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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. In Book 11, who is first to visit Odysseus from the dead?

2. Having left Ogygia and survived Poseidon's attack, what is Odysseus' new problem, now that he spots land?

3. In Book 3, Nestor pledges to sacrifice a gold-tipped _______________ in Athene's honor.

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

5. Who led the group which wanted to leave Troy immediately after the war?

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 is similar to Odysseus' real plight in his fictional tale to Eumaeus in Book 14?

3. How is Odysseus discovered by the maids of Phaecia?

4. Describe Odysseus' bed.

5. Does Nausicaa act properly towards Odysseus when giving aid in Book 6?

6. How does Telemachus assert himself to his mother during the trial of the bow?

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

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

9. Describe Nestor, King of Pylos.

10. What kind of hospitality does Telemachus offer the old man in Book 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even though women are afforded very little in terms of respect, if goddesses did not aid Odysseus, he would not have made it home. Reconcile the disparity between their importance to his survival and the view of women in Ancient Greece.

Essay Topic 2

The word odyssey is synonymous with journey. Explain why this is an appropriate title for the poem.

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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This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample