“The Odyssey” Test
Mrs. Davis
Multiple Choice:
1. Odysseus leaves for Troy:
a. The day his son is born.
b. Because he has sworn an oath to Agamemnon.
c. Because Athena tells him he must go.
d. Both a and b
2. Before Odysseus leaves home, he makes his wife promise
a. She would wait for him to return.
b. She would remarry if Odysseus was not home by the time Telemachus had a beard.
c. To take care of his mother and father.
d. To always treat strangers as if they were a god in disguise.
3. Odysseus angers Poseidon because
a. He allows him to believe he is the ruler of Troy.
b. He does not give him credit.
c. He blinds his son Polyphemus.
d. Both b and c
4. What drove Odysseus and his men to the Cyclops’ island?
a. Curiosity
c. The need for water.
b. The need for food.
d. Both b and c
5. When Odysseus and his men go to Polyphemus’s cave, what is the order in which things
happen.
a. Get him drunk, stab his eye out, tell him his name is Nohbdy, hide under the sheep.
b. Tell him his name is Nohbdy, get him drunk, stab out his eye, hide under the sheep.
c. Get him drunk, tell him his name is Nohbdy, stab out his eye, hide under the sheep.
d. Hide under the sheep, stab out his eye, tell him is name is Nohbdy, get him drunk.
6. Circe is:
a. The nymph with the sun-bright hair.
c. An enchantress.
b. A witch.
d. All of these
7. When Odysseus goes to the Underworld, he sees:
a. His mother
c. His shipmate Elpenore
b. Tiresias
d. All of these
8. All of the following are prophesies by Tiresias except:
a. Odysseus would return home under strange sail.
b. Odysseus would see his mother in the Underworld.
c. Odysseus would kill all the suitors.
d. Odysseus would go on another journey to pay homage to Poseidon.
9. Odysseus chooses to not tell his men about Scylla because:
a. There is nothing they can do about it.
b. He is too frightened to tell them the truth.
c. Circe told him not to say anything.
d. His men would jump overboard.
10. When Odysseus and his men land on Lord Helios’ island, what prevents them from leaving?
a. His men ate the Lotus Flower.
b. There was a hurricane that lasted for more than a month.
c. Zeus destroyed their ship.
d. None of these.
11. When Odysseus’s men eat the cattle:
a. The cattle begin mooing in the fire-pit
b. The carcasses and hides get up and start walking around.
c. Zeus joins them for dinner.
d. Both a and b.
12. Odysseus returns home after being gone for
a. 5 years
c. 15 years
b. 10 years
d. 20 years
13. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he is recognized by his wife’s hand-maiden by:
a. A scar on his face.
c. A scar on his leg.
b. A large birthmark on his arm.
d. A confession from him.
14. When Odysseus is “reunited” with Penelope, she tests him to find out who he really is by:
a. Telling him she wanted a divorce.
b. Asking her servant to put their bed in the hallway.
c. Checking for a scar on his leg.
d. None of these.
15. Odysseus’s biggest flaw is:
a. His wish to go home.
b. His inability to admit he is wrong.
c. His pride.
d. He is an Epic Hero, he doesn’t have a flaw.
Sequence the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Odysseus returns to Ithaca.
The Sirens try to lure Odysseus into their shore.
Penelope tests Odysseus to make sure it is really him.
Odysseus and Telemachus plan to kill the suitors.
Odysseus leaves for Troy.
Odysseus goes to the Land of the Dead to see Tiresias.
Odysseus’ men kill Helios’ cattle.
Odysseus fights with the suitors.
Odysseus and his men are trapped by the Cyclops.
Odysseus is able to shoot his arrow through the head of 12 ax handles.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Short Answer:
16. Write a Homeric Simile.
17. Discuss at least three prophesies Tiresias foretold.
18. Why is it imperative to mourn and bury the dead?
19. Discuss the importance of hospitality to the Greeks.
20. How do Odysseus and his men escape the Cyclops?
Essay: An epic hero is someone who defines the ideals of their time. How is Odysseus the Epic Hero?
Explain using examples from the text.