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WorksheetsThe Odyssey by Gillian Cross
Total questions: 48
Worksheet time: 34mins
Which of the following choices best explains what the Odyssey is primarily about?
A tale of human endurance as a man struggles to find his way home
A man making personal growth after struggling against himself and his environment
A love triangle between a man, his wife, and a potential suitor
A boy going on a quest to find his father
A woman struggling to survive without her husband
What is Odysseus primary motivation in the story?
To return home to his family on Ithaca
To please Poseidon
To protect his crew from harm
To meet new allies and conquer new enemies
How does Odysseus change or grow throughout the course of the story?
He is first prideful but learns humility from his struggles
He is first very humble but becomes overly prideful
He is first very weak but learns to be a strong leader
He is first doubtful of his abilities but later gains confidence in himself
Which of the following topics or "big ideas" are central to the story The Odyssey and development of the character of Odysseus?
Arete: The pursuit of Excellence
Hubris: The dangers of excessive pride
Humility: Learning to become modest and submit to higher powers
Vengeance: Seeking revenge for mistreatment and ill fortune
Karma: What goes around comes around
The concept of Arete in the Odyssey is most similar to which concept in the Ramayana?
Dharma
Karma
Zen
Meditation
In order to achieve his Arete, Odysseus must learn how to master the concept of _________.
Hubris
Humility
Vengeance
Love
Dharma
In the context of the Odyssey, the opposite of hubris is _________.
Humility
Arete
Temptation
Passion
Perseverance
In the earlier stages of Odysseus journey, what is his tragic flaw?
Hubris
Anger
Ignorance
Temptation
Jealousy
How does Odysseus hubris put him in danger and advance the story's plot?
It puts him in direct conflict with a vengeful Poseidon
It lures him into the cave of Polyphemus, the cyclops
It forces him to confront his mortality and vulnerability in the land of the dead
It puts him in direct conflict with Scylla and Charybdis
Which two events from the Odyssey develop the topic of Temptation?
The encounter with the Lotus Eaters
The encounter with Calypso
The journey to the Land of the Dead
The Encounter with the Sirens
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
Which two scenes from the Odyssey develop the topic of Temptation?
The encounter with Aeolus and the bag of winds
The encounter with Nausicaa and King Alcinous
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with the Sun god's cattle on Thrinacia
The encounter with Zeus in the sea
Which two of the following events portray major failures of Odysseus on his journey home?
The encounter of with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus
The encounter with the Lotus Eaters
The encounter with the Cicones
The encounter with the Sun God's Cattle on Thrinacia
In which scene from the Odyssey does Odysseus most clearly demonstrate Arete through a display of quick wits and cunning?
The encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus
The encounter with Circe
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Tiresias in the Land of the Dead
Which two events are foreshadowed during Odysseus conversation with the blind Prophet Tiresias in the Land of the Dead?
The slaughter of the Sun God's Cattle
Odysseus return to a chaotic Ithaca
Odysseus encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
Odysseus's death in the sea of Poseidon
Odysseus's entrapment on Calypso's island
Examine Dialogue: What big idea or topic is conveyed by the details found in the dialogue on page 79?
Fate
Temptation
Endurance
Hubris
Which of event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus men are not self-controlled. They no longer want to return home since they are drugged. Their actions almost destroy their chances of returning home.
The encounter with the Cicones
The encounter with the Lotus Eaters
The Encounter with Aeolus' Bag
The encounter with Circe
Which of event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus' curiosity disappoints when he leads his men into a cave. Several men are devoured but Odysseus shows his cunning and wits when he creates a multi-step plan of escape.
The encounter with the Cyclops
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Circe
Which of event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus learns that hubris can lead to his downfall after he brags about his successful escape. His boasting puts him in direct conflict with the vengeful god Poseidon.
The encounter with the Cyclops
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Circe
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus' men ignore his orders to return to the ship and begin feasting and drinking until they fall asleep. They are unprepared for the attack that came at night and are forced to retreat to their ships.
The encounter with the Cicones
The encounter with Lotus Eaters
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Zeus after Thrinacia
Which of event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus' crew give into temptation. After coming so close to home, Odysseus and his crew are thrown back to where they came from. Odysseus feels as if he has failed as a leader and questions his purpose in life.
The encounter with the Lotus Eaters
The encounter with Aeolus' bag
The encounter with the Sun god's cattle
The encounter with the Cicones
Which of event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus is suspicious and docks his ship away from the shore. After placing too much trust in the island's inhabitants, several of his men are eaten and all except one of ships is destroyed
The encounter with the cyclops
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Zeus after Thrinacia
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus receives help from Hermes who gives him a special plant to resist a spell which has already transformed his crew. Odysseus accepts help and turns an enemy into an ally.
The encounter with Circe
The encounter with the Lotus Eaters
The encounter with Tiresias in the Underworld
The encounter with Calypso
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus comes face to face with death and his own mortality. He is disappointed by his fate described in a prophecy but learns to humble himself and accept guidance from a wiser source.
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Aeolus
The encounter with Tiresias in the Underworld
The encounter with Circe
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus comes face to face with death and his own mortality. He is disappointed by his fate described in a prophecy but learns to humble himself and accept guidance from a wiser source.
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with Aeolus
The encounter with Tiresias in the Underworld
The encounter with Circe
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus struggles with temptation but learns to trust in his crew as they prevent him from being lured to his death by an entrancing song.
