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Odyssey Test Questions With Revised
Answers
Define an epic hero. Give example. - answer✔✔a larger than life figure who undertakes great
journeys
-Odysseus
Define an epic plot. Give example. - answer✔✔contains a long journey that has many
complications
-Odysseus' Journey Home; Iliad
Define an epic setting. Give example. - answer✔✔a setting that contains foreign and exotic
lands.
-Neverland; Narnia; Calypso's Island
Define an epic theme. Give example. - answer✔✔theme that exemplifies the human experience.
-Fate vs. Freewill; Courage; Loyalty
Define an archetype. Give example. - answer✔✔characters, situations, themes, and images that
can be found in multiple pieces.
-Buried Treasure; Batman & Robin; Sea Monsters; Epic Hero; Suitors' Contest; Loyal Servant
1st Excerpt - answer✔✔from Book 4: The Red-Haired King and His Lady
-"In my life I have met, in many countries, foresight and wit in many first rate men,
but never have I seen one like Odysseus for steadiness and a stout heart. Here, for instance,
is what he did—had the cold nerve to do—inside the hollow horse, where we were waiting,
picked men all of us, for the Trojan slaughter, when all of a sudden, you came by—I dare say
drawn by some superhuman power that planned an exploit for the Trojans; and Deiphobus, that
handsome man, came with you. Three times you walked around it, patting it everywhere, and
called by name the flower of our fighters, making your voice sound like their wives, calling.
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Diomedes and I crouched in the center along with Odysseus; we could hear you plainly; and
listening, we two were swept by waves of longing—to reply, or go.
Odysseus fought us down, despite our craving, and all the Achaeans kept their lips shut tight, all
but Anticlus. Desire moved his throat to hail you, but Odysseus' great hands clamped over his
jaws, and held. So he saved us all, till Pallas Athena led you away at last."
(1st Excerpt) King Menelaus mentions several heroic traits that Odysseus exhibited while
carrying out his plan to defeat the Trojans. One trait is boxed. Identify two more. -
answer✔✔Cold Nerve
-Steadiness
-Stout Heart
(1st Excerpt) What archetype does Helen represent? Explain. - answer✔✔Helen is suitor's
contest because King Menelaus and Paris fight over her and who gets to have her. She is treated
like a prize to be won.
(1st Excerpt) Reread lines 8-10 (when all of a sudden, you came by—I dare say drawn by some
superhuman power that planned an exploit for the Trojans) and 23-24 (over his jaws, and held.
So he saved us all, till Pallas Athena led you away at last.). Explain how gods interfere. -
answer✔✔In lines 8-10, the gods are said to have interfered as the Trojans were slaughtered.
Then they helped to power a plan to exploit the Trojans. In lines 23-24, Odysseus saved
everyone, but Pallas Athena led him away in the end.
What is an epic simile? - answer✔✔a simile with great detail that goes on for several lines
What is an epithet? - answer✔✔a brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a person.
What is an allusion? - answer✔✔a reference to a famous or well-known person, place, or thing.
Model 1 - answer✔✔And Odysseus let the bright molten tears run down his cheeks, weeping
[like] the way a wife mourns for her lord
on the lost field where he has gone down fighting the day of wrath that came upon his children.
At sight of the man panting and dying there, she slips down to enfold him, crying out; then feels
the spears, prodding her back and shoulders, and goes bound into slavery and grief. Piteous
weeping wears away her cheeks: but no more piteous than Odysseus' tears, cloaked as they were,
now, from the company.
(Model 1) What two things are being compared in this epic simile? - answer✔✔slavery and grief
(Model 1) In the boxed lines, the wife cries first for her dying husband, then for herself. Consider
what this might suggest about Odysseus' feelings. What might the epic hero be crying about? -
