Reading Guide: “The Odyssey”
English I
Name ____________________________________________
Spring 2013
Class ________
PART 1: New Coasts and Poseidon’s Son
1. Who is Odysseus speaking to in this section? Why?
2. What does the word “tried” mean in the context of line 3?
3. What does formidable mean?
4. How does Odysseus feel about his home? What words/lines tell you?
5. Lines 28-30, what does Odysseus indicate he is going to talk to them about?
6. What adventure is summarized on page 841?
7. How many men were sent to the land of the Lotus Eaters?
8. What happened to the men who ate the Lotus ?
9. Where is Odysseus’ next stop?
10. What metaphor does Odysseus use to describe the Cyclopes on page 843?
11. On page 844, Odysseus explains what he took to the island of the Cyclopes. He
interrupts the main narrative to tell the listeners about what?
12. What do Odysseus’ men want to take from the cave of Polyphemus?
13. For what does Odysseus ask of Polyphemus? What does he say will happen if
Polyphemus does not honor that? How does he break the code?
14. What Homeric simile does Odysseus use in lines 224-227? (Notice the sea imagery.)
15. How does Odysseus trick Polyphemus? List five strategies.
16. What two similes does Odysseus use to compare to his drilling the spike into Poly’s
eye on page 849? What words provide imagery?
17. Why don’t Odysseus and his men kill Polyphemus?
18. What curse does Polyphemus place on Odysseus?
19. What character flaw does Odysseus exhibit on page 854? Why does Odysseus’ crew
get upset with him?
20. What epithet for Poseidon does Polyphemus use on page 854?
21. What does line 462 suggest about Odysseus’ return journey to Ithaca?
PART 2: Sea Perils and Defeat
1. Four parts of Odysseus’ journey are summarized at the beginning of Part 2. What
happens at each point?
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Islands of Aeolus:

Laestrygonians:

Circe:

The blind prophet Tireseas
2. What 3 things does Circe warn Odysseus about?
3. How do Odysseus and his men avoid succumbing to the power of the Sirens?
4. What leadership qualities does Odysseus demonstrate on page 861?
5. Describe the monster Scylla.
6. Why doesn’t Odysseus tell his crew about Scylla?
7. Describe Charybdis.
8. What reasons does Eurylochus give for landing on the island of Helios?
9. What oath must the crew swear to before landing on the island?
10. Why are Odysseus and his crew unable to leave?
11. Why does Odysseus leave his men?
12. What will the crew do to appease the gods in order to eat the cattle?
13. What does Helios threaten to do if Zeus does not punish the crew for eating the
cattle?
14. What is an epithet for Lord Helios on page 867?
PART 3: Father and Son
1. There is another shift in the narration in this section. Read the summary: Where is
Odysseus now? How is Athena helping him? What is the point of view in this
section?
2. Why is Telemachus brought to tears?
3. Why does Odysseus choose not to reveal his identity to Penelope?
4. Odysseus compares Penelope to what?
5. Describe the “trick of the loom” and discuss its purpose.
6. There are 2 parts to the contest of the bow: what are they?
7. What does Odysseus do right before he shoots the bow?
8. How does this action set the stage for Part 4?
9. To what is Odysseus compared when he is stringing the bow? How is that significant
to the plot?
PART 4: Death in the Great Hall
1. How does Eurymachus place blame on Antinous?
2. How does Eurymachus say they will make up for what they have done for the past
10 years.?
3. Why does Telemachus leave the battle?
4. How does Eurycleia recognize Odysseus?
5. Why does Telemachus call Penelope cruel?
6. Odysseus smiles after Penelope mentions secret signs. Why?
7. What is Odysseus concerned about in lines 59-63? What is the “Flower of Ithaca”?
8. Explain how Penelope tests Odysseus with the sign of the bed.
9. How does Odyssey end peacefully?