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The Odyssey, Part 1

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 33mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What danger do the Lotus-Eaters pose to Odysseus' men in the excerpt from Part 1?

a)

The Lotus-Eaters offer the men the Lotus plant, which causes them to lose interest in returning home.

b)

The Lotus-Eaters are dishonest and try to mislead the crew about the route home.

c)

Familiarity with the Lotus-Eaters is dangerous because they are cannibals

d)

The Lotus-Eaters deliberately cause the winds to subside

2.

In the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, what quality for which Odysseus is famous is most clearly illustrated when he tells the Cyclops that his name is Nobody?

a)

He is clever

b)

He is courageous

c)

He is trained for battle

d)

He is an effective leader

3.

Why does Odysseus blind Cyclops rather than kill him in his sleep?

a)

Odysseus and his men lack the physical strength to kill the giant

b)

Odysseus' heart is moved by compassion for the foolish Clyclops

c)

Odysseus and his men need Cyclops to move the stone that blocks the cave's entrance

d)

Odysseus' men convince him that Poseidon will curse them if they kill any of the Cyclopes

4.

In which episode does Odysseus lose all of his men?

a)

The Sirens

b)

The Cyclops

c)

The Lotus-Eaters

d)

The Cattle of the Sun God

5.

At the end of the episode with Cyclops, what does Polyphemus do that affects future events in the epic?

a)

He destroys Odysseus' ships

b)

He prophesies that Odysseus will visit Hades

c)

He begs his father, Poseidon, to curse Odysseus

d)

He tells Odysseus that he will chase him back to Ithaca

6.

If people are described as fugitives from justice, which statement is most likely to be true of them?

a)

They are being held in jail

b)

They have run away to avoid arrest

c)

They have committed a minor crime

d)

They have been found note guilty at trial

7.

Which sort of situation would someone be most likely to want to avenge?

a)

kindness to a needy stranger

b)

feelings of self-hatred or disgust

c)

remorse for an accidental wrong

d)

violence against a family member

8.

In which activity would you be most likely to apply tactics?

a)

participating in ballroom dancing

b)

playing a game of chess

c)

playing a guitar solo

d)

knitting a scarf

9.

As they travel through the land of the Sirens, how do Odysseus' men avoid falling under the Sirens' spell?

a)

Odysseus ties them up

b)

Odysseus plugs their ears

c)

They look only at their oars

d)

They listen only to Odysseus

10.

Why does most of the excerpt from Part 1 qualify as a flashback?

a)

Homer interrupts the story of Odysseus' journey home by having Odysseus tell Alcinous of earlier events

b)

In the early scenes, Homer hints at dangers that Odysseus will face in future episodes of the epic

c)

Homer opens the narrative with an invocation to the muse of epic poetry

d)

The adventures of Odysseus are set in the distant past

11.

By definition, what makes the Odyssey an epic?

a)

It is a long lyric poem that expresses a speaker's strong emotions about actual events

b)

It is a long narrative poem featuring real people and based on actual historical events

c)

It is a long dramatic poem that includes supernatural elements and features long journeys

d)

It is a long narrative poem featuring a hero who embodies traits that are important to his culture