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Odyssey Test I Review for Retakes

Period of forced absence from one’s country

exile

Steal or take by trickery or force

plunder

Misfortune; hardship; suffering

adversity

Enemy; opponent

adversary

Formal order; command

Mandate

Able to perform a variety of functions

versatile

Personal bravery

valor

Wise

Sage

Heavy; bulky; massive

ponderous

Friendly

cordial

one who tells stories to make a living

minstrel

helps explain characters’ motivations

Greek Values

treat all guests with respect

Hospitality

blind minstrel

Homer

mutual exchange between two people

reciprocity

A story that uses fantasy to explain ideas about life

myth

extreme arrogance; self-pride

hubris

A long poem about the adventures of gods and goddesses

epic

actions should please the gods; Fate; gods

honored through sacrifice

religion

“…in one stride he clutched at my companions and caught them in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out.”

Homeric simile

“Athena – she had the face that launched a thousand ships”

Classical allusion

A brief descriptive phrase

epithet

Long, narrative ____________.

poem

Reflects the _______ of a nation or race

values

Addresses ________ concerns.

universal

Focuses on the adventures of a historical or legendary ______.

hero

______ plays an important role.

supernatural

Story set in many _______.

locations

Hero against the ______.

odds

Story is simple and written in ______ language.

formal

Who kept Odysseus captive for seven years?

Calypso

At the beginning of the Odyssey, what is happening?

Odysseus is trying to sail home to Troy

Poseidon’s main purpose in the story is to

Make Odysseus suffer

Who is Poseidon?

father of Polyphemusgod of earthquakesgod of the sea

What is significant about the following description that Odysseus gives us about the Cyclopes?

“. . .giants, louts without a law to bless them.In ignorance leaving the fruitage of the earth in mysteryTo the immortal gods, . . .” Readers understand

that this race of creatures is uncivilized.

When Polyphemus eats some of Odysseus’ men, why does Odysseus not kill him immediately?

He knows that Polyphemus is the only one who can open the cave door.

What ancient Greek rule for living does Polyphemus break when Odysseus meets him for the first time?

hospitality

Which trait does Odysseus exhibit by lying about his name to Polyphemus?

cleverness

How does Polyphemus react when Odysseus tells him his real name?

He throws a rock at the ship. He tells Odysseus that a prophet had told him he would lose his eye.He asks Odysseus to come back to the island so he can treat him well.

Why does Odysseus shout to the Cyclops once he and his men are away from the island?

He wants to brag about his own cleverness.