Questions And Answers On Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey '

BOOK 1: WHAT WENT ON IN THE HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS

1. Where is odysseus?

Odysseus is being captive on the remote island, Ogygia by Calypso.

2. What or whom is Athena disguised as?

Athena disguises herself as Mentes.

3. Why do Telemachos and his mother need Odysseus?

Telemachos and his mother need Odysseues so he makes the suitor go away.

4. Why does Odysseus's wife have suitors?

Odysseus's wife has suitors because they all think that Odysseus is dead and they want to get his fortune and kingdom by having Odysseus's wife marry one of them. But Odysseus's wife refuses to marry any of them until she has proof that her husband is actually dead and the suitors refuse to leave until she picks one of them to marry.

5. What does Athena advise

Telemachos to do?

Athena advises Telemachos to grow up, leave his childhood and be a man.

BOOK 2: HOW THE COUNCIL MET IN THE MARKET-PLACE OF ITHACA; AND WHAT CAME OF IT

1. Penelopeia tells the suitors that she will agree to marry one of the them when she is done making a shroud for Odysseues's father, Lord Laertes. However, Penelopieia would spend the day time working on the shroud, but at night time she would unravel the shroud by torch light. So for three years she deluded the whole nation and they believed her. Page 18

2. Athena mentors Telemachos. She also goes with Telemachos to look for his father. Page 23

BOOK 3: WHAT HAPPENED IN SANDY PYLOS

1. Nestor considers Odysseus a friend.

2. Nestor's was surprised that Talamachos companion was Athena because she is a god and Telemachos is very young so Nestor thinks that Telemachos has to be important, since a god is his companion.

BOOK 4: WHAT HAPPEN IN LACEDAIMON

.............

2. Menelaus also likes Odysseus and thinks of him as a friend.

3. Antinous' plan to destroy Telemachos is ambushing him at sea.

BOOK 5: HERMES IS SENT TO CALYPSO'S ISLAND; ODYSSEUS MAKES A RAFT AND IS CARRIED TO THE COAST OF SCHERIA

1. Who's is Hermes, and what is his mission?

Hermes is a messenger and his job is to tell Calypso to free Odysseus.

2. What can Hermes do with his wand?

Hermes can make people fall asleep and wake up with his wand.

3. Who is holding Odysseus captive?

Calypso is holding Odysseus captive.

4. What is Calypso's reaction to having to let Odysseus go?

She is angry at first, but she doesn't want any God to get mad at her so she lets Odysseus go.

5. What is the main problem Odysseus faces while traveling by sea?

Odysseus's main problem is Poseidon because he finds out what the gods have been doing and that Odysseus got away so he sends a storm that destroys Odysseus ship and send Odysseus under water.

6. What happens to Odysseus at the end of book 5?

At the end of book 5 Odysseus swims to the Phacacians land and finds a place to sleep in the forest.

BOOK 6: HOW ODYSSEUS APPEALED TO NAUSICAA, AND SHE BROUGHT HIM TO HER FATHER'S HOUSE

1. What "subliminal" message does Athena give to Nausicaa while she lies asleep?

In a dream, Athena gave Nausicaa a image of her wedding day and tells her to be wash her wedding garment in the river. But, Athena was really trying to have Nausicaa and Odysseus meet, since Odysseus was at the river where Nausicaa does her laundry.

2. Who is the only person who doesn't run away from the terrifying Odysseus? Why doesn't she run away?

The only person who doesn't run away from the terrifying Odysseus is Nausicaa. She does not run away because Athena takes away all the fear from her and gives her courage.

3. Is it pure luck that Nausicaa helps Odysseus? Explain.

No it is not pure luck because Athena is the one that guides Nausicaa to Odysseus and gives her the courage to help him. Without the message Athena gave to Nausicaa, Nausicaa would have probably not went to the river.

4. What does the fact that Odysseus won't bathe in front of the girls tell us about the kind of person he is?

This tells us that Odysseus is a very modest person.

5. Does Nausicaa believe her parents will help Odysseus?

Nausicaa does believe that her parents will help Odysseus because Athena makes him appear like a god, he shows up respectful and he is the host of the house and that is a big thing to Greeks.

6. Why won't Nausicaa let Odysseus ride in her cart?

Nausicaa doesn't want Odysseus to ride in the car with her because she doesn't want any rumors about them to come up.

7. What instructions does she give Odysseus?

Nausicaa tells Odysseus to go to the docks and take a ship back home with some men.

BOOK 7: WHAT HAPPENED TO ODYSSEUS IN THE PALACE OF ALCINOS

1. What craft are the Phaiacians best known for?

The Phaiacians are best known for weaving and sailing.

2. How is Odysseus treated as a guest?

Odysseus is treated like a guest by having great food and the best chair in the palace.

BOOK 8: HOW THEY HELD GAMES AND SPORTS IN PHAIACIA

1. Describe the activities that king Alcinoos arranges to entertain Odysseus?

King Alcinoos arranges the activities boxing, singing, throwing and wrestling.

2. Who is demodocos?

Demodocos is a story teller.

3. How is King Alcinoos helping Odysseus to get home?

King Alcinoos is helping Odysseus get home by gathering clothing,food, gold, a crew and a ship.

4. What is Odysseus's reaction whenever Demodocos sings about the Trojan

war?

Odysseus starts to cry whenever Demodocos sings about the Trojan war.

BOOK 9: HOW ODYSSEUS VISITED THE LOTUS-EATERS AND THE CYCLOPS

1. What was the effect of the lotus plant?

The effect of lotus plant is that you want more and never want leave.

