The Odyssey | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Book 1

1. Explain the circumstances that lead Athene to intervene on Odysseus' behalf at the very beginning of the poem.

2. Why does Telemachus take advice from Mentes, a relative stranger to him, in Book 1?

3. Why does Telemachus lie to Antinous and Eurymachus, telling them Odysseus is dead?

4. Describe the suitors' reaction to Telemachus calling a meeting of the assembly in Book 1.

Short Essay Question - Book 2

5. Enumerate Telemachus' problem - why has he called the leaders of Ithaca together?