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

Short Answer Questions

1. What gift does Menelaus give to Telemachus as they part company in Book 15?

2. Who gives Odysseus the bow that Penelope is using in her contest for the suitors?

3. What does Odysseus do during the voyage home in Book 13?

4. Why doesn't Telemachus want his treasures taken to his house?

5. How does Athene disguise Odysseus on Ithaca?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

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 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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This section contains 270 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample