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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book I – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
Book I
1. What is the purpose of the first ten lines of the poem? Who is the speaker? What is his role in the play?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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1a. Book I is told from which narrative point of view? ____________________________
1b. Who is the narrator? __________________________________________
2. Why has Odysseus not yet returned home from the Trojan War?
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3. What does Athena do during a meeting on Mount Olympus?
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4. At Odysseus' house in Ithaca, we are introduced to the suitors. What are they doing in Odysseus’s
home?
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______________________________________________________________________________
5. What words are used to describe the suitors? Explain the role they have in Greek society? What
problems are the suitors causing for Telemachus and Penelope?
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6. Identify Telemachus. How does Athena present herself to him?
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7. Athena tells Telemachus to seek information about his father Odysseus from which men? Why does he
choose these two men to help him learn about his father?
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8. Athena gives Telemachus one piece of information about his father. What is it?
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9. To whom does Athena refer when she says: They all would find death was quick, and marriage a painful
matter?
___________________________________
9a. What literary device is being used in this line? __________________________________________
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10. What does Athena counsel Telemachus to do to the suitors and why?
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11. Identify Penelope _____________________________
11a. How has Telemachus changed since the beginning of Book I, and how does Penelope react?
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book II – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
Book II
1. Why does Telemachus call the men to assembly? __________________________________
2. How has Penelope managed to hold off the suitors' demands for the past four years?
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2a. Identify Laretes? ______________________________
2b. Identify Anticlea? ______________________________
3. What sign does Zeus send to the assembly, and what is its meaning?
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4. What does Telemachus plan to do now?
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book III – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
NOTICE when Nestor is telling Telemachus what he knows of the return of the Achaeans he describes a
quarrel between "the two sons of Atreus." These are Agamemnon and Menelaus. The quarrel had to do
with some sacrifice to the gods which was evidently not satisfactory, causing Athena to get mad and
causing some of the Achaeans to have troublesome homecomings. Notice Agamemnon is also called
Atreides (line 193). Nestor also makes clear to Telemachus that a son's duty is to preserve the honor of a
father's house. He also holds up the example of Orestes as has Athena.
1. Identify and describe the role of Agamemnon in The Odyssey:
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2. Identify and describe the role of Menelaus in The Odyssey:
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3. Explain the role of Helen of Troy in The Odyssey
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4. Identify the setting of Book III of The Odyssey.
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5. Explain the role of Athena in Book III.
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6. Identify and describe Nestor and his role in The Odyssey.
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7. Summarize what happens to Agamemnon when he returns home from the war.
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8. Identify Orestes. What did he do and why?
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8a. Why is the story of Orestes important to Telemachus?
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9. Identify Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. ________________________________________________
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9a.What purpose does their story have for Telemachus?
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10. What assistance does Nestor provide to Telemachus?
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11. Who accompanies Telemachus to Sparta to the house of Menelaus?
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Date:
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book IV – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. What is the setting of Book IV? ____________________________________________________
2. How is Telemachus' identity revealed to Menelaus?
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3. Menelaus describes his stay in Egypt to Telemachus. During his stay there, who told Menelaus where
Odysseus was detained? _____________________________________
4. According to Menelaus's informant, where was Odysseus? ___________________________
5. Identify and define the Elysian Field as it pertains to Greek mythology.
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6. Why is Menelaus to go to the Elysian Field instead of dying as other mortals do?
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7. The scene shifts to the home of Odysseus. What plan do the suitors devise against Telemachus?
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8. Identify the leading men of the suitors.________________________________________________
9. Who comforts Penelope after she learns of the suitors' plan and the journey of Telemachus?
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book V – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
Meanwhile on Mt. Olympus…
1. Poseidon is absent from the Mt. Olympian council meeting. How might this impact the fate of
Odysseus?
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2. Athena gives a speech to the council. Summarize her plea to Zeus
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2a. Explain why Zeus agrees to help Athena.
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3. _____________________ is sent to the island of _________________________.
4. Explain the message that Hermes delivers to Calypso at Zeus’s command.
Name:
Date:
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5. What is Calypso’s reaction to Zeus’s command?
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6. Odysseus has been captive on Calypso’s island for ____________________ years.
7. Poseidon hears about Zeus’s decision. Summarize his reaction and the impact that has on Odysseus.
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8. What happens to Odysseus on the eighteenth day, just as he sees the shores of Scheria?
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9. What help does Ino give to Odysseus?
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10. What happens to Odysseus at the end of Book V?
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book VI – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. Nausicaa, the Phaecian _______________________, discovers Odysseus on the shore. With that
information, answer the following questions:
a. Why is Nausicaa at the river?______________________________
b. Who told her to go there and why?_________________________________
c. What does Odysseus ask of her?_________________________________
d. What does Athena do for Odysseus and why?__________________________________
e. Does Athena’s plan work?____________________________________________
f. What does Nausicaa do for Odysseus?_____________________________
g. Why is she unable to bring him the palace in person?
2. _________________________ is a ______________________ in the land of the Phaecians. Her mother
and father are Queen ________________________ and King ______________________.
Name:
Date:
Period:
Homer’s The Odyssey
Book VII – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. The setting of Book VII is the land of the ________________________ ruled by King
____________________ and Queen ______________________. Their daughter is Princess
________________________________________.
2. The Phaecians are described as friendly but xenophobic people. Define xenophobic.
___________________________________________________________________
2a. How might this trait have a negative impact on Odysseus?
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3. Who helps Odysseus get to the palace? How does she do this?
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4. Why do Queen Arete and King Alcinious agree to help Odysseus?
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5. What is going on at the palace? They are having a festival to honor which Mt. Olympian god?
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5a. This celebration acts as _____________________________ irony for Odysseus. Explain why.
6. King Alcinious thinks that Odysseus is a god at first. Explain why.
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7. King Alcinious and Queen Arete offer Odysseus two things out of kindness and generosity. List them
and explain the motivation for each offer.
a. ________________________________________________________________________
b._________________________________________________________________________
Homer’s The Odyssey
Book VIII – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. Odysseus is insulted by Broadsea. What does he accuse Odysseus of being and why?
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2. How does Odysseus quiet the insults of his critics?
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3. With Athena's help, what athletic feat does Odysseus accomplish?__________________________
4. Odysseus brags that he is an accomplished athlete but allows one test where the Phaecians would likely
win. To which test does he refer? Why?
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5. Homer interrupts the action in the story by having the bard Demodocus sing about the love of Ares and
Aphrodite? What might be the purpose of this interruption?
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6. When Odysseus hears the song of Ares and Aphrodite, he begins to ___________________. Explain
why he may have had this reaction.
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Name:
Date:
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book IX – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. Books IX – XII are told using __________________________________. Odysseus is telling the story
of his _____________________________ from the time he left ______________________________
and then landed on the island of Scheria.
2. Books IX – XII also tell the most well-known stories from The Odyssey. These include:
a.____________________________
g. _______________________
b.____________________________
h._______________________
c.____________________________
i._______________________
d.____________________________
j.________________________
e.____________________________
k.________________________
f.____________________________
3. After leaving Troy, Odysseus and his men stop at the Land of the ________________. Odysseus starts a
fight with them.
a. Why? _________________________________
b. What is the result of this battle? ________________________________
c. This event marks which negative trait in Odysseus’s personality? ____________________
4. Identify the Lotus and its effect on men._______________________________________
5. What does Odysseus do to save his men from the land of the Lotus-Eaters?
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6. Explain the characterization of Odysseus provided by the scene with the Land of the Lotus-Eaters.
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7. Summarize the description of the next place that Odysseus and his crew land.
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8. What do Odysseus and his men do here? __________________________________________________
9. Odysseus and his men disagree on whether they should stay or go. Summarize the argument to stay
versus the argument to leave. Odysseus wants to stay and explore the island land across the bay. This is
an example of which negative character trait of a hero?
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10. The name of the land across the bay is known as the Land of the _______________________.
11. Describe its inhabitants, their personalities, and way of life.
Name:
Date:
Period:
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12. Why does Odysseus lead his men into Polyphemus's cave?
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13. Summarize the reaction of Polyphemus when he finds Odysseus and his men in the cave.
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14. List the name that Odysseus gives Polyphemus: _______________________. This shows which trait of
the hero? ____________________
15. Summarize what Odysseus does to save his men from Polyphemus.
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16. What does Polyphemus yell after he has been injured by Odysseus? __________________________
17. Odysseus makes an error upon the escape. Explain his mistake and the negative character trait it reveals.
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18. __________________________ is the father of Polyphemus.
19. Explain what Polyphemus plans to do now that he knows the true identity of the man who blinded him
and how that may affect Odysseus and his crew.
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Name:
Date:
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book X – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. What natural phenomenon is controlled by Aeolus? _________________________________
2. How does Aeolus show his goodwill when Odysseus is about to leave? ________________________
3. List two reasons that Odysseus’s crew may have to mistrust or be angry with him?
a.____________________________________________________
b.___________________________________________________
4. What two things happen as a result of this mistrust and anger?
a._____________________________________________________
b._____________________________________________________
5. When Odysseus and his crew return to Aeolus, he refuses to assist them again. Why?
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Describe the Laestrygonians and summarize what happens to Odysseus and his men in their land.
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7. How many of Odysseus’s men are lost to the Laestrygonians? __________________________________
8. Identify and describe Circe
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9. Identify the men in Odysseus’s crew who he sends to scout her island Ogygia.
_____________________________________________________________________
10. Who returns unharmed? ___________________________________________
11. What does Odysseus learn about Circe’s island and what is his plan?
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12. Who tries to talk him out of the plan? This is an example of which type of character in a story?
____________________________________
___________________________________________
13. _____________________ helps Odysseus by telling him to eat ____________________, a plant that
will make Odysseus immune from Circe’s charms and spells.
14. How long do Odysseus and his men spend on Circe’s island?
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15. To leave Circe, Odysseus must visit the ____________________________ and hear a
__________________________ from ___________________ of _____________________.
Name:
Date:
Period:
Homer’s The Odyssey
Book XI – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
1. Summarize Odysseus’s passage into the underworld.
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Identify Elpenor._______________________________________________
A. How did he die? _______________________________________
B. What does Odysseus promise him? ______________________________________
3. Odysseus sees his ___________________, ___________________ in the underworld. She died from
__________________________.
4. Why does Odysseus not let his mother come near the blood?
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5. Summarize the prophecy that Tiresas of Thebes gives to Odysseus.
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6. _________________________comes to speak to Odysseus after all the souls of the women have
departed? Summarize the story he tells Odysseus.
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7. Many other heroes speak to Odysseus, and he learns of their fates.
A. What happens to Tantalus? _______________________________________________
B. What punishment is Sisyphus enduring? _______________________________________
Name:
Date:
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Homer’s The Odyssey
Book XII – Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion,
1. List the three creatures that Odysseus must encounter and survive to leave Circe’s island. Summarize the
danger of each creature.
a.___________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c.__________________________________________________________
2. Summarize the advice that Circe gives Odysseus regarding each creature.
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3. Circe scolds Odysseus. Explain the source of her anger with him.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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4. Odysseus shows ______________________ when he thinks he can defeat creatures and save men.
5. Book XII marks Odysseus’s ___________________________ in the hero’s journey. Explain how he
changes.
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6. Next Odysseus and his crew arrive at _______________________, the island of
________________________, the _____________ king. Here they find his sacred
_____________________. Hungry, the men decide to _____________________ and feast upon the
cattle. Odysseus warns against this because of the _______________________ he received from
____________________________________ in the _____________________________.
7. Again, Eurylochus defies Odysseus, proving to be his _____________________.
8. After leaving Thrinacia, _______________________ sends a storm that destroys Odysseus’s
__________________________. All men are __________________. Odysseus is the
_________________________ survivor.
9. According to Greek belief, Odysseus’s survival can be attributed to fate. Explain how fate plays a major
role in the life of Odysseus.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Name:
Date:
Period:
Conclusion to The Odyssey
Reading and Study Guide
SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Odyssey
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Use the information gathered through notes, in-class reading &
discussion.
Meanwhile…Back in Ithaca
1. Identify the following characters from the conclusion of The Odyssey and how they are important to
Odysseus.
a. Eurycleia
b. Eumaeus
c. Philoetius
d. Laretes
e. Antinous
f. Eurymachus
g. Telemachus
h. Penelope
2. Odysseus reunites with his son Telemachus, who he has not seen since the boy was an infant. Infer and
summarize the details of their reunion.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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3. _____________________________ proposes a _________________________ to the
_____________________________ in which one must successfully string Odysseus’s
____________________. The winner of the contest will get to ______________________ Penelope and
take over as ruler of ___________________________.
4. Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as a ____________________________.
5. Summarize the conversation Odysseus has with his father Laretes. How is his father dressed and why?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6. The suitors are plotting the death of ______________________. While doing so they see an omen sent
by __________________.
a. Describe the omen and what it means to the men.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Who warns that evil will come to the suitors before he leaves the house?
__________________________
8. Who, other than Odysseus, has the strength and power to string the bow? _______________________
9. Odysseus reveals his true identity to four people. List them and their show of loyalty towards Odysseus.
a.____________________________________
b.____________________________________
c.____________________________________
d.___________________________________
Name:
Date:
Period:
10. Summarize the plan Odysseus devises to defeat the suitors.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
11. Summarize the way that Antinous and Eurymachus treat the following people at the feast and contest
a. Telemachus________________________________________
b. Eumaeus________________________________________
c. Odysseus (disguised as a beggar)._____________________________________
12. What are the reactions of Antinous and Eurymachus when they cannot string the bow? Why do they
react this way?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
13. Which suitors does Odysseus spare from the slaughter? _________________________________
14. How does Antinous die? _______________________________________
15. What does Eurymachus do when Odysseus comes for him?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
16. What instructions are given to Eurycleia? ______________________________________________
17. List the men, other than Odysseus who assist him in defeating the suitors
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
18. What is Athena’s role in the battle? ___________________________________________________
19. Explain how the power of revenge plays a role in Odysseus’s victory.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
20. All of the ________________________ serving women are ordered to _________________________
the bloody feasting hall. _______________________________ the dead bodies and rid the house of the
smell of _____________________. They are then __________________________________ in the
courtyard of the palace.
21. How does Odysseus plan to reward Eumaeus and Philoetius for their loyalty?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
22. Explain what role Penelope played in the dishonor of Odysseus’s name and palace. Do you feel she
should be forgiven – why or why not? Do you believe she avoided marriage to a suitor out of loyalty and
love for Odysseus? Explain.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
23. Penelope is hesitant to believe that the man who has returned is really Odysseus. Is her mistrust
justified? Explain.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
24. What is the wedding present that Odysseus made for Penelope? ________________________________
Name:
Date:
Period:
25. Explain this object’s significance in the conclusion of the story.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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