The Odyssey & O Brother, Where Art Thou? Comparison Quiz

What is the main similarity between Odysseus and Everett?

• Both are musicians

• Both are trying to reunite with their families

• Both are soldiers returning from war

• Both are searching for treasure

In both stories, the protagonist is known for his:

• Strength (or attempt of)

• Cunning and intelligence (or attempt of)

• Loyalty (or attempt of)

• Honesty (or attempt of)

In The Odyssey, Poseidon acts as an antagonist. Which character plays a similar role in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

• Big Dan Teague

• Sheriff Cooley

• Penny

• Tommy Johnson

What mythical creature do the three “Sirens” in O Brother, Where Art Thou? represent? (the scene that Mrs. Hill skipped of the singing women)

• The Lotus Eaters

• The Fates

• The Sirens

• The Harpies

The one-eyed Bible salesman, Big Dan Teague, symbolizes which character from The Odyssey?

• Zeus

• The Cyclops, Polyphemus

• Circe

• Telemachus

What similar challenge do Odysseus and Everett face?

• Escaping imprisonment

• Being mistaken for someone else

• Being tempted by wealth

• Swimming across the sea

In The Odyssey, Penelope is known for:

• Her intelligence and loyalty

• Her ability to fight

Which character in O Brother, Where Art Thou? represents Penelope?

• The Sirens

• Penny, Everett’s wife

• The Blind Seer

• Pappy O’Daniel

What does the blind railroad man at the beginning of O Brother, Where Art Thou? symbolize?

• Telemachus

• The Cyclops

• Tiresias, the blind prophet

• Charybdis

Best, Most Intelligent Guess: Music in the Odyssey represents (thinkABOUT IT; MUSIC HAPPENED AT PIVITOL MOMENTS IN THE STORY)

• Hypnotize enemies

• Trick the protagonist

• Represent divine intervention and fate

• Serve as a distraction from the quest