2. How heavy is the door of the Cyclops' cave?

The door of the Cyclops' cave weighs more than 22 strong 4 wheeled wagons.

3. What is the first Villainous thing the Cyclops does?

The first Villainous thing the Cyclops does is eat some men.

4. Why doesn't Odysseus kill the Cyclops when he has the chance?

Odysseus doesn't kill the Cyclops when he has the chance because the cyclops is the only one who can open the door because Odysseus is not strong enough.

5. What does Odysseus give the cyclops as a gift?

Odysseus gives the Cyclops wine.

6. What gift does the Cyclops give in return?

The Cyclops gives the gift of being the last to be eaten to Odysseus.

7. What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops that is name is?

Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is Nobody.

8. How do Odysseus and his men sneak out of the Cyclops' cave?

Odysseus and his men sneak out by attaching themselves to a sling that Odysseus has created that he put under some rams, they do this because they know that the Cyclops lets the rams go out in the morning, so they sneak out with the sheep.

9. What foolish thing does Odysseus do?

After Odysseus escapes he yells to Polyphemus his real name, but Odysseus says it so loud that the Cyclops hears it.

10. What did a soothsayer once predict would happen to the Cyclops?

The soothsayer predicted that the Cyclops would become blind.

11. What does the Cyclops ask his father Poseidon to do for him?

The Cyclops tells his father Poseidon to kill Odysseus.

BOOK 10: THE ISLAND OF THE WINDS; THE LAND OF MIDNIGHT SUN; CIRCE

1. Who is the God of wind?

The god of wind is Aeolus.

2. What favor does he do for Odysseus and his men?

Aeolus gives Odysseus and his men hospitality for a month and a bag with four winds.

3. What stupid mistake do some of the men make on the ship?

The stupid mistake some of the men make on the ship is opening the bags of wind thinking that it is treasure.

4. How do even more men die after the bag accident?

Even more men die after the bag accident because they are eaten by the Laestrygonians.

5. What does Circe do to some of Odysseus men?

Circe turns some of Odysseus men into pigs.

6. How does Odysseus get her to release his men?

Odysseus gets Circe to release his men by charming her and sleeping with her. Odysseus tells Circe that he does not trust her, so to earn his trust because she has fallen for him she releases his men and turns them back to human.

7. What instructions does Circe give Odysseus?

Circe instructs Odysseus to talk with the spirit of Teiresias, which is at the underworld.

BOOK 11: HOW ODYSSEUS VISITED THE KINGDOM OF DEAD

1. What does odysseus do to call the souls of the dead to him?

To call the souls of the dead to him, Odysseus sacrifices a ram.

2. Who is Teiresias and what does Odysseus want from him?

Teiresias is a blind prophet and Odysseus wants Teir...................

3. What does Odysseus predict for Odysseus?

Teiresias predicts that Odysseus will get home and find men eating his food and all over his wife. Also Teiresias predicts that if Odysseus and his men eat cattle, their ship will be destroyed a long with the men.

4. What should Odysseus do to the suitors at his house?

Odysseus should terminate the suitors.

5. What does Teiresias say Odysseus should do after dealing with the suitors?

Teiresias tells Odysseus to make a sacrifice to all the gods after dealing with the suitors.

6. What is the name of Odysseus's mother and how did she die?

The name of Odysseus's mother was Anticlea and she did of deep sorrow.

7. Why can't Odysseus hug his dead mother?
Odysseus cannot hug his dead mother because it is one of hades laws....................

BOOK 12: THE SINGING SIRENS, AND THE TERRORS OF SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS

Why should Odysseus be wary of sirens?

Odysseus should be wary about the sirens because the sirens have a call that attracts everybody.

2. What should he and his men do to keep safe from the sirens?

Odysseus and his men should cover their ears to keep safe from the sirens.

3. Describe Scylla.

Scylla is a sea monster that used to be a sea nymph.

4. What will Charybdis do if Odysseus's ship gets to close?

If Odysseus ship gets to close she will make Odysseus and his men drown.

5. What does Odysseus keep secret from his men?

Odysseus keeps information about Scylla as a secret away from his men.

6. Describe the circumstances of Odysseus's ship mates' deaths. Is it Odysseus's fault?

Odysseus ship mates get smashed against rocks and eaten by Scylla.

Yes, it is Odysseus fault because he doesnt warn them about Scylla.

BOOK 13: HOW ODYSSEUS CANE TO ITHACA

1. Describe Odysseus's journey home from Scheria.

On the way back home from Scheria Odysseus slept the entire time

2. What does Poseidon initially want to do to the Phaecian ship?

Poseidon initially wants to destroy and crush the ship.

3. What decision does Alcinovs make because of the wrath of Poseidon?

Alcinovs makes the decision to stop giving rides to strangers and to make a sacrifices to Poseidon.

4. Why and for how long does Athena want Odysseus to be in disguise?

Athena wants Odysseus to be in disguise because she knows that Odysseus has the desire to know who has been taking andvantage since he has been gone. Athena wants Odysseus to be in disguise until he finds out who has been taking advantage of his disappearance and a punishment for them.

5. What does Athena instruct Odysseus to do now that he has returned to Ithaca?

BOOK 14: ODYSSEUS AND THE SWINEHERD

1. What is the name of the swineherd?

The name of the swineherd is Eumaios.

2. What does Odysseus tell the swineherd about himself?

Odysseus tells the swineherd that he is no ordinary vagabond.

3. Describe Odysseus

disguise.