Name ________________________________ Hour_____
Date ________________
The Odyssey (Books 1 & 9) by Homer
Guided Reading Questions ANSWER KEY
Directions:
Answer the questions for each book using complete sentences. Give textual support for your
answers.
Book I: Invocation (page 895)
1. What does the word ‘invocation’ mean? ___________________________________________
2. Who is Homer invoking and what is he asking him or her to help him with?
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3. This invocation (lines 1-15) introduces us to Odysseus, “…that man skilled in all ways of
contending.” What character traits as an epic hero is he shown to have?
4. What island is Odysseus washed up on when he leaves Calypso’s island? ________________
5. Who is the king of this island? ___________________________________________________
6. What does this king do for Odysseus? ____________________________________________
7. What does the king want from Odysseus in exchange for the feast?
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Book IX: New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son (pages 896-913)
1. What happens to Odysseus’ crew members when they eat the lotus blooms? Where are they?
What does Odysseus do to get them away from there?
They never reported for duty or returned. The crew members wanted to stay and forget their
homelands. They are on the island of the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus gets the crew members
away from there by taking them to the ships and tying them down under the benches so they
could not escape.
2. List five descriptive facts about the Cyclopes.
possible responses
* giants
*uncivilized and do not farm their land
* louts (clumsy, stupid)
*keep to themselves and deal with their
* no laws
issues in their own particular ways
* no tribal ways or customs
3. How does Polyphemus feel about the gods? He does not care for them. “We Cyclops care
not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far.” (178180)
4. When they first discover Cyclop’s cave, how do Odysseus and the crew differ in terms of what
they want to do?
The crew wants to
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Yet, Odysseus wants to
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5. What does Polyphemus eat? (How many?) Explain WHY Odysseus does not want to kill the
Cyclops after he does this. The Cyclops eats two of Odysseus’ men. Odysseus does not want
to kill the Cyclops after this because the Cyclops is asleep in front of the cave’s opening. This
means that if he died there, Odysseus and his men would have to move the Cyclops out of the
way to leave the cave, which would be impossible because the Cyclops is so large.
6. What plan does Odysseus devise to get his men and himself out of the cave? Be specific. The
plan has several parts to it. When the Cyclops is asleep, Odysseus will stab him in the eye with
the six foot stake that he and his men created.
How does Odysseus’ false name of “Nohbdy” figure importantly in the plot? What is the
Cyclops’ name? To whom is he related? After Odysseus stabs the Cyclops in the eye with the
stake, he calls out in pain. His neighboring Cyclopses hear him and ask what the matter is. He
responds, “Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!” The other Cyclopses assume
that he means that nobody has hurt him and that he is fine, so they do not come to help. The
Cyclops’ name is Polyphemus. The Cyclops is the son of Poseidon.
7. What does the Cyclops ask of Poseidon in a prayer? Why should Odysseus fear that the god
will grant the monster’s prayer? The Cyclops asks Poseidon to make sure that Odysseus
never returns home and that if the Gods decide that he should return home, make it takes
years to reach Ithaca and let him lose all of his companions along the way. (lines 445-452).
Odysseus should fear that Poseidon will grant the Cyclops’ prayer because Zeus refused
Odysseus’ offering of the ram.
8. Why does Zeus disdain the offering? What does he have planned for Odysseus and his men?
Zeus disdains Odysseus’ offering because he wants to destroy the ships and kill all of
Odysseus’ men.
Text Analysis Questions:
9. EPIC HERO. Re-read lines 24-26. What 2 things does Odysseus value most highly? He
values his family and home above all else.
10. Re-read lines 29-55. Then, answer the questions that follow:
a) Connect: Think of a situation that turned out to be different from what it seemed at first.
How does this help you understand the reaction of Odysseus’ men to the Lotus Eaters?
