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Orpheus and Eurydice

Total questions: 19

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What caused Eurydice's death?

a)

A jealous girlfriend poisoned her

b)

She was bitten by a snake

c)

She ran away and fell over a cliff

d)

Hades punished her

2.

Why was Orpheus's journey to the underworld unusual?

a)

Hades refused visitors during certain times of the year

b)

normally only the souls of the dead go to the underworld

c)

Orpheus's music always angered Hades

d)

Orpheus had no reason

3.

When is Orpheus finally reunited with Eurydice

a)

When he dies, and Persephone touches the foreheads of both Eurydice and Orpheus; they both have their memories of one another restored.

b)

When he rescues her from Hades

c)

When he gives her medicine to bring her back to life

d)

When he catches her coming out of the Yawning Caves

4.

What was one purpose of this legend for the Greeks?

a)

To explain where daffodils come from

b)

To explain where fire came from

c)

To examine death and the afterlife

d)

to represent nonfiction stories

5.

What is one purpose this myth serves for contemporary (you) readers?

a)

to acknowledge and describe the anguish of losing a loved one

b)

to inspire you to not play music

c)

to teach you about Zeus

d)

to help you read nonfiction stories

6.

Who is the three headed monster who guards the gates of the underworld.

a)

Orpheus

b)

Eurydice

c)

Hades

d)

Cerberus

7.

Who was the ferryman who carried the dead across the River Styx?

a)

Hades

b)

Charon

c)

Sisyphus

d)

Tantalus

8.

How did Orpheus get past Charon and Cerberus into the underworld?

a)

He ran super fast

b)

He moved them with his music

c)

He dug a tunnel underneath them to crawl through

d)

He gave Charon may coins to pay him off, and Cerberus many dog treats

9.

Orpheus fails to rescue Eurydice _________

a)

Because the Maenads want him to love them instead

b)

Because Charon will not grant him passage across the River Styx

c)

Because Sisyphus is not moved by his song

d)

Because he turns around to look at her

10.

The ferryboat captain who takes Orpheus across the River Styx is named _________

a)

Mrs. Dunn

b)

Cerberus

c)

Charon

d)

Persephone

11.

What was a special talent of Orpheus?

a)

his super strength

b)

his ability to sing and play music

c)

his cunning

d)

all of the answers

12.

Why did the ferryman permit Orpheus, a living soul, to cross the river Styx?

a)

He was enchanted by his music.

b)

He felt sorry for him.

c)

He was under strict orders from Hades

d)

all of the answers

13.

What happens when Orpheus tries to return to the Underworld?

a)

 He is unable to persuade the ferryman to take him there.

b)

Hades refuses to talk to him. 

c)

 He is frightened away by the monsters. 

d)

He is unable to see in the grayness and the smoke. 

14.

What instrument is Orpheus famous for playing?

a)

Flute

b)

Lyre

c)

Drums

d)

Guitar

15.

What was the name of Orpheus' new bride?

a)

Andromeda

b)

Arachne

c)

Persephone

d)

Eurydice

16.

What was the bad omen at the wedding?

a)

bride was late

b)

Eris (goddess of conflict) turned up

c)

torches sputtered with black smoke

d)

thunder and lightning

17.

What are the (Greek) names of the king and queen of the Underworld?

a)

Ares and Proserpina

b)

Pluto and Demeter

c)

Hades and Persephone

d)

Charon and Hecabe

18.

What is one thing that Orpheus does NOT sing about to persuade the rulers of the Underworld to give his wife back?

a)

threatens to kidnap Cerberus if he isn't given Eurydice

b)

that Hades was also subject to the power of love.

c)

asks Hades to imagine the summer monthes when Persephone is gone lasting forever.

d)

asks Hades to imagine Persephones pale face crumbling into dust.

19.

What warning is Orpheus given before he leaves?

a)

Don't ever come here again!

b)

Don't look back until you have emerged from the Underworld!

c)

Don't ever try to sing again when you get back home!

d)

Don't let Eurydice go walking barefoot again!