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Odyssey Background

Total questions: 58

Worksheet time: 34mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What was the Trojan War?

a)

The 10-year war between Greeks & Trojans to recover Menelaus’s wife, Helen.

b)

The 10-year war between Greeks & Trojans over property rights.

c)

The 2 month war to determine who would rule the Agean Sea.

d)

The 2 month war over the fleet of Trojan horses.

2.

Who was Homer?

a)

A famous author from Shakespeare's time who wrote The Iliad & The Odyssey.

b)

A blind Greek poet, or bard, famous for reciting The Iliad and The Odyssey.

c)

Odysseus's foe in The Odyssey.

d)

The Greek god of homes.

3.

What is an epic?

a)

Another name for a theme.

b)

Any large book or long story.

c)

A word to describe a ski trip.

d)

A long poem narrating the deeds and adventures of heroes.

4.

What is an epic hero?

a)

Latin for "into the middle of things," a story that begins in the middle.

b)

A brave & noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements.

c)

A description of a characteristic of a person or thing before the name.

d)

The main character in a long story.

5.

What is an epic simile?

a)

Latin for "into the middle of things," a story that begins in the middle.

b)

A brave & noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements.

c)

A description of a characteristic of a person or thing before the name.

d)

A long, detailed, and dramatic comparison using like or as.

6.

Define "In Medias Res"

a)

Latin for "into the middle of things," a story that begins in the middle.

b)

A brave & noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements.

c)

A description of a characteristic of a person or thing before the name.

d)

A long, detailed, and dramatic comparison using like or as.

7.

Who is Aphrodite?

a)

The Greek goddess of love and beauty.

b)

Queen of the gods in Greek mythology, goddess of marriage and family.

c)

The Greek goddess of wisdom and truth.

d)

Servant to the gods in Greek mythology.

8.

Who is Hera?

a)

The Greek goddess of love and beauty.

b)

Queen of the gods in Greek mythology, goddess of marriage and family.

c)

The Greek goddess of wisdom and truth.

d)

Servant to the gods in Greek mythology.

9.

What is Mount Olympus?

a)

The site where the Trojan Horse was left.

b)

The largest mountain in Greece.

c)

The home of the gods in Greek mythology.

d)

The hill Achilles died on.

10.

What is the trojan horse?

a)

A trick the gods played on the mortals in The Trojan War.

b)

The horse Achilles rode in the Trojan War.

c)

A small toy horse for children.

d)

A hollow wooden horse used by the Greeks to invade the city of Troy.

11.

What is The Iliad?

a)

An epic poem detailing the 10-year return of Odysseus from the Trojan War.

b)

The most powerful ship in the Aegean Sea.

c)

An epic poem, attributed to Homer, detailing the account of The Trojan Wart

d)

The song the most famous bard in Greek was known for singing.

12.

What is The Odyssey?

a)

An epic poem detailing the 10-year return of Odysseus from the Trojan War.

b)

The most powerful ship in the Aegean Sea.

c)

An epic poem, attributed to Homer, detailing the account of The Trojan Wart

d)

The song the most famous bard in Greek was known for singing.

13.

Who is Paris?

a)

As a baby he was dipped in the river Styx making most of him immortal.

b)

The god of the sea, water, and earthquakes in Greek mythology.

c)

King of the gods of the ancient Greeks.

d)

Prince of Troy, said Aphrodite was most beautiful, caused the Trojan War.

14.

Who is Zeus?

a)

As a baby he was dipped in the river Styx making most of him immortal.

b)

The god of the sea, water, and earthquakes in Greek mythology.

c)

King of the gods of the ancient Greeks.

d)

Prince of Troy, said Aphrodite was most beautiful, caused the Trojan War.

15.

Who is Poseidon?

a)

As a baby he was dipped in the river Styx making most of him immortal.

b)

The god of the sea, water, and earthquakes in Greek mythology.

c)

King of the gods of the ancient Greeks.

d)

Prince of Troy, said Aphrodite was most beautiful, caused the Trojan War.

16.

