Odyssey

• Who is Odysseys telling his story to at the start of book 9?


  King Alcinous
• Who is King Alcinous?

  King of the Phaecians
• What is an ephitet?

  It is a short phrase regularly applied to a person or thing. Used for meaning or rhythm.
• What does the quote - I know nothing sweeter than ones own country - show?


  Nostos
• Where does Odysseys go first after he leaves Troy?

  Ismarus, Island of the Cicones
• What did Odysseys do to the Island of the Cicones?

  Sacked the city and destroyed its people
• What happened after Odysseys sacked the city of the Cicones?

  The Cicones raised an army while Odysseus men refused to leave.
• How many men of Odysseys' were killed on the island of the Cicones?

  6 from every ship
• Which God sent Odysseys' boat astray after the Cicones?

  Zeus
• On what day did Odysseys reach the Lotus-Eaters?

  10th day
• What does eating the fruit of the Lotus-Eaters effect?

  A persons nostos - removes their desire to go home
• Where does Odysseys go next after the Lotus Eaters?

  The land of the Cyclopes
• How does Odysseys describe the Cyclopes?

  Fierce lawless people
• How are the Cyclopes' described as barbaric from a Greek standard?

  Don't follow Xenia
• Who does Odysseys first see when he gets off the boat on the island of the Cyclopes?


  Nymphs
• What does Odysseys do when he gets off the boat on the island of the Cyclopes?

  Kills goats.
• How does Odysseys describe the Cyclopes once they're on the island?

  'Aggressive savages with no sense of right or wrong or hospitable and god-fearing people
• What does Odysseys bring with him to the caves of the Cyclopes?

  A goatskin bag with wine and some food
• What is in Polyphemus' cave when they first go in?

  Baskets of cheese and lambs
• What does Odysseys do to Polyphemus' food when he first enters the cave?

  Helped themselves to the cheeses.
• Example of a key barbaric action of Polyphemus

  'Dashed their heads across the floor as though they had been puppies
• What was Odysseys' first plan to kill Polyphemus?

  To stab him in the breast
• Why did Odysseys not go with his initial plan to kill Polyphemus?

  It would mean that they were trapped inside the cave
• What did Odysseys decide to do to Polyphemus instead of his initial plan?

  Blind Polyphemus by sharpening a staff and putting it in his eye while he slept
• Examples where Polyphemus is also seen as caring?


  He notices when the black ram is lagging behind - shows he cares
• What name did Odysseus give the Cyclops?

  Nobody
• What does the escape from Polyphemus show us about Odysseys' character? (2)

  - Shows his metis

  - Shows how he's narcissistic - wants his glory to be known
• What does Polyphemus say when Odysseys reveals himself?

  That there was a prophecy that said that Odysseys would rob Polyphemus of his sight
• What does Polyphemus' curse include?

  - Make him come late to his home

  - With none of his men

  - In a foreign ship

  - With strangers in his home
• Who does Polyphemus direct his curse to?

  Poseidon
• What does Polyphemus throw at the water once they are escaping?

  A boulder
• What did Odysseys sacrifice and to who?

  The ram he hid under, and to Zeus
• Did Zeus accept the offering of the ram?

  No, 'he took no notice
• Where does Aeolus live?

  Aeolia
• Who is Aeolus the son of?

  Hippotas
• Who does Aeolus share his house with?

  His family of twelve, where he has given his sons in marriage with his daughters
• How long did Odysseys stay with Aeolus?

  A whole month
• What did Aeolus gift Odysseys?

  A bag of winds
• When did Odysseys' men open the bag of winds?

  When they were in sight of Ithaca
• Why did Odysseys' men open the bag of winds?

  They thought that it was filled with gold and silver that Odysseys wasn't sharing