Why did Calypso finally release Odysseus? Zeus sent Hermes to her island to force her to let Odysseus go
What is Odysseus’ father’s name? Laertes
When Odysseus tells Calypso he wants to leave to return to Penelope, what reason does he give? Penelope is the only woman who interests him; he cannot love another
What do Odysseus’ men do to the Cicones to prove their true nature? Sack the city, plunder it of riches, and steal the women. Another tribe of Cicones comes to avenge their neighbors, though, and kills of many of Odysseus’ soldiers.
The lotus plant caused the men to… Forget their homeland/forget everything
Why does Odysseus only blind Polyphemus, and not kill him? No one would be able to move the boulder or escape if Polyphemus was killed.
What does Circe turn Odysseus’ men into? Pigs
What does Odysseus do so that he may hear the song of the Sirens? He has the men tie him to the mast and tighten the ropes when he begins to call for the Sirens.
Circe is surrounded by various animals. Based on what we know about her, what might we assume these really are? Men who have been transformed from human shape into animal form.
What does Teiresisas require in order to reveal his prediction to Odysseus? Blood
Which of Odysseus’ crew is found in the underworld and how did he die? Elpenor; he died when he fell off of the roof and broke his neck when drunk on Circe’s island.
How does Odysseus manage to avoid his men steering the ship to doom when passing the island of the Sirens? He plugs their ears with beeswax.
Why does Odysseus not warn his crew about Scylla and Charybdis? He is afraid that they will be nervous and put the entire crew in danger.
Which of Teiresisas’ prophecies does Odysseus withhold from his men? That if they eat the cattle of the Sun God, then only Odysseus will survive.
Describe the Laestrygonians. They are a race of giant cannibals who eat some of Odysseus’ men and throw rocks at them.
What did Aeolus give to Odysseus? A bag of wind that harnessed all of the winds except for the one needed to blow Odysseus home to Ithaca.
Why did Odysseus’ crew open the bag of wind? They believed that Odysseus was trying to hide treasure for himself.
Who finds Odysseus on the shore and sends him to her father’s palace? Nausicaa, the Phaecian princess.
Why does Odysseus decide to compete in the Phaecian games? He feels that he is being ridiculed and wants to prove his strength to the Phaecians; he also thinks that it will get him home faster.
How is Odysseus disguised when returning to Ithaca? As a beggar/old man
How did Odysseus get home? The Phaecians gave him passage on their ship.
What was the punishment for getting Odysseus safely home? The Phaecian ship was turned to stone just as it was about to pull into port.
What does Telemachus think when Odysseus reveals himself to his son? That only a god could have made this transformation and his father clearly must be aided by one.
What symbol is repeatedly used to represent Odysseus’ triumph over the suitors? The eagle attacking other birds.
How does Argus react when Odysseus returns home? He wags his tail, then dies from joy.
What does Penelope do to delay choosing a suitor while Odysseus is gone? Weaves a burial shroud for Laertes, but unravels it each night.
Which character is the only one trusted by Telemachus when he goes out to find news of his father? Eurycleia, the faithful maid.
Which task does Penelope suggest the suitors undertake in order to win her hand in marriage? String Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through the rings of 12 axes.
Who does Odysseus stay with when first returning to Ithaca? Eumaeus, the swineherd.
Who actually joins Odysseus in the fight with the suitors? Telemachas, Eumaeus (swineherd), and the cowherd
Why does Telemachus hang the maids? Because they were unfaithful to Penelope and they were plotting with the suitors.
What did Odysseus learn about life in Ithaca when in the underworld? His mother was dead and the suitors were courting Penelope.
What does Eurymachus do to try to convince Odysseus to stop killing all the suitors? Offers to pay Odysseus back for all they owe, blames Antinous, and admits that Odysseus should be angry.
Who is the first suitor to die? Antinous.
Who is Menelaus? The king of Sparta who welcomes Telemachus when he is searching for news of Odysseus.
How does Odysseus prove his identity to Penelope? He tells her how he crafted their bed from a tree.
How does Eurycleia recognize Odysseus? She sees the scar from his boar hunting accident when washing his feet.
What are the repeated descriptions of characters and gods called? Homeric or epic similes
What threat did Scylla pose to Odysseus’ men? She would eat six of the men – one with each of her heads.
Who is Melanthius? The goatherd who is unfaithful