1. How to answer direct quote with commentary questions
Question: How does Odysseus display the characteristics of an archetypal hero in his encounter with the Cicones?
Use Textual Evidence and Commentary

2. How to answer direct quote with commentary questions
Answer: When Odysseus encounters the Cicones he uses physical strength to overcome them. The text states, “Odysseus and his crew raid the Cicones, robbing and killing them”. Typically when a character uses bravery and strength to overcome an enemy this adheres to the standard of the brave hero archetypal character.

3. How to answer direct quote with commentary questions
When Odysseus encounters the Cicones he uses physical strength to overcome them. The text states, “Odysseus and his crew raid the Cicones, robbing and killing them” (373). Typically when a character uses bravery and strength to overcome an enemy this adheres to the standard of the brave hero archetypal character.
Introduction: Textual Evidence: Commentary

4. Why do I need to explain a quote?
Consider the ambiguity of this quote:
“I shall not see on earth a place more dear, though I have been detained long by Calypso, loveliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight, as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress, desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent. Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents?”

5. Why do I need to explain a quote?
“I shall not see on earth a place more dear, though I have been detained long by Calypso, lovliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight, as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress, desired me, and etained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent. Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents?”
The quote could support Odysseus as a man that has been with two other women while his wife is at home, so he isn’t really homesick or it could support the argument that despite being captive by two women all Odysseus wants is to go home. We need to explain to our reader what we think the quote means.

6. The Odyssey: Find Textual Evidence
Book 1 and Book 9

7. Question 1
What 5 facts that we learn about Odysseus from the invocation to the muse?

8. Give the setting of Odysseus’s storytelling, when and where?
Question 2
Give the setting of Odysseus’s storytelling, when and where?

9. What epithet does Odysseus use to identify himself?
Question 3
What epithet does Odysseus use to identify himself?

10. What two “women” have detained Odysseus since the Trojan War?
Question 4
What two “women” have detained Odysseus since the Trojan War?
Bonus* How long did each of them detain him?

11. Directions: provide the quote and commentary
Question 5
Directions: provide the quote and commentary
Why the details about the way in which Odysseus’ men were lost are included in the invocation?

12. What are the two troubles Penelope faces while Odysseus is away?
Question 6
What are the two troubles Penelope faces while Odysseus is away?

13. Directions: provide the quote and commentary
Question 7
Directions: provide the quote and commentary
What does Odysseus promise King Alcinous? What might be the bigger significance of Odysseus promising this?

14. Directions: Provide the quote and commentary
Question 8
Directions: Provide the quote and commentary
What do the details in line reveal about how Odysseus is feeling?

15. Answers Questions 1-3
1. He is skilled in overcoming difficulty; Odysseus plundered Troy; wandered for years and was harassed during this time; he weathered many bitter nights and days at sea trying to save himself and his men; he lost his men to recklessness
2.Odysseus is telling his story at an evening banquet at King Alcinous court on the ilsand of Scheria
3. Odysseus says, “I am Laertes’ son, Odysseus”.

16. Answers Question 4-5
4. Calypso detained Odysseus for 7 years, and Circe detained him for 1 year.
5. Details of the loss of Odysseus’ men are included in the invocation to vindicate Odysseus. The narrator explains that Odysseus could not save his men because, “their own recklessness destroyed them” (10). The narrator also states that his men were “children and fools” (12). By portraying his men as careless and irresponsible, like a child, the narrator shows that Odysseus cannot be blamed for the death of his crew.

17. Answers Questions 6-7
6. The two troubles Penelope faces in Odysseus’ absence is that she must fend off suitors and the suitors are also planning to kill her son Telemachus.
7. At the banquet, Odysseus promises King Alcinous his lasting friendship. He states, “If I pull away from pitiless death, friendship will bind us, though my land lies far.”. Though Odysseus is far away from home, this promise is especially important because it is between two kings. At the end of a terrible war, alliances made, no matter how geographical diverse, are significant.

18. Answer Question 8
8. It is clear that Odysseus misses home. He claims that there is no ”place more dear” to him than Ithaca (16). He also argues that a man cannot find “sweetness to surpass his own home”. Because Odysseus refers to his home as precious, it can be inferred that he is homesick and despite his travels and adventures, he longs to return to Ithaca.