finally realizes it is Oydsseus?
Character Log for The Odyssey
Name
Odysseus
Calypso
Poseidon
Athena
Hermes
Cyclops
Circe
Teiresias
Sirens
First Impression
Physical Description
Impact on journey (warnings
given, obstacles, etc.)
Name
Scylla
Charybdis
Lord Helios
Eumaeus
Telemachus
Penelope
Eurycleia
God/Mortal/Ot
her
Physical Description
Impact on journey (warnings
given, obstacles, etc.)