The encounter with the Sirens
The encounter with the cyclops
The encounter with Calypso
The encounter with Circe
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus is disappointed that he must force his crew into a situation in which he knows most will die. In order to spare some of his crew, he ruefully chooses to face the monster and avoid the whirlpool and the certain destruction of his men
The encounter with the cyclops
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Zeus after Thrinacia
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus fails to control his men and leaves them unattended. He is heartbroken by their decision to break their oath because he knows they will now face the wrath of the gods and all of his crew will die.
The encounter with Aeolus and the bag
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with on Thrinacia
Which event from the Odyssey is described below?
Odysseus' entire crew is destroyed in a lightning storm at sea. Odysseus' desire to reach home motivates him to endure. He clings to the limb of a fig tree to avoid being swallowed by the sea and later drifts ashore.
The encounter with the Sirens
The encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
The encounter with the Laestrygonians
The encounter with Zeus after Thrinacia
Examine Dialogue and Inner Monolog: In the sixth and seventh paragraphs on page 110, what does Odysseus' dialogue and inner monolog reveal?
He feels despair and fears his life and memory will be lost
He wishes he had stayed on Calypso's island
Odysseus is joyful to see his homeland
Odysseus has traveled without sleeping for 17 days
Why doesn't Calypso allow Odysseus to leave her island?
He has not shown remorse for hurting the cyclops
He refused to make a sacrifice to her
She has sworn to hold him for Poseidon
She has fallen in love with him
What challenge does Penelope face on Ithaca while Odysseus is away?
She struggles with a group suitors who wish to marry her
She is struggling to raise Telemachus
She is struggling to rule the kingdom of Ithaca
She struggles to protect Telemachus from a group of suitors
Which characters in the Odyssey have separate stories or parallel plots from Odysseus?
Poseidon
Penelope
Telemachus
Tiresias
Athene
Examine Dialogue: How does the dialogue between Hermes and Calypso on page 108 advance the story's plot?
Odysseus is granted freedom to return to Ithaca
Odysseus is rewarded with treasure and weapons
Odysseus remains a captive of Calypso
Calypso reveals her love for Odysseus
What makes Odysseus so melancholy and weep at Alcinous' feast?
He hears a song about the Trojan war
Alcinous makes him retell the his story
Nausicaa refuses his love and affection
Alcinous refuses to help him on his journey home
How does Telemachus' journey reflect or mirror Odysseus' journey?
They both travel to unknown lands, face tests, receive aid, and return in a time of need
They both learn to overcome their hubris and develop humility
They fall into temptation and struggle to deal with the consequences of their actions
They both learn to appreciate and respect the wishes of the gods
How is the topic of Justice developed in the final chapter of the Odyssey?
Odysseus slays Penelope's suitors and restores order to his house
Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus
Odysseus is able to pass the test of the bow
Odysseus convinces Penelope he has returned
How does Odysseus reveal himself to Penelope's suitors?
He completes the test of the bow
Telemachus introduces him to the suitors
Eurycleia accidentally tells the suitors Odysseus has returned
He reveals his scars from the Trojan war
How does Penelope react when Eurycleia tells her that Odysseus has returned?
she rushes to meet him
she immediately breaks down into tears
She runs out of the house and hides herself in fear
She thinks it's a trick and refuses to believe it
Why does Penelope refuse to believe that Odysseus has truly returned
She had been fooled too many times and heard too many lies
He is not able to explain why he has been gone for so lang
She was intent on marrying one of the suitors
She had become used to a living alone
What final test must Odysseus pass in order to prove to Penelope that he has truly returned?
He must complete the test of the bow for her to see
He must know the secret of their bed
He must explain how he got his scar
Argos the dog must recognize him
How do Odysseus and Penelope begin to reconnect after being apart for so long?
They tell each other their stories of the last 20 years
They have a great feast with their family
They make a sacrifice to Poseidon to appease his anger
They remodel their house together
How is the following theme developed in the final chapter of the Odyssey?
Patience is Rewarded
Odysseus is patient in laying out his plan to overthrow the suitors
Odysseus is patient in waiting for Penelope to accept that he has returned
Penelope is patient with the suitors as they attempt the test of the bow
Telemachus shows patience as Penelope refuses to accept Odysseus
Penelope is patient with Odysseus as he tries to explain that he has truly returned
How is the following theme developed throughout the Odyssey?
Hubris can lead to our downfall
How is the following theme developed in throughout the Odyssey?
A person's arete is perfected through struggle
How is the following theme developed throughout the Odyssey?
A Person who perfects his arete will be rewarded
Which of the following quotes from the passage best develops the topic of hubris?
"Well, you can tell your friends... it was Odysseus, king of Ithaca!" (45)
"How can I be gentle when my friends are in the pigsty?" (71)
"What I want is justice! You've dishonored my house and almost ruined Ithaca... Stand up and fight!" (163)
"Why wasn't I killed at Troy? The Greeks would have... remembered my story forever." (110)
Which of the following quotes from the passage best demonstrates that Odysseus has learned humility?
"Princess... have pity on me...Please provide me with some rags to cover my body" (124)
"I was one of the men who crouched inside that horse." (130)
"Undo the ropes! Everything I said before was nonsense." (82)
"Woman, what have you done? I built that bed around an ancient olive tree." (169)
How does the Odyssey make use of Allusion?
Odysseus's disguise as a beggar calls back to the Trojan Horse
Telemachus is a reference to his father
Penelope embodies the concept of Arete
Odysseus displays his hubris after defeating Polyphemus