What happens with Paris and the golden apple?

a)

Aphrodite gives it to him & makes him the greatest hero of the Trojan war.

b)

He awards it to Aphrodite, steals Helen, and starts the Trojan War.

c)

When he eats it, the poison causes his death.

d)

It is his prize for winning The Trojan War.

17.

Who is Hermes?

a)

Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare; daughter of Zeus.

b)

A cyclops, the son of Poseidon, who has his eye poked out by Odysseus.

c)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

d)

King of Ithaca, leader in The Trojan War, wanders home for 10 years.

18.

Who is Athena?

a)

Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare; daughter of Zeus.

b)

A cyclops, the son of Poseidon, who has his eye poked out by Odysseus.

c)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

d)

King of Ithaca, leader in The Trojan War, wanders home for 10 years.

19.

Who is Odysseus?

a)

Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare; daughter of Zeus.

b)

A cyclops, the son of Poseidon, who has his eye poked out by Odysseus.

c)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

d)

King of Ithaca, leader in The Trojan War, wanders home for 10 years.

20.

Who is Helios?

a)

The Greek god of the sun.

b)

Mythological King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, & husband of Helen.

c)

Mythological King of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, leader in the Trojan War

d)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

21.

Who is Agamemnon?

a)

The Greek god of the sun.

b)

Mythological King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, & husband of Helen.

c)

Mythological King of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, leader in the Trojan War

d)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

22.

Who is Menelaus?

a)

The Greek god of the sun.

b)

Mythological King of Sparta, brother of Agamemnon, & husband of Helen.

c)

Mythological King of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, leader in the Trojan War

d)

Messenger of the Greek gods and son of Zeus.

23.

What is Fate?

a)

A message or signs sent by the gods, meant to tell the future.

b)

The belief that the gods regularly interacted with humans & took human form

c)

The mythological underworld where people go when they die.

d)

The idea that events are predetermined cannot be stopped.

24.

What is an Omen?

a)

A message or sign sent by the gods, meant to tell the future

b)

The belief that the gods regularly interacted with humans & took human form

c)

The mythological underworld where people go when they die.

d)

The idea that events are predetermined cannot be stopped.

25.

What did the ancient Greeks believe about the role of the gods?

a)

They judged from a throne in the sky.

b)

They regularly interacted with humans, took human form, & meddled in lives.

c)

They did not interact with humans, but were always watching.

d)

They lived among the people, like humans.

26.

Who is Helen of Sparta/Helen of Troy?

a)

The Wife of Menelaus who leaves with Paris & starts the Trojan War.

b)

The cunning wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus.

c)

A wise and trusted counselor often used as a disguise by Athena.

d)

The most ill-behaved suitor of Penelope.

27.

Who is Penelope?

a)

The Wife of Menelaus who leaves with Paris & starts the Trojan War.

b)

The cunning wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus.

c)

A wise and trusted counselor often used as a disguise by Athena.

d)

The goddess of love.

28.

In ancient Greek mythology, who is the king of the gods?

a)

Zeus

b)

Poseidon

c)

Hades

d)

Hera

29.

In ancient Greek mythology, who is god of the sea?

a)

Athena

b)

Hermes

c)

Poseidon

d)

Apollo

30.

The nations of __________ & _____________ fought against each other in the Trojan War.

a)

Greece & Troy

b)

Troy & Italy

c)

Greece & Sparta

d)

Troy & Sparta

31.

What was the purpose of the Trojan horse?

a)

a gift of surrender

b)

a symbol of power

c)

a mockery of defeat

d)

a deceptive military tactic

32.

Who is Athena?

a)

Zeus' wife

b)

goddess of wisdom and war

c)

Poseidon's daughter

d)

goddess of knowledge and peace

33.

The Odyssey is written as an (a)   poem.

34.

What is an archetypal character?

a)

A complex character who symbolically embodies a universal meaning and basic human experiences, regardless of time or place.

b)

A simplistic character who assumes an easily identifiable role based on a narrow set of traits.

c)

A character who changes and develops throughout the story.

d)

A character who does not change or develop throughout the story.

35.

Who are the Muses?

a)

goddess of enlightenment

b)

goddess of light

c)

goddess of learning

d)

goddess who inspires art, literature, and science

36.

The Greek belief in the importance of xenia (or hospitality) was due to what?

a)

No one knew how to cook, so you needed to be able to go to your friend's house for dinner whenever you were hungry.

b)

The Greeks believed that the gods occasionally disguised themselves as humans to test people, and if you were rude to the gods you would be in huge trouble.

c)

The Greeks lived a very peaceful existence and no one was ever in danger anyway.

d)

Their Greek moms never let any guest leave the house until they had been fed.

37.

If a stranger came to your home, ancient Greek customs dictated that you must... (Check all that are true.)

a)

give them food

b)

invite them in to your home

c)

give them somewhere to rest safely

d)

be punished by the gods if you treat them unkindly

38.

After the war in Troy, which lasted for 10 years, how long does Odysseus spend trying to get home?

a)

9 months

b)

5 years

c)

7 years

d)

10 years

39.

Which god/goddess takes a special interest in Odysseus and tries to help him?

a)

Athena

b)

Hades

c)

Zeus

d)

Penelope

40.

True or False: The Greek gods were more like superpowered humans with greed, jealousy, and bad tempers than what we would consider "god-like" beings.

a)

True

b)

False

41.

Paris, the Prince of Troy, has to judge a contest between three powerful goddesses. What sparked the need for this competition?

a)

A disagreement over which goddess was most powerful.

b)

A golden apple that said "to the fairest."

c)

Zeus lied and told his wife and his daughter that they were more beautiful than Aphrodite.

d)

Paris said that his wife, Helen, was more beautiful than any goddess.

42.

Who is responsible for bringing the war in Troy to and end?

a)

Athena

b)

Odysseus

c)

Zeus

d)

My neighbor, Ned >:(

43.

Why does Paris want Helen to fall in love with him?

a)

Because they had a really great conversation and he feels like they have a lot in common.

b)

Because they grew up together and he always loved her.

c)

Because he doesn't like her husband, Menelaus, and he thinks she deserves better.

d)

Because she is the most beautiful woman in the world

44.

A comparison of two unlike things that uses like or as developed over several lines of verse.

a)

epic plot

b)

allegory

c)

epic simile

d)

allusion

45.

What type of allusion is this?

a)

Mythological

b)

Biblical

c)

Literary

d)

Historical

46.
The real estate agent said his new farm listing was like the Garden of Eden. 
a)
literature/mytology
b)
religious
c)
historical
47.
Jana warned her friend Mary against dating Luke because he thinks he is Romeo.
a)
literature/mythology
b)
religious
c)
historical
48.
Joe is such an Honest Abe, he never can keep our secrets.
a)
literature/mythology
b)
religious
c)
historical
49.
A brief reference to a famous historical figure or event, like from a movie or a book. 
a)
Alliteration 
b)
Hyperbole 
c)
Assonance 
d)
Allusion
50.

a comparison of unlike terms, not using like or as; He's a beast on the football field.

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

personification

d)

allusion

51.

word or phrases of description that are repeated time and again within a work of literature as in "O great contender."

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

tone

d)

epithet

52.

a comparison between two things essentially alike using like or as; Nasir is swift like a cheetah.

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

tone

d)

mood

53.

a central idea in a piece of writing; life lesson; Temptations are difficult to resist.

a)

theme

b)

tone

c)

mood

d)

flashback

54.

"Her legs-and there are 12 of them-are like great tentacles..." (930).

a)

simile

b)

metaphor

c)

allusion

d)

personification

55.

"Son of Laertes and the gods of old, Odysseus, master mariner and soldier" (922).

a)

epilogue

b)

epic simile

c)

epithet

d)

epic poem

56.

a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. (Protagonist of Epic Poetry)

a)

Epic Simile

b)

Epic Setting

c)

Epic Hero

d)

Epithet

57.

a very typical example of a kind of person or thing

a)

Archetype

b)

Epic Plot

c)

Allegory

d)

Epithet

58.

message of the story that reflects a universal idea

a)

Epic Poetry

b)

Epic Theme

c)

Epic Setting

d)

Epic Plot