OUR ODYSSEUS
A comprehensive guide to Homer's Odyssey
STUDY QUESTIONS You've finished the poem, now test your knowledge!
Book One
Who vowed for Odysseus to Zeus and came to Telemachus?
Athena vows for Odysseus and comes to Telemachus.
Who are Telemachus and Penelope?
Telemachus is Odysseus’ son and Penelope is Odysseus’ wife.
Book Two
Why does Telemachus call the Assembly?
Where does Telemachus travel to find the where about of his father?
He travels to Pylos.
Book Three
Who does Telemachus ask about his father?
Telemachus asks King Nestor about his father.
What does King Nestor do for Telemachus before he leaves?
He sends his own son to accompany Telemachus.
Book Four
Who does Telemachus ask about his father?
Telemachus asks King Menelaus about his father.
What important piece of information does King Menelaus tell Telemachus?
He tells him his father is still alive.
Book Five
Where is Odysseus when we first come into contact with him?
We come into contact with Odysseus first on Calypso’s island.
Which God comes to the island to convince Calypso to release Odysseus?
Hermes comes to the island.
Book Six
How does Athena help Odysseus?
She gives Princess Nausicaa courage so when Odysseus approaches her she doesn’t run away.
Who does the princess tell Odysseus to consult when he arrives?
She tells Odysseus to consult Queen Arete first.
Book Seven
In this book, how does Athena help Odysseus?
She disguises herself and gives him directions to get to the palace and instruction on how to approach the Queen.
What is Athena disguised as?
She is disguised as a young girl.
What king does Odysseus face?
King Alcinous is the king that Odysseus faces.
Book Eight
Why does Odysseus cry during the song?
The song reminds him of his home and he longs for his family.
How does Odysseus show off his physical prowess?
Odysseus wins the discus toss and challenges the others to athletic activies.
Book Nine
On what island to they get trapped on during this book?
The Island of the Cyclops.
How do they escape the island?
Odysseus gets the Cyclops drunk on wine so he will fall asleep. He then tells the Cyclops that his name is nobody. Finally he drives a hot stake into his eye blinding him and when the Cyclops cries out for help, he says “nobody’s killing me.” Then they escape from the blind Polyphemus. Overcome with hubris he screams out that his name is Odysseus.
Book Ten
What gift does Odysseus receive that eventually pushes him to Ithaca?
A bag containing all the winds from Aeolus.
How does Odysseus resist Circe's poison?
Hermes gives Odysseus an herb named Moly.
Book Eleven
Where does Odysseus travel to?
He travels to the underworld.
Who does Odysseus talk to in the underworld?
He talks to his mother, Tiresias the blind prophet, and Achilles.
Book Twelve
What monster killed six of Odysseus' men?
Scylla is the monster that kills Odysseus' men.
Which god did they betray by eating the cattle?
Helios, the sun god.
Where does Odysseus end up after Zeus destroys his ship?
He reaches Ogygla, which is Calypso's island.
Book Thirteen
Where does Athena and Odysseus hide his treasure?
They hide the treasure in a cave.
What does Athena transform Odysseus into?
She transforms him into a beggar.
Book Fourteen
Who takes Odysseus in when he gets to Ithaca?
The Swineherd.
How does the swinherd feel about the "great Odysseus"?
He has great admiration for Odysseus.
Book Fifteen
Book Sixteen
Book Seventeen
Book Eighteen
Book Nineteen
Book Twenty
Book Twenty-One
Book Twenty-Two
Book Twenty-Three
Book Twenty-Four