The Odyssey Test Questions with
Correct Answers
Which in-text citation is formatted correctly in MLA style?
- Odysseus's men "bent steady to the oars," Homer (79)
- Odysseus's men "bent steady to the oars" (Homer 79).
- Odysseus's men "bent steady to the oars." (Homer 79).
- Odysseus's men "bent steady to the oars" (Homer) 79 - Answer-Odysseus's men "bent
steady to the oars" (Homer 79).
Read the excerpt from Part 1 of The Odyssey by Homer.
My home is on the peaked sea-mark of Ithaca
under Mount Neion's wind-blown robe of leaves,
in sight of other islands—Dulichium,
Same, wooded Zacynthus—Ithaca
being most lofty in that coastal sea,
and northwest, while the rest lie east and south.
A rocky isle, but good for a boy's training;
I shall not see on earth a place more dear,
though I have been detained long by Calypso
Based on the evidence provided, readers can conclude that Odysseus
- wants to rule his native land.
- is eager to leave his home.
- misses his native land.
- fears for the safety of his home. - Answer-misses his native land.
Read the paragraph.
Trey repeated the scales. His manipulation of the keys was becoming less of a struggle,
and the tuba was making sounds that were almost musical. The low notes still gave him
pause, though, so he attempted them again. After countless repetitions, his room
boomed with the tuba's brassy blare. He held the last note until he was out of breath,
and as he exhaled, he heard his mother say from downstairs, "That one sounded good!"
Based on the evidence provided, readers can conclude that Trey is
- frustrated
,- determined.
- talented.
- impatient. - Answer-determined.
Which excerpt from Part 2 of The Odyssey best support the conclusion that Odysseus is
clever?
- the rest of you stand by; I'll make the crossing
in my own ship, with my own company,
- We lit a fire, burnt an offering,
and took some cheese to eat; then sat in silence
- 'My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends,
everyone calls me Nohbdy.'
- So with our brand we bored that great eye socket
while blood ran out around the red hot bar. - Answer-'My name is Nohbdy: mother,
father, and friends,
everyone calls me Nohbdy.'
Read this excerpt from Part 2 of The Odyssey by Homer.
Cyclopes have no muster and no meeting,
no consultation or old tribal ways,
but each one dwells in his own mountain cave
dealing out rough justice to wife and child,
indifferent to what the others do.
According to the excerpt, the Cyclopes'__________________ distinguishes them from
other men. - Answer-Isolation
Read this excerpt from Part 1 of The Odyssey by Homer.
My men were mutinous,
fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep they
butchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,
feasting,—while fugitives went inland, running
to call to arms the main force of Cicones.
This was an army, trained to fight on horseback
or, where the ground required, on foot. They came
with dawn over that terrain like the leaves
and blades of spring. So doom appeared to us
According to the excerpt, Odysseus believes his men were _______________ . -
Answer-careless
Read the excerpt from Part 1 of The Odyssey by Homer.
,They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters,
who showed no will to do us harm, only
offering the sweet Lotus to our friends—
but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus,
never cared to report, nor to return:
they longed to stay forever, browsing on
that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.
I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships,
tied them down under their rowing benches,
and called the rest: All hands aboard;
come, clear the beach and no one taste
the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home.
Which line from the excerpt supports the conclusion that Odysseus cares for his men?
- They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters,
- offering the sweet Lotus to our friends—
- they longed to stay forever, browsing on
- I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, - Answer-I drove them, all three wailing, to
the ships,
Read the excerpt from Part 3 of The Odyssey by Homer.
so let me tell [Circe's] forecast: then we die
with our eyes open, if we are going to die,
or know what death we baffle if we can. Sirens
weaving a haunting song over the sea
we are to shun, she said, and their green shore
all sweet with clover; yet she urged that I
alone should listen to their song. Therefore
you are to tie me up, tight as a splint,
erect along the mast, lashed to the mast,
and if I shout and beg to be untied,
take more turns of the rope to muffle me.'
What conclusion about Odysseus (the speaker) is best supported by the excerpt?
- He trusts Circe's advice.
- He remembers the Sirens.
- He questions his men's strength.
- He believes they will succeed. - Answer-He trusts Circe's advice.
What obstacles has Odysseus faced so far on his road of trials? Check all that apply.
Lord Helios, the sun god, has killed Odysseus's men for eating his cattle.
His boat has crashed, and the crew is shipwrecked on the Isle of Man.
, The crew has been attacked by an army at Cicones.
Zeus has sent a huge sea storm.
Some of the men have eaten the lotus flower and had to be rescued. - Answer-- Lord
Helios, the sun god, has killed Odysseus's men for eating his cattle.
- The crew has been attacked by an army at Cicones.
- Zeus has sent a huge sea storm.
- Some of the men have eaten the lotus flower and had to be rescued.
Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
The bows went plunging at the gust; sails
cracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.
We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards,
unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore
worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining.
-The Odyssey,
Homer
Which stage of the hero's journey is represented in this passage?
- the call to adventure
- the return home
- the road of trials
- the transformation - Answer-the road of trials
What does Odysseus do when his men eat the lotus plant that shows the epic hero
characteristic of leadership?
- He forces his men to leave and continue the journey home.
- He sends his best men to investigate the island.
- He comes up with a plan to defeat the lotus-eaters.
- He instructs his men on how to avoid tasting the lotus. - Answer-He forces his men to
leave and continue the journey home.
So doom appeared to us,
dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days.
My men stood up and made a fight of it -
backed on the ships, with lances kept in play,
from bright morning through the blaze of noon
so holding our beach, although so far outnumbered
-The Odyssey,
Homer