Students should be able to have an understanding that appearances can be deceptive
and connect to Odysseus’ experience with the Lotus Eaters.
b) Analyze: Odysseus devotes only about 25 lines to the Lotus Eaters. Why do you think
he didn’t extend his description of this adventure? The Lotus Eaters were not
aggressive, evil, or a powerful foe, and Odysseus was not called upon to use his guile
or demonstrate his prowess in battle or as a leader of his men. It was just one more
adventure among many and so he told the story quickly and efficiently.
c) Evaluate: Do you think Odysseus handled the situation with the Lotus Eaters
effectively? Was he too lenient (soft) or too harsh? Odysseus neutralized the situation
quickly. He did not overreact, and nobody was hurt. He showed strong leadership.
11. Re-read lines 44-52. How do the Lotus Eaters pose a threat to Odysseus and his men? The
lotuses that they eat cause the sailors to forget their intentions.
12. Re-read lines 58-67. Why doesn’t Odysseus respect the Cyclopes? The Cyclopes are lawless
creatures with no sense of community and no drive to cultivate the land.
13. EPITHET. Notice the descriptive phrase used to characters the dawn in line 68. What does
this description tell you about the dawn? The description tells us that it was the start of dawn
(“young Dawn”); the dawn was colorful, with reddish rays brightening the horizon.
14. Re-read lines 91-92. What does Odysseus’ metaphor imply about the Cyclops? The Cyclops is
as large as a mountain.
15. Odysseus has been referred to as “the Master Strategist.” Based on lines 96-115, how does
he reveal that trait in this passage? He plans for potential conflict with the Cyclops: he leaves
guards with his ship, and he brings along Maron’s irresistible drink as a possible weapon to
use against the guards.
16. Re-read lines 130-132. Why does Odysseus refuse his men’s “sound” request? Odysseus’
curiosity about “the caveman” caused him to refuse his men’s “sound” request. Also,
Odysseus may have been intrigued by the challenge of confronting this prodigious brute in a
battle of brains against brawn.
17. Re-read lines 178-182. What is the Cyclopes’ attitude toward the gods? The Cyclopes’
attitude toward the gods is disrespectful. The Cylops has no regard for, or fear of, the
Olympians.
18. EPIC HERO. Re-read lines 185-190. Why does Odysseus lie to the Cyclops about his ship?
How is this lie a good (military) strategy? Odysseus now knows with certainty that the Cyclops
has no qualms about mistreating his guests or their property; he lies to protect the ship.
19. Re-read lines 207-210. Why doesn’t Odysseus kill the Cyclops right now? Odysseus doesn’t
kill the Cyclops because only Polyphemus is strong enough to move the slab that blocks the
mouth of the cave.
20. What epithet is repeated in lines 211-212? What does this epithet mean to you? Do you think
it’s an accurate assessment of Odysseus’s character trait(s)? Which one(s)? The epithet of
“young Dawn with fingertips of rose” is repeated in lines 211-212.
21. Re-read lines 225-247. Then, answer the questions that follow:
a) Recall: What three things happened that showed luck was on Odysseus’ side? First:
Odysseus found the olive tree in the cave. Second: The four men Odysseus would
have chosen to help him all won the toss. Third: The Cyclops brought all the rams into
the cave, not just the youngest.
b) Analyze: How does Odysseus take advantage of his good luck? What do his reactions
reflect about his character? Odysseus quickly formulates a plan based on the tools he
has available, namely, the olive tree and the rams. His actions reflect his intelligence.
c) Evaluate: Which do you think will be most important to the outcome of Odysseus’
conflict with the Cyclops: careful planning or good luck? Both good luck and good
planning with contribute to the outcome.
22. Re-read lines 238-243. What does Odysseus plan to do to the Cyclops? Odysseus plans to
push the stake into the Cyclops; single eye after he falls asleep.
23. Re-read lines 255-261. Why does Odysseus offer the Cyclops the liquor he brought from the
ship? He offers the wine, knowing that Cyclops won’t be able to resist and counting on its
sleep-inducing effect.
