The Odyssey Themes

who is Odysseus?

• who is Odysseus?

• an excellent sailor

• a famous Trojan warrior

• a leader of Greek soldiers

At the beginning of the selection from Tales From the Odyssey, what challenge do the warriors face?

• intense hunger

• a powerful storm

• extreme tiredness

• another enemy attack

In the selection from Tales From the Odyssey, why does Odysseus sail to the faraway mysterious shore?

• He believes it will be safer there.

• He thinks he will find food there.

• He wants to know who lives there

• He hopes to catch a monster there

If a person showed wrath toward an enemy, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of wrath.

• he showed intense fear

• he showed good manners

• he showed extreme anger

• he showed poor judgement

Read these sentences from Tales From the Odyssey:

Who lives there? Who stokes those fires? Odysseus wondered silently. Are they friendly or lawless men?

What do Odysseus’ thoughts reveal about his journey?

• The journey is poorly planned.

• The journey is full of unknowns.

• The journey makes Odysseus lonely.

• The journey will result in new friends

Read the final sentences from the selection from Tales From the Odyssey:

“Ah, the shepherd returns,” Odysseus said. “Let us step forward and meet this man.” But when they peered out of the cave, the Greeks gasped with horror—for the shepherd was no man at all. He was a monster.

How do these sentences contribute to the development of the story?

• They provide a final example of unexpected danger.

• They prove that Odysseus and his men will never get home

• They remind the reader that Odysseus is an unskilled leader.

• They give structure to the story by ending it in an expected way.

Which of the following are universal themes in the selection from Tales From the Odyssey? Choose two options.

• Life presents many challenges.

• Journeys offer many surprises.

• Revenge is always worthwhile

• Failure is the best way to learn.

• Some mistakes are unforgivable

In the selection from Tales From the Odyssey, which universal theme can be drawn from the response of Odysseus and his men to the storm?

• Acting foolishly only leads to mistakes.

• Never give up in the face of a difficulty

• Just wait patiently and trouble will pass.

• Overcome challenges by planning ahead

What is the meaning of the Latin root -vad-?

• go

• use

• come

• break