View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the Cyclops in Book 9 show hospitality?

2. According to Nausicaa, to whom should Odysseus first appeal when he gets to the court in Book 6?

3. In Book 1, who seeks to punish Odysseus interminably?

4. Which god(dess) visits Telemachus at the beginning of the poem?

5. Who gets Telemachus' supplies of wine and barley for his quest?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Which men support Telemachus at the assembly in Book 2? Why do they support him, and how are they treated by the others?

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

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

5. Describe Nausicaa's character.

6. Is the ending satisfying to readers? Why or why not?

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

8. Is it necessary for Odysseus to threaten Eurycleia when she recognizes him?

9. What is interesting in Penelope's appearance to the suitors after the boxing match between Odysseus and Irus?

10. Why does Menelaus mourn so much for Odysseus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

The Odyssey contains a dark side; Odysseus faces many monsters, a witch, and the underworld. What do these elements symbolize and why are they important for Odysseus to experience? Use the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

As one of the first epic poems of the Western world, The Odyssey is the model from which scholars have dissected and labeled other poems that have followed. Identify the poetic conventions of the epic poem, providing examples from the text to support its use as the model.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 896 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample