The Odyssey Travel Book
Tell the Story and The Wanderings: “I Am Laertes’ Son…”
You will create a travel book that includes the following components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cover Page for travel book
Table of Contents
Characteristics of an Epic
Trojan Horse: summary and illustration
Map illustration – indicate location(s) of assigned books
Each book assigned: summary and illustration
Assigned questions – Answer in completed sentences.
a. What theme does Homer stress in lines 10-11?
b. Who is the Muse? In what manner (attitude) does the poet address her?
c. What literary devices are used in The Invocation – “Tell The Story”?
Provide examples of the devices used.
d. What is the epithet found in line 48 pg. 895?
e. How does Odysseus express one of the main themes of the poem in the
passage beginning on line 50, page 895?
f. What is compared in the simile in lines 69-71 on page 896?
8. Constructed response question – What kind of leader is Odysseus? Provide
evidence from the sections you read to support your answer.
The Odyssey Travel Book
The Lotus Eaters and The Cyclops
You will create a travel book that includes the following components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cover Page for travel book
Table of Contents
Characteristics of an Epic
Trojan Horse: summary and illustration
Map illustration – indicate location(s) of assigned books
Each book assigned: summary and illustration
Assigned questions – Answer in completed sentences.
a. What can you conclude about Odysseus’ character from him sending his
men to investigate the unknown land (Lotus Eaters)?
b. What is the effect of eating the lotus?
c. Why do you think Odysseus and his men burn an offering for the gods?
d. What literary devices are used in “The Cyclops”?
e. What do you learn about the Cyclops from the simile in line 212, page
902?
f. Why does the Cyclops refer to Poseidon as “blue girdler of the islands”?
g. What do you think the Cyclops’s curse foreshadows for Odysseus’ and
his men?
8. Constructed response question – What kind of leader is Odysseus? Provide
evidence from the sections you read to support your answer.
The Odyssey Travel Book
The Witch Circe and The Land of the Dead
The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis
You will create a travel book that includes the following components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cover Page for travel book
Table of Contents
Characteristics of an Epic
Trojan Horse: summary and illustration
Map illustration – indicate location(s) of assigned books
Each book assigned: summary and illustration
Assigned questions – Answer in completed sentences.
a. Should Odysseus have told the sailors what was in the bull’s hide bag?
Explain.
b. What details make the confrontation with the wolves and lions especially
vivid?
c. What literary devices are used in “The Land of the Dead”?
d. What does TeirSesias say would cause Odysseus and his men
destruction?
e. When might you use the expression “caught between Scylla and
Charybdis”?
f. What does Odysseus’ failure to remember Circe’s warning about the
usefulness of weapons reveal about how he thinks of himself?
g. Do you agree that it is better to know about the dangers you are facing?
Explain.
8. Constructed response question – What kind of leader is Odysseus? Provide
evidence from the sections you read to support your answer.
The Odyssey Travel Book
The Beggar and the Faithful Dog; The Test of the Bow
You will create a travel book that includes the following components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cover Page for travel book
Table of Contents
Characteristics of an Epic
Trojan Horse: summary and illustration
Map illustration – indicate location(s) of assigned books
Each book assigned: summary and illustration
Assigned questions – Answer in completed sentences.
a. In what way is the dog Argos, as he is described on page 928, similar to
Odysseus and to the kingdom Ithaca?
b. What is the ironic about the passage starting on line 778, page 928?
What type of irony?
c. Do you think that Homer is excessively sentimental in the Argos
episode? Explain.
d. What insight does the description of the storeroom in a Bronze Age
palace give you into the concerns of this culture? (pg. 932).
e. What conflict does Odysseus face in lines 840-843?
f. What do you learn about Odysseus’ state of mind from the scene
beginning on line 890, page 934?
g. What literary devices are used in “The Test of the Great Bow”? Provide
examples.
8. Constructed response question – What kind of leader is Odysseus? Provide
evidence from the sections you read to support your answer.
The Odyssey Travel Book
Death at the Palace; Odysseus and Penelope
You will create a travel book that includes the following components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Cover Page for travel book
Table of Contents
Characteristics of an Epic
Trojan Horse: summary and illustration
Map illustration – indicate location(s) of assigned books
Each book assigned: summary and illustration
Assigned questions – Answer in completed sentences.
a. What does the metaphor of comparing the arrows to rain suggest about
the arrows? (pg. 938)
b. From their reaction to Odysseus’ attack, what can you infer about what
state of mind the suitors?
c. How does Homer suggest that the suitors are cowardly?
d. Do you think the suitors’ punishment fits their crimes? Explain.
e. How does Homer characterize Penelope? (pg. 942)
f. Why do you think the epithet “greathearted” is or is not appropriate to
describe Odysseus?
g. How did Odysseus build the bed?
h. How does the image of the swimmer emphasize the strength of
Odysseus’ love for Penelope and his joy in their reunion?
8. Constructed response question – What kind of leader is Odysseus? Provide
evidence from the sections you read to support your answer.