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WorksheetsThe Odyssey Book IX
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 11mins
What is the name given to Book IX?
The Cyclops
The Book of the Dead
Polyphemus
The Cicones
The Giant
Time frames can get confusing in Homer's Odyssey. When Odysseus is telling the story of the Cyclops which of the following is true...?
He has yet to encounter Calypso
He has arrived in Ithaca
He has not yet met Nausicaa
He has encountered the Lotus Eaters
Odysseus takes over as the storyteller from Homer in Book IX.
False
True
Which of the following events occurs last?
The island of the Lotus Eaters
The Cyclops encounter
The battle with the Cicones
A savage storm sent by Zeus
How many men does Odysseus lose in the battle against the Cicones?
60 men
10 men from each ship
15 men from his ship
6 men from each ship
Why does Odysseus say the Cicones army was "sent by Zeus to make us suffer"?
Because his men had killed a bunch of them when they first arrived
They are being punished for not offering prayers to Zeus on arrival in a strange land
Because Odysseus' men were too greedy
Odysseus thought Zeus was sending this army against him to appease Poseidon's hatred for him.
Why was Odysseus in a hurry to leave the island of the Lotus Eaters?
He feared the lure of the lotus fruit would stop his crew from wanting to get home
He knew the lotus fruit was poison and did not want to lose any more of his crew
He was afraid the Lotus Eaters would stop him leaving if he stayed too long
He feared the Lotus Eaters would attack him like the Cicones had earlier
Which of the statements below is false about the island of the Cyclops?
It is near to an island uninhabited by anyone, but full of goats
The Cyclops do not farm any crops
The Cyclops are renown as boat builders
There is no leadership or sense of community among the Cyclops
Who is this quote said too? "Ah, if only you could feel as I do and find a voice and tell me where he is hiding from my fury!"
A ram
Odysseus' men
Poseidon
The flock of sheep
The wine Odysseus had with him inside the cyclops' cave was to be prepared to a ratio of 1 cup to 20 cups of water...why?
It was precious so thus made it last longer
It was powerful (high alcohol) so this literally watered it down
It was most delicious this way
It was a custom of the people Odysseus acquired the wine from
How does Odysseus describe the size of the stone that blocked the entrance to the cave of the cyclops?
"The gods on Olympus could not have moved it"
"It was as tall as four men and as wide as five."
"Twenty two four wheeled wagons could not shift it"
"In my life I had not seen such an impressive door"
What is surprising today about Odysseus' behavior before meeting the cyclops?
He has a sense of foreboding but goes on with his intentions anyway
Even though he had already eaten cheeses and milk, he remained in the cave expecting further gifts from the owner
All of these
He had just filled up on fresh water and goats meat on the adjacent island so why risk exploration of this other island
Aside from crafting the blinding ruse, how else did Odysseus show cunning against the cyclops?
When asked what his name was
When asked where his ship was
In not killing the cyclops
All of these actions showed cunning
How did Odysseus and his men react to the cyclops making a meal of the first two victims?
They cowered deeper into the cave huddling together like sheep
They wept and raised prayers to Zeus against this horror
They took up arms and attacked the monstrous giant
They blinded the cyclops with a sharp stick
They ran out of the cave back to the ship in terror
How many of Odysseus' men does the cyclops eat?
2
4
6
8
How does Odysseus manage to get close enough to blind the giant cyclops?
By waiting till he is asleep
By getting him flat out drunk
By tripping him up
By dropping a rock on his head to render him unconcious
What is the 'gift' the cyclops offers Odysseus for the fine wine?
That he will eat him last
That he will spare him and 1 other member of his crew
That he and his men can stay on as guests and leave when they wish
That he will not eat anymore of Odysseus' men, but they are still prisoners
How is the aspect of Odysseus calling himself "Nobody" (Me tis) a clever piece of storytelling by Homer?
Because in Greek the word for 'Nobody' is very similar to the word of 'hero'
Because in Greek 'Nobody' is very similar to the word for 'trickster'
Because in Greek 'Nobody' is very similar to the word for 'blind'
Because in Greek 'Nobody' is very similar to the word used for 'cunning'
How did Odysseus' men escape from the cave?
Hid underneath the bellies of the sheep
Waited until the cyclops left the cave to tend to his flock
They were rescued by the remainder of the crew
Odysseus talked the cyclops into letting them leave
Where in Book IX do we see Homer give some humanity to the cyclops and potentially draw some pathos from the audience?
When the cyclops makes a heart felt plea to Odysseus not to harm him
When the cyclops speaks kindly to his sheep
In the cyclops is shunned by the other cyclopes
In the way the cyclops offers Odysseus and his men succor only to be attacked and blinded
Who is constantly appearing "Fresh and rosy fingered"?
The dawn
The sun
The moon
Athena
Who did Odysseus sacrifice the cyclops' best ram to?
Poseidon
Athena
Zeus
His fallen comrades
Why does Odysseus taunt the cyclops and shout out his true name on escaping?
Because he was angry the cyclops had treated his men like that
Because he was feeling righteous the cyclops got what he deserved and he couldn't stand for him not knowing who had duped him
He taunts the cyclops so that he wont treat anymore guests like he has
Because he is so ecstatic to be free he cannot help gloating
What is the biggest impact of Odysseus' gloating and revelation of name to the cyclops?
The ship is nearly sunk by large thrown boulders
Odysseus incurs the wrath of Poseidon
The audience loses respect for him
Odysseus loses the control and respect of his crew
Which of the following quotes DOES NOT occur in Book IX?
"Alas! Those ancient prophecies have come back to me now."
"...And your crimes were bound to catch up with you, you brute"
"We are proud to say we belong to the forces of Agamemnon, Atreus' son, who sacked the great city of Ilium"
"I have a heart that is inured to suffering and I shall endure that too"
