The Odyssey Part 1 Test

Name______Block ______English 9 The Odyssey Part 1 Test

Matching Directions: For each of the following descriptions, select the answer that fits the best. Answers may be used more than once. (1 point each) Section I:

____1. was told not to eat the lotus flower A. Odysseus

____2. deals out “rough justice to wife and child” B. Cyclops

____3. son of Poseidon C. Helios

____4. loved the cattle very much D. the crew

____5. earned wine for having been kind

Section II:

____6. couldn’t help but shout insults A. the crew

____7. provided powerful winds, twice B. Circe

____8. were willing to flatter to tempt men C. Odysseus

____9. stayed on the beach partying too long D. Sirens

____10. asks the Muse to help tell the story E. Homer

Section III:

____11. the crew never even saw it coming A. Elpenor

____12. who Odysseus seeks in “Land of the Dead” B. Odysseus

____13. asked to be ‘buried’ in Aeaea C. Tiresias

____14. will get a boat in exchange for telling the story D. the crew

____15. opened the sack that blew them from Ithaca E. Scylla Section IV:

____16. was called “Nohbdy” A. Circe

____17. gave specific information about avoiding the Sirens B. Odysseus

____18. the song has a purpose C. Helios

____19. ate six men at a time D. Scylla

____20. helped Odysseus soften the wax E. Sirens

Short Answer Directions: Answer the following questions as completely as you can.

1. Who is the narrator of Homer’s The Odyssey? (1)

2. Describe the events on the island of the Lotus-Eaters. (2)

3. What are the three major parts of Odysseus’ plan to escape the Cyclops? Be specific about everything he does.) (3)

4. Name the two people Odysseus sees in the Land of the Dead while he is looking for Tiresias. (2)

5. What THREE pieces of advice and/or warnings does Tiresias offer Odysseus? (3) 6. What does Odysseus do to protect himself and his men from the Sirens? (2)

7. How does Eurylochus persuade Odysseus’ men to slaughter and eat Helios’ cattle? (2)

8. What happens as a result of Odysseus’ crew killing the cattle? (2)

9. Name TWO specific instances where Odysseus has shown himself to be an effective leader. Make sure to explain what heroic qualities he has shown. (2) 10. This passage occurs before Odysseus and the crew enter the “Land of the Dead”:

There Perimedes and Eurylochus, pinioned the sacred beasts. With my drawn blade I spaded up the votive pit, and poured libations round it to the unnumbered dead: sweet milk and honey, then sweet wine, and last clear water; and I scattered barley down. Then I addressed the blurred and breathless dead, vowing to slaughter my best heifer for them before she calved, at home in Ithaca and burn the choice bits on the altar fire; as for Tiresias, I swore to sacrifice a black lamb, handsomest of all our flock. Thus to assuage the nations of the dead I pledged these rites, then slashed the lamb and ewe, letting their black blood stream into the wellpit. Summarize the paragraph in your own words. (As least four sentences) (4)

11. How is Odysseus different from ordinary men? How is he similar? (2) Matching Directions: Match the correct description at the left to what or whom it describes at the right. (1 point each)

Section I:

______1. epic poem A. composer of the Odyssey

______2. plunder B. harassed or bothered

______3. Homer C. take goods by force

______4. harried D. long tale involving gods or great heroes

______5. Odysseus E. courage or bravery

______6. valor F. main character of the Odyssey

Section II:

______7. Ithaca A. goddesses of arts, literature, and sciences

______8. Muse(s) B. Odysseus’ father

______9. ram/ewe C. Polyphemus’ father who wants revenge

______10. Laertes D. Odysseus’ homeland

______11. mutinous E. sheep

______12. Poseidon F. rebellious

Section III:

______13. epic simile A. says famine is a terrible way to die

______14. Eurylochus B. killed once without sacrifice

______15. cattle C. Scylla/fisherman

______16. Fitzgerald D. translated the Odyssey

______17. personification E. Charybdis vomits water