The Odyssey: Film Study Guide
Name:
Date:
Answer the questions below as we watch the film in class. You don’t have to use complete sentences. This assignment
is due the day we finish the film, so keep up with the questions.
Introduction
Who is Odysseus’s wife? What is their child’s name?
PENELOPE … TELEMACHUS
Why must Odysseus leave his home, Ithaca? Where is he going?
HE WAS TREATY BOUND TO FIGHT FOR OTHER GREEK KINGS … TROY
Who and what does Odysseus leave at home?
WIFE, SON, MOTHER, BOW
What does Odysseus make Penelope promise him?
IF HE DOESN’T RETURN SHE MUST REMARRY
Who is Odysseus’s protector? Describe his relationship with her.
ATHENA – SHE HAS ALWAYS GUIDED HIM, HE FEELS SHE HAS BETRAYED HIM; SHE WANTS HIM TO GO TO TROY AND
DEFEAT THE TROJANS; IT IS HIS DESTINY; SHE KNOWS HIS TRUE CHARACTER
The Trojan War
Describe the Greeks’ siege of Troy.
THEY FOUGHT FOR 10 YEARS BUT COULDN’T GET PAST THE WALLS
Who kills Hector, the man in the gold armor?
ACHILLES
After Achilles’s death, the Greeks feel very defeated. Odysseus persuades them to stay and comes up with a clever plan
to defeat the Trojans. Describe his plan.
CONSTRUCT A WOODEN HORSE AND HIDE INSIDE; PRETEND TO RETREAT
After the Greeks sack Troy, how does Odysseus offend Poseidon?
HE DIDN’T GIVE POSEIDON CREDIT FOR HELPING HIM – HE FORGOT MAN IS NOTHING WITHOUT THE GODS
The Cyclops
What rules does Polyphemus break?
How do Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus?
Aeolus
Why does Aeolus help Odysseus? What help does Aeolus offer?
What prevents Aeolus’s gift from getting Odysseus back to Ithaca in the promised nine days?
Circe
What does Circe do to Odysseus’s men?
Who helps Odysseus defeat Circe? How does this person help?
Back at Ithaca
What promise does Penelope make to Telemachus?
What does Odysseus’s mother do? Why?
More on Circe
How long does Odysseus stay with Circe?
What advice does Circe give to Odysseus?
Back at Ithaca
Who comes to Ithaca as Odysseus prepares to go into Hades? What is the purpose of these visitors?
Describe the argument between Telemachus and Penelope.
Journey to the Underworld
When their ship docks near the river of fire, what instructions does Odysseus give his men before going to find Tiresias?
What news does Tiresias give Odysseus?
Who else does Odysseus see while in Hades? How does one person really motivate him to get home?
The Suitors
How does Penelope avoid choosing a new husband?
Scylla and Charybdis
Describe Scylla.
Describe Charybdis.
Who escapes these monsters?
Who distracts Odysseus from his troubles after Scylla and Charybdis?
Telemachus’s Troubles
Describe the problems that Telemachus experiences in Ithaca.
What advice does Penelope give him?
Doe the men of Ithaca help Telemachus?
What do the suitors plan for Telemachus?
Who actually helps Telemachus?
Calypso
How long is Odysseus stuck with Calypso?
Why does Calypso let Odysseus go?
How does Calypso help Odysseus?
The Suitors, Again
Explain why Penelope’s plan to avoid choosing a husband fails.
More on Calypso
How does Calypso try to entice Odysseus to stay?
Telemachus in Sparta
After traveling to Sparta on Athena’s advice, Telemachus meets Menelaus. What does Menelaus tell him?
Odysseus at Sea
What does Poseidon want? Consider his conversation with Odysseus.
Who helps Odysseus get home?
What change enables Odysseus to return safely to Ithaca?
Back Home at Ithaca
What challenges face Odysseus upon his return to Ithaca?
How does Athena help Odysseus?
How does Odysseus save Telemachus during his fight with Antinous?
What does Odysseus, disguised, promise Penelope?
How will Penelope choose a new husband?
According to Odysseus, what crime do the suitors commit? How are they punished?
In your opinion, does the punishment fit the crime? Explain.
Describe the story’s ending.
The Odyssey: Film Study Guide
Name:
Date:
Answer the questions below as we watch the film in class. You don’t have to use complete sentences. This assignment
is due the day we finish the film, so keep up with the questions.
Introduction
Who is Odysseus’s wife? What is their child’s name?
Why must Odysseus leave his home, Ithaca? Where is he going?
Who and what does Odysseus leave at home?
What does Odysseus make Penelope promise him?
Who is Odysseus’s protector? Describe his relationship with her.
The Trojan War
Describe the Greeks’ siege of Troy.
Who kills Hector, the man in the gold armor?
After Achilles’s death, the Greeks feel very defeated. Odysseus persuades them to stay and comes up with a clever plan
to defeat the Trojans. Describe his plan.
After the Greeks sack Troy, how does Odysseus offend Poseidon?
The Cyclops
What rules does Polyphemus break?
How do Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus?
Aeolus
Why does Aeolus help Odysseus? What help does Aeolus offer?
What prevents Aeolus’s gift from getting Odysseus back to Ithaca in the promised nine days?
Circe
What does Circe do to Odysseus’s men?
Who helps Odysseus defeat Circe? How does this person help?
Back at Ithaca
What promise does Penelope make to Telemachus?
What does Odysseus’s mother do? Why?
More on Circe
How long does Odysseus stay with Circe?
What advice does Circe give to Odysseus?
Back at Ithaca
Who comes to Ithaca as Odysseus prepares to go into Hades? What is the purpose of these visitors?
Describe the argument between Telemachus and Penelope.
Journey to the Underworld
When their ship docks near the river of fire, what instructions does Odysseus give his men before going to find Tiresias?
What news does Tiresias give Odysseus?
Who else does Odysseus see while in Hades? How does one person really motivate him to get home?
The Suitors
How does Penelope avoid choosing a new husband?
Scylla and Charybdis
Describe Scylla.
Describe Charybdis.
Who escapes these monsters?
Who distracts Odysseus from his troubles after Scylla and Charybdis?
Telemachus’s Troubles
Describe the problems that Telemachus experiences in Ithaca.
What advice does Penelope give him?
Doe the men of Ithaca help Telemachus?
What do the suitors plan for Telemachus?
Who actually helps Telemachus?
Calypso
How long is Odysseus stuck with Calypso?
Why does Calypso let Odysseus go?
How does Calypso help Odysseus?
The Suitors, Again
Explain why Penelope’s plan to avoid choosing a husband fails.
More on Calypso
How does Calypso try to entice Odysseus to stay?
Telemachus in Sparta
After traveling to Sparta on Athena’s advice, Telemachus meets Menelaus. What does Menelaus tell him?
Odysseus at Sea
What does Poseidon want? Consider his conversation with Odysseus.
Who helps Odysseus get home?
What change enables Odysseus to return safely to Ithaca?
Back Home at Ithaca
What challenges face Odysseus upon his return to Ithaca?
How does Athena help Odysseus?
How does Odysseus save Telemachus during his fight with Antinous?
What does Odysseus, disguised, promise Penelope?
How will Penelope choose a new husband?
According to Odysseus, what crime do the suitors commit? How are they punished?
In your opinion, does the punishment fit the crime? Explain.
Describe the story’s ending.