Name:
Date:
Mythology/ The Odyssey Unit Test
I. Matching of Literary Devices/ Examples: Read the examples/definitions in the right column and match it
to the best term for which it applies and write the capital letter on the line to the left of the number.
(3 points each)
_____1. Epic
A. the creation of a realistic character by an author
_____2. Epic hero
B. how an author creates a descriptive picture with words
_____3. Characterization
C. a comparison between two unlike things
_____4. Theme
D. a hint an author provides to create suspense or advance plot
_____5. Symbol
E. a literary figure who represents a society beliefs and moral code
_____6. Figurative Language
F. a long narrative poem telling about a famous hero & his deeds
_____7. Imagery
G. a adj. or adv. phrase used to describe a character or idea
_____8. Simile
H. an image or idea that represents another item or idea
_____9. Metaphor
I. The universal-underlying meaning or moral in a work.
_____10. Foreshadowing
J. a comparison between two unlike things using like, as, or than
_____11. Epithet
K. language not meant to be taken literally
II. Matching of Odyssey items: Read the examples/definitions in the right column and match it to the best
term for which it applies and write the capital letter on the line to the left of the number. (1 point each)
_____12. Odysseus
A. The blind prophet in the land of the dead
_____13. Penelope
B. Goddess of wisdom and war
_____14. Telemachus
C. The antagonist who attempts to win the heart of Penelope
_____15. Polyphemus
D. Odysseus’ trick name given to the Cyclops
_____16. Poseidon
E. Odysseus’ herdsman
_____17. Nohbdy
F. Odysseus’ wife
_____18. Athena
G. Odysseus’ dog
_____19. Teiresias
H. Poseidon’s son
_____20. Antinous
I. The god of earthquakes
_____21. Angus
J. the epic hero in The Odyssey
_____22. Eumaeus
K. Odysseus’ son
III. Multiple Choice: Plot/ Literary Examples and Events from The Odyssey: Choose the best answer for
each question or choose the best phrase that completes the statement. Write the capital letter of the item
to the left of the number. (2 points each)
_____23. Why does Homer pray to the muse as he begins his account of Odysseus’ adventures?
A. He needs the respect of the Greek Monsters before he begins.
B. The muses are the goddesses of art, science, and literature.
C. Homer needs all the help he can get.
D. It was a tradition to ask friends to help write novels.
_____24. Why does Odysseus place beeswax on the men’s ears when they pass the land of the Sirens?
A. Because they have an ear infection
B. To block out the song of the Sirens
C. Circe ordered Odysseus to
D. To protect the men from Scylla
_____25. What happens to the sailors when they eat the Lotus plant?
A. They fall in love with the Sirens.
B. Helios and Zeus plot the death of Odysseus.
C. The sailors forget their past and never want to leave the island.
D. Circe gets very jealous and tries to seduce Odysseus.
_____26. The Cyclopeans are known by the Greeks for being
A. Orderly
B. Organized
C. Humorous
D. Uncivilized
_____27. Why does Odysseus kill the Cyclops after the Cyclops killed two of his men?
A. He did not know how.
B. His men advised him not to.
C. He did not have a weapon.
D. He would not have a way out of the cave.
_____28. How does Odysseus get his men and himself out of the Cyclops’s cave?
A. They pushed the boulder out of the way.
B. The men from the ship rescued them.
C. They tied themselves under the sheep.
D. They killed the Cyclops and tied the wagons to pull the door open.
_____29. What action in the adventure of the Cyclops could be considered foreshadowing?
A. The storm Zeus sent
B. The destruction of the ship by Poseidon
C. The curse the Cyclops’ placed on Odysseus
D. The nymph songs
_____30. What does Teiresias not tell Odysseus?
A. That he will eventually make it to Ithaca
B. The ships will have to be repaired
C. Poseidon empties the seas to get revenge
D. Odysseus’ men have lost their way
_____31. Initially Telemachus reacts to Odysseus’ return by
A. Confronting his father when he saw him change to a young man
B. Pouring out his emotions by crying an sobbing
C. Accusing his father of being a god
D. Charging Athena with ruining his father’s life
_____32. Once Odysseus has returned to Ithaca, Athena
A. Gives him weapons with which to fight the courting suitors that remain in the kingdom
B. Provides Telemachus with the skills needed to overcome his fear of combat
C. Tells Penelope that her husband will return in a few days
D. Changes Odysseus’ form to suit his needs for revenge
_____33. When Odysseus informs his son of his own true nature, Odysseus
A. Cries loudly of how he has missed and longed to return to Ithaca
B. Informs Telemachus of how they will trick the Gods into helping with the revenge plot
C. Accuses Telemachus of not being loyal to the throne
D. Claims that he has seen the future with successful revenge on the suitors.
_____34. When hearing of Odysseus’ plan for revenge, Telemachus
A. Agrees wholeheartedly that his father’s plan will prevail
B. Is hesitant because his father seems unknowingly crazy
C. Informs Odysseus that the suitors are not prepared or skilled to fight
D. Claims that the gods will be on their side throughout the battles
_____35. Argus
A. As a young pup, kept Penelope company while Odysseus defeated Troy
B. Was a prize winning show dog.
C. Recognized his master and showed energetic affection to Odysseus
D. During his prime, was a great hunting dog
_____36. Once absorbing the pain of the stool, Odysseus
A. Reveals his true nature to all the suitors
B. Claims that Antinous will perish in Tartarus
C. Informs Penelope that Odysseus will return in a few days
D. Proclaims that Antinous will never marry
_____37. Odysseus reveals his true nature to Penelope by
A. Proving he knows where she keeps her wedding jewels
B. Claiming that he knows the secret place Telemachus was born
C. Explaining the secret nature of how their bedroom was constructed
D. Having Athena change him to the man of twenty years ago
_____38. Penelope wards off the suitors for many years by
A. Claiming that Odysseus’ spirit has been visiting her
B. Claiming that Athena will place a curse on the men of Ithaca if the men continue to court her
C. Weaving a funeral shroud by day and unweaving it by nightfall
D. Having Telemachus reign as king so the land will not be in her control
_____39. What claim do the suitors make when Odysseus accuses the men of being traitors?
A. Poseidon had brainwashed them to get revenge on Odysseus
B. Athena was bored with the peace and bribed them to swear loyalty to Antinous
C. Antinous bullied them to be disloyal
D. Penelope’s beauty clouded their vision of loyalty
_____40. When Penelope requests information from the beggar Odysseus, he responds
A. By telling her that he is suffering from a loss of memory
B. That his tale is so horrible that he would embarrass himself if he told it
C. That she is a lady and is so gentle to hear such a horrible tale
D. That Antinous is a great leader and he would not want to offend her
IV. Essay. Using the space below, write a three-paragraph essay using the following thesis statement. Be
sure to use paragraph formation, correct spelling and grammar, topic and conclusion sentences, and
plenty of support from the text. (20 points)
In The Odyssey by Homer it is evident that the Greek gods and goddesses
have an active role in the everyday life of the epic hero, Odysseus.