English 100 Name: ______Mr. Bovaird Block: ______
The Odyssey – Study Guide over the Adventures of Odysseus, part 1
The Invocation of the Muse – pp. 981 1. Who is being described as “that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end”?
2. What is suggested by the fact that Odysseus saw many different places, endured many bitter nights and days at sea, and fought to bring all of his crew home safely?
Sailing from Troy – pp. 983-985 3. Odysseus identifies himself as being ______, and he boasts that men admire him for his ______.
4. How does Odysseus feel about his home on Ithaca?
5. What were Odysseus’ feelings when he was with Calypso and Circe?
6. Revisit lines 65-69. What mistakes did Odysseus and his men make on Ismarus?
English 100 Page 1 7. What lessons can be learned from the defeat of Odysseus and his man at Ismarus?
a. b.
8. Upon the 10th day sailing from Ismarus, Odysseus and his crew arrive at ______.
What is the main obstacle during this leg of their journey home?
The Cyclops – pp. 986-999 9. Based on Odysseus’ description of Cyclopes in lines 109-120, what conflicts might arise for Odysseus and his men?
10. Odysseus takes ______men with him, along with a/an ______, when they go to explore the island of the Cyclopes.
11. In lines 166-174, Odysseus reveals a major flaw in his character. What is it?
12. What major “law” of behavior does the Cyclops violate in his treatment of Odysseus and his crew?
English 100 Page 2 13. When the Cyclops says, “We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far,” what does he mean?
14. Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his ship ______. Why do you think he told him this?
15. Odysseus and his crew carve a spear out of a/an ______. (be specific)
16. What plan do you think Odysseus has in mind by offering the wine to the Cyclops?
17. Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is ______.
a. Why do you think he does this?
b. What is the genius of Odysseus doing this?
18. How do the men escape from the Cyclops’ cave?
English 100 Page 3 19. What is the irony of the Cyclops talking to the big ram? What does he say to it?
20. How does the Cyclops know that Odysseus and his men have escaped?
21. If anyone ever asks the Cyclops how he was blinded, Odysseus tells him to answer that it was ______.
22. Why is it ironic that the Cyclops says, “Come back, Odysseus, and I’ll treat you well”?
23. The Cyclops reveals that his father is ______.
24. What all does the Cyclops pray for?
a. b.
25. What is so noble about how Odysseus deals with the sheep stolen from the Cyclops?
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