1. The Odyssey Vocabulary
Opening Invocation and Books 9-12
The Odyssey Vocabulary

2. Vocabulary Notes Be sure to note the following The Word Part of Speech
Location of Word in Text (some line numbers indicated where this is not annotated in your text)
Definition
Sentence

3. Indifferent (adj) book 9
Having no interest in or concern for something
Nick was indifferent to watching The Weather Channel with his grandparents.

4. Muster (noun) Book 9, line 63
An assembling of persons for a common purpose.
The ship’s captain called a muster of travelers to the deck for emergency procedures.

5. Entreat (verb) Book 9 To ask earnestly; to beg
Grace entreated her brother to take her to the movies.

6. Appalled (adj) book 9 Filled with dismay; horrified
Kelsey’s mother was appalled that she received text messages during the family dinner.

7. Disdain (verb) book 9 To refuse or reject scornfully
Because she was angry, Olivia disdained her friend’s gift.

8. Beguile (verb) Book 10 To charm or influence by trickery.
The sailors were beguiled by the goddess’s beautiful voice.

9. Stealth (noun) book 10 Quiet, secret, or sneaky behavior
With stealth, Sherlock Holmes tracked the suspect.

10. Succumb (verb) Book 10 To be overpowered; surrender
Most men who drank from Circe’s cup succumbed to her commands.

11. Contender (noun) book 10 Fighter
The brave contender picked up his bow for battle.

12. Chide (verb) Book 10 To scold mildly
Ann’s boss chided her for being late to the meeting.

13. Azure (noun or adj) book 12, line 34
the blue of a clear or unclouded sky
The travelers gazed into the azure, cloudless heavens.

14. Scourge (noun) book 12 A cause of destruction or of great suffering
Diseases like the plague are one of the scourges of humanity.

15. Travail (noun) book 12
Painful effort; suffering resulting from hardship.
In great travail, the climber finally ascended the mountain’s peak.

16. Dire (adj) book 12 Terrible; dreadful
The dire circumstances of being left alone at sea is frightening for most people.

17. Anguish (noun) book 12 Great physical or mental suffering; agony
Joey felt a great deal of anguish after his dog died.

18. EPIC SIMILE (NOUN)
A more fully developed comparison between two unlike things using words such as like, as, or just
“His rage held hard in leash, submitted to his mind, while he himself rocked, rolling from side to side, as a cook turns a sausage, big with blood and fat, at a scorching blaze, without a pause, to broil it quick so he rolled left and right…” (Odyssey, Book 20)

19. Epithet (noun)
A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a particular person or thing.
i.e. Odysseus, “son of Laertes” and “raider of cities”

20. Allusion (noun)
A reference to a famous person, place, or event to help the audience picture what is described.
i.e. It rained so hard yesterday I think I saw Noah floating by…

21. Archetype (noun)
Characters, situations, and images that are recognizable in many times and cultures
Examples in the Odyssey:
*Sea monster *buried treasure
*Wicked temptress *suitors’ contest
*Loyal servant *epic hero