Scylla & Charybdis

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly. Why does Odysseus steer his ship closer to Scylla rather than Charybdis?

• To protect himself from Charybdis’s stronger whirlpool

• To avoid losing all of his men to Charybdis

• Because he underestimates Scylla’s power

• Because he wants to challenge Scylla directly

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Determine a theme or central idea of a text. Which theme is best exemplified in Odysseus’s encounter with Scylla and Charybdis?

• The inevitability of difficult choices in leadership

• The futility of resisting the gods’ will

• The rewards of perseverance and patience

• The value of physical strength over cunning

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Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text. How does Odysseus demonstrate growth as a leader during this episode?

• He uses his strength to fight both Scylla and Charybdis.

• He makes the hard choice to sacrifice some men to save the majority.

• He chooses to sail directly into Charybdis despite the risks.

• He refuses to listen to Circe’s advice and acts independently.

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Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. The phrase “between Scylla and Charybdis” has come to mean “between a rock and a hard place.” How does this phrase reflect Odysseus’s situation?

• Odysseus must choose between two equally disastrous options.

• Odysseus is unsure which route will bring him glory.

• Odysseus faces no real threat but perceives danger everywhere.

• Odysseus must decide whether to disobey the gods.

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How does Homer’s description of Scylla and Charybdis heighten the tension of the episode?

• By emphasizing the crew’s confidence in Odysseus

• By vividly describing the dangers of both monsters

• By showing the gods intervening to protect Odysseus

• By focusing on the aftermath of the encounter

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How does Odysseus’s first-person narration affect the depiction of the encounter with Scylla and Charybdis?

• It makes the encounter seem less dangerous than it is.

• It highlights Odysseus’s feelings of helplessness and guilt.

• It emphasizes the crew’s failure to follow orders.

• It portrays Scylla and Charybdis as figments of his imagination.

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In some artistic depictions, Scylla and Charybdis are shown as equally dangerous. How does this differ from Homer’s depiction?

• Homer portrays Charybdis as less dangerous than Scylla.

• Homer presents Scylla as an avoidable threat.

• Homer emphasizes that Scylla is less deadly than Charybdis.

• Homer shows both monsters as equally insignificant.

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How does the Scylla and Charybdis episode reflect ancient Greek cultural values?

• It emphasizes the power of physical strength over strategy.

• It highlights the importance of sacrifice and leadership.

• It demonstrates the gods’ willingness to forgive human error.

• It portrays the Greek belief in fate’s control over human life.

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