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. Floating with the aid of Ino and safe from Poseidon in Book 5, how does Odysseus make it to dry land when he first sees it?

2. What is unique about Demodocus the bard?

3. How did Odysseus appear after his bath in Book 6?

4. What does Menelaus give to Telemachus when Telemachus politely refuses his other gifts?

5. What announcement does Telemachus make to the suitors of his hall in Book 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the story of Ares and Aphrodite teach?

2. Why does Circe help Odysseus in Book 10?

3. What does Eumaeus think will happen to the old man if he approaches the suitors for work? Why?

4. How does a naked Odysseus ask for help among Nausicaa and the maids?

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

6. Why does Menelaus mourn so much for Odysseus?

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

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

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

10. Explain Odysseus' reaction to Calypso and Ino's help in Book 5.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most literary works have an antagonist. Is there one in The Odyssey? Explain your answer using the text.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 955 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample