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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. Why does Nausicaa go to the river in Book 6?

2. Why does Odysseus have to go to Hades in Book 10?

3. In which contest in Book 8 does Odysseus first outstrip all others?

4. Telemachus is overrun with ________, who sponge off of him and his estate, making no amends.

5. What is the subject of Demodocus' first song at Alcinous' feast in Book 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book 20, what has happened to Telemachus now that Odysseus has returned?

2. Describe the exchange between Odysseus and the shepherd boy in Book 13. What does it show about Odysseus' nature?

3. Why does Athene want to cause Odysseus suffering and pain when she prods the suitors to abuse him in his own house in Book 18?

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

5. What are the suitors' fears now that Telemachus has escaped their plot in Book 16?

6. From Helen and Menelaus' stories, what can be said about Odysseus?

7. Describe the behavior of the suitors at the assembly in Book 2.

8. In Book 20, why does Athene make the suitors laugh uncontrollably?

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

10. What causes Odysseus' crew to open Aeolus' gift?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Homer allows the reader to sympathize with a couple of suitors - those who feel remorse and portend ill. Yet all are slaughtered. Why does Athena make a point of keeping those men at the hall? Why is her punishment so absolute? It is an appropriate punishment? Discuss the misdeeds of the suitors in your response.

Essay Topic 2

The poem ends abruptly because there needs to be an explanation for peace. How does the ending demonstrate this society's belief in the rule of law? Without the intervention of the immortals, would the conflict continue?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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