24. EPIC SIMILE. Find the epic similes in lines 292-297 and lines 299-302
a. (lines 292-302) What two things are compared?________________________________
In lines 292-297, Odysseus compares pushing and turning the spike in the Cyclops’ eye
socket to a ship carpenter turning a drill in a plank on a ship’s deck.
b. (lines 299-302) What two things are compared? ________________________________
In lines 299-303, he compares the hissing of the Cyclops’ eye to the steam given off by
a white-hot axehead that is dipped in a cold tub of water.
25. What leadership qualities does Odysseus, the hero, display in lines 292-299? Remember that
Greek warriors won honor through noble deeds, and that honor, they believed, was the
greatest good. Odysseus joins his men in the maneuver, leaning on the spike himself, rather
than removing himself from harm’s way. In displaying such bravery and confidence, he acts as
an inspiring role model for his men.
26. Re-read lines 319-322. What do the other Cyclopes assume to be the source of Polyphemus’
pain? The other Cyclopes assume that no one is hurting Polyphemus. They think it must be
some injury or sickness imposed by Zeus.
27. Review the lines prior to 380. What character traits has Odysseus demonstrated in his
dealings with Polyphemus? Odysseus has demonstrated leadership, bravery, and cunning in
his dealings with Polyphemus. His actions also reveal his curiosity and his tendency to be
rash and even foolhardy.
28. Re-read lines 421-430. How have the actual events turned out differently from what
Polyphemus expected? Polyphemus expected Odysseus to be a “giant, armed in giant force”
and not a frail human.
29. Re-read lines 437-452. Paraphrase Polyphemus’ curse. How has Odysseus brought this
curse upon himself? May Odysseus the son of Laertes and conqueror of cities never again
see Ithaca, his home. And if the fates decree that he does return home, may that day be far
from now, may the time between be trouble with the loss of his companions. May his
homecoming be by strange passage, and upon his arrival, may he find chaos. Odysseus has
brought this curse on himself by provoking Polyphemus with his boasting – not once but three
times, despite the warnings of his men (lines 390-394 and lines 415-419) – his anger, and his
taunts (lines 437-440). Odysseus’ pride will cost him dearly.
30. Odysseus was a great hero. Based on lines 437-440, are his faults of heroic proportions? Or
are they failings that you would expect most people to share? Odysseus’ faults are not shared
by most ordinary people. His fatal flaw is his excessive pride, as well as his tendency to act at
times without thinking of consequences. Both traits bring him bad luck. Thus, Odysseus is
responsible for much of the misfortune he suffers.
WORDS TO KNOW
Directions: Write 3-4 synonyms for each word. If you can’t find synonyms, write a “working definition”
for each (by that I mean, put your definition in “kid speak”-language you can understand.)
A. Adversary: __________________________________________________________________
Name three adversaries of Odysseus and his crew.____________________________________
B. Avenge:____________________________________________________________________
Whose reputation as a good wife is Menelaus and Odysseus trying to avenge? ______________
C. Entreat:_____________________________________________________________________
What does Odysseus entreat Polyphemus to do when the monster suggests he eat the crew?
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D. Guile: __________________________________________________________________
Give an example (from Book 9) of Odysseus demonstrating guile. Be specific.
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E. Ponderous:__________________________________________________________________
F. Appall(ed):__________________________________________________________________
G. Disdain: ____________________________________________________________________
Which character has great disdain for Odysseus? Explain your reasoning for the character and
situation you choose.
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H. Formidable:_________________________________________________________________
Give an example of a situation in which Odysseus demonstrates he is a formidable opponent.
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What makes him more formidable than his crew in this situation?
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I. Indifferent: __________________________________________________________________
In what way is Poseidon indifferent to Odysseus’s boastful nature? What did he do to Odysseus
when he (Odysseus) displayed hubris?
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J. Whim: _____________________________________________________________________
On a whim, what might one of the gods or goddesses do to a mortal he or she is mad at?
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