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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To which goddess does Odysseus compare Nausicaa in Book 6?

2. Athene instructs Nestor to help Telemachus on the next leg of his journey. What does he supply?

3. How many times has the meeting of the assembly occurred since Odysseus left?

4. Why, despite taking an oath, does Odysseus' crew slay some cattle of the Sun?

5. What is happening in Lacedaemon when Telemachus arrives?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the rest of the men (aside from the suitors) gathered at the assembly fail to speak or act in Book 2?

2. What do the suitors think of Telemachus leaving Ithaca? What are their fears?

3. Is the punishment of the slave maids in Book 22 just and reasonable?

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

5. Odysseus tells his men about the Sirens. Why doesn't he share Circe's information and advice about Scylla and Charybdis?

6. Describe Eurylochus' actions in Book 12. What kind of man is he?

7. In what ways does Odysseus reveal his crafty mind in his encounter with the cyclops?

8. Why does Menelaus mourn so much for Odysseus?

9. What does Nestor tell Telemachus of Odysseus during Telemachus' visit in Book 3?

10. How does Euryalus insult Odysseus when the Phaeacians are engaging in sport?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Odysseus is gone from home for a long time. He experiences more than most men. Dissect his journey and analyze its parts. Which part of his journey could he have changed easily and, thereby, returned home sooner? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Sociologists can glean quite a bit of information about a culture from surviving literature. Use The Odyssey to illuminate the values of this society. What ideals are valued? What are some distinguishing characteristic of the Ancient Achaeans?

Essay Topic 3

Penelope uses two devices that delay making a decision about marriage and manipulate the suitors. Appraise the effectiveness of each device towards her overall goal. Upon what does each rely? What does each device reveal about her potential husband? Evaluate which device was most useful for her purposes.

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