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The Odyssey Pt. 1

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What danger do the Lotus-Eaters pose to Odysseus’ men in the excerpt from the Odyssey, 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.

 Aeolus, god of the winds, helps Odysseus by giving him a bag containing all of the unfavorable winds.

a)

True

b)

False

3.

In the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, what quality for which Odysseus is famous is most clearly illustrated when he tells Cyclops that his name is Nohbdy?

a)

He is clever

b)

He is courageous

c)

He is trained for battle

d)

He is an effective leader

4.

In the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, why does Odysseus blind the 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 Cyclops.

c)

Odysseus and his men need the 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.

5.

At the end of the episode with the Cyclops in the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, what does Polyphemus do that affects future events in the epic?

a)

He destroys Odysseus’ ship.

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.

In the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, what ancient Greek value does Odysseus most clearly describe in these words to Alcinous? “Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war: this fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim.”

a)

admiration for peacemaking

b)

admiration for modesty

c)

admiration for sincerity

d)

admiration for cunning

7.

What values important to the ancient Greeks inspire Odysseus’ observations in these lines from the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1?“In the next land we found were Cyclopes,giants, louts, without a law to bless them.In ignorance leaving the fruitage of the earth in mysteryto the immortal gods, they neither plow nor sow by hand, nor till the ground....Cyclopes have no muster and no meeting,no consultation or old tribal ways....

a)

admiration for devotion to one’s religion

b)

admiration for physical size, strength, and power

c)

admiration for agriculture, law, tradition, and social organization

d)

admiration for a natural, pure life and surviving by one’s instincts

8.

Throughout the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, Odysseus tempts fate by behaving recklessly. What is the reaction of his men?

a)

They laugh at his hotheaded behavior.

b)

They trust his ability to protect them.

c)

They welcome his risk-taking action.

d)

They try to discourage his rashness.

9.

As they travel through the land of the Sirens in the excerpt from the Odyssey, Part 1, how do Odysseus’ men avoid falling under the Sirens’ spell?

a)

Odysseus ties them up.

b)

Odysseus plugs their ears with beeswax

c)

They look only at their oars.

d)

They listen only to Odysseus.

10.

Match the following

a)

The storyteller, or author of The Odyssey

1.

Homer

b)

Goddess of Wisdom

2.

Athena

c)

God of the sea

3.

Poseidon

d)

Where the 10-year battle took place.

4.

Troy

11.

Match the following

a)

Ithaca

1.

Odysseus' home

b)

Hermes

2.

Messenger God

c)

Zeus

3.

God of sky and of all gods

12.

Which trait of an epic hero does Odysseus show when he ties his men to the rams?

a)

honesty

b)

cleverness

c)

courage

d)

strength