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Odyssey quiz books 9 - 12

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is "hubris"?

a)

excessive pride, arrogance

b)

extreme bravery

c)

cowardice

d)

god-like strength

2.

In books 9-12, who is someone who did NOT demonstrate "xenia" to Odysseus and his men?

a)

Polyphemus

b)

Calypso

c)

Aeolus

d)

Lotus Eaters

3.

The ancient Greek concept of hospitality, where all guests and strangers are treated with respect.

(a)  

4.

What happened when they visited the land of the Cicones? (select all that apply)

a)

Disobedience and hubris cost them many lives

b)

many men were killed by the Cicones

c)

Odysseus's men pillaged the village without good reason

d)

Zeus punished the men for their actions

5.

What does Odysseus decide to do in the land of the Lotus Eaters?

a)

He eats the lotus fruit and stays for one year

b)

He does not eat the fruit and makes his men leave immediately

c)

He kills all the Lotus Eaters for poisoning them

d)

He steals Lotus Fruit and does not tell his men

6.

Why does Odysseus visit the island of the Cyclopes?

a)

He is curious

b)

He is forced to

c)

He is hungry

d)

He wants to kill them

7.

How does Odysseus escape Polyphemus the Cyclops? (select all that apply)

a)

He stabs his eye, blinding him

b)

He sings until Polyphemus falls asleep

c)

He says his name is "Poseidon"

d)

He and his men ride giant birds out of the cave

8.

How does Odysseus display his hubris after escaping Polyphemus?

a)

He shouts his real name and where he lives

b)

He blows up Polyphemus's cave

c)

He prays to Poseidon to curse Cyclops island

d)

He stays with the Cyclops for one year

9.

What adventure shows that Odysseus and his men do not always trust each other?

a)

Aeolus and the bag of stormy winds

b)

Circe turning the men into pigs

c)

Land of the Dead

d)

Calypso's Island

10.

How does Odysseus avoid Circe's witchcraft?

a)

Hermes gives him a magic herb to protect him

b)

He kills her before she can cast her spell

c)

He tricks her into turning herself into a pig

d)

He prays for Zeus to kill her

11.

Why must Odysseus travel to the Land of the Dead before journeying home to Ithaca?

a)

To get the help of Hades and his army

b)

To hear the prophecy from the dead, blind prophet Teiresias

c)

To experience death so he can be reborn

d)

To buy a faster boat

12.

What are the bird or fish-like women who sing to and enchant men until they die?

(a)  

13.

What does Teiresias tell Odysseus he and his men must not do?

a)

Stay on Circe's island

b)

Eat the Lotus Fruit

c)

Eat, kill, or disturb the cattle of Helios

d)

Taunt Polyphemus, the Cyclops

14.

How does Odysseus and his men get through Scylla and Charybdis?

a)

They sail over Charybdis and get lucky

b)

They pass under Scylla, losing 6 men

c)

They get help from Athena who pushes them past danger

d)

They make sacrifices to the monsters so they don't die

15.

Why do the men decide to eat the cattle of Helios, the sun god?

a)

They think Odysseus wants them all to himself

b)

They would rather die at sea or by the gods than from hunger

c)

They think the island would be prettier without them

d)

Because Odysseus tells them to

16.

Why does Odysseus listen to the Sirens

a)

He ran out of beeswax

b)

He is curious and wants to hear

c)

His men force him to

d)

Teiresias told him to

17.

How do Helios and Zeus react to Odysseus' men's actions?

a)

They gift them 100 cows

b)

They destroy the ship and kill all but Odysseus

c)

They trap them on Helios' island forever

d)

They send a storm to blow them off course

18.

Why does Circe grant Odysseus his wishes?

a)

He cast a spell on her

b)

He resisted her spells and potions

c)

He is a god

d)

He threatened to kill her

19.

Why is Poseidon trying to kill or punish Odysseus?

a)

He blinded his son, Polyphemus

b)

He is Poseidon's brother and main rival

c)

He outsmarted Poseidon

d)

Poseidon wants to marry Penelope, Odysseus' wife

20.

To whom is Odysseus telling his story to throughout books 9-12?

a)

King Alcinous & the Phaeacians

b)

Penelope and Telemachus

c)

Athena and Hermes

d)

The suitors in Ithaca