The Odyssey Review

Which of the following statements best identifies the Odysseus we meet in the epic?

• He is the captain of a ruthless pirate fleet

• He is an outcast leader and hates all human beings

• He is the leader of a homeward bound fleet

• He is the luckless son of Poseidon and a nymph

Why did Odysseus leave his island, Ithaca, in the first place?

• to fight in the Trojan war

• to escape the boredom of his life

• to find his father's murderer

• to design and build the city of Troy

How long has Odysseus been away from Ithaca?

• 2 years

• 10 years

• 20 years

• 30 years

What happens on Ithaca whie Odysseus in away?

• His wife, Penelope, remarries his greatest enemy.

• His son, Telemachus, dies in battle.

• Powerful men try to get Penelope to abandon Odysseus and marry them.

• Telemachus kills his mother.

According to Odysseus, why must Polyphemus, the Cyclops, be niec to Odysseus and his men?

• because Odysseus is a war hero

• because Odysseus has been away from home for many years

• because the gods think it's important to always honor guests

• because Odysseus is a dangerous man

What does Odysseus do when Polyphemus asks for his name?

• He refuses to speak

• He stabs a stake through Polyphemus' eye

• He reminds Polyphemus that it is impolite to ask a guest for his name

• He says that his name is "Nohbdy"

How does Odysseus get his men safely out Polyphemus' cave?

• He ties them to the undersides of the rams

• He stabs Polyphemus in the eye

• He uses a tree limb as leverage to move the stone away from the mouth of the cave

• He convinces Athena to distract Polyphemus

What does Odysseus do as he and his men escape the Cyclops' island?

• he leaves the best sheep for the Cyclops

• he taunts the Cyclops and reveals his identity

• he swims back to shore to fight the Cyclops

• he sends the Minotaur to fight the Cyclops

Who are the Sirens?

• a group of one-eyed giants

• four sisters who weave fine fabric

• creatures who lure sailors to their deaths

• snakes killed by Odysseus on the Cyclops' island

How do the Sirens tempt men to their deaths?

• they promise wealth and immortality

• they throw rocks from the cliffs of their island

• they sing passionate songs

• they promise food and alcohol