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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why are there so few boars among Odysseus' swine in Book 14?

2. Why is Telemachus skeptical that he and Odysseus can handle the suitors without help?

3. Which suitor has a "bad feeling" after Odysseus the beggar tries to warn him of impending danger in Book 18?

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

5. How many suitors are spared in Book 22 before Eurycleia is summoned for cleaning the hall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In order to be a leader, generally a person must exhibit certain qualities - nobility, honesty, and chivalry just to name a few. Having a good helping of charisma goes a long way as well. Antinous and Eurymachus are leaders among the suitors, a group of men who lack many positive qualities. Compare the two men. Evaluate which is the better man by determining who has more qualities that are positive and defining what those qualities are.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Homer repeats that Zeus is the friend and patron of strangers and supplicants. Odysseus finds himself at the mercy of others with mixed success. One end of his trip he is cursed for defending himself when mercy isn't shown, and the other end of his trip he is sent home like a god. Why doesn't Zeus punish the cyclops, or why is Odysseus allowed to be punished?

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This section contains 335 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample