“The Odyssey”by Homer

Reading and Writing Activities

Part Two: Coming HomePage 1078

Read the italicized information.Identify the main idea of each of the four paragraphs.Make a list of other details you think will be important as you read the rest of the text.

What’s Happened?1. How do you think you will change over the next twenty years?2. How will the people in your family change over the next twenty years?3. How do you think going to war might change a person and the way they “see” the world?4. How would your neighborhood change over the next twenty years?

* Based on your thoughts and ideas, what do you think will be Odysseus’s biggest challenge/obstacle? How do you predict he will overcome his predicament?

“The Meeting of Father and Son”Pages 1079-1083

A. Paraphrasing – What happens in this scene? Bring it to life in your own words.

B. Analyzing Historical Context – In Homer’s time, slaves may very well have outnumbered the citizens. What do you think Homer is trying to say by having Odysseus make an alliance with a servant?

“The Meeting of Father and Son”Pages 1079-1083

C. Asking Questions – Why do you think Athena has suddenly changed Odysseus?

D. Epic Similes – What are Odysseus’s and Telemachus’s cries compared to during their tearful reunion? What aspect of their reunion does this simile emphasize?

“The Beggar and the Faithful Dog”Pages 1083-1084

A. Epic Heroes and Conflict – What do Odysseus’s tears and comments about the dog reveal about Odysseus’s character?

B. Paraphrasing – Restate this description of the dog’s life. What point about life might Homer be making with this passage?

Literary Response“Father and Son” & “Beggar

and the Faithful Dog” Read the text carefully and note the words, actions,

and thoughts of Odysseus. 

What character traits does Odysseus demonstrate in

this section of text?Which traits were useful

and which interfered with his goals?

Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the text to support your response.

“The Test of the Great Bow”Pages 1085-1091

A. Asking Questions – Why do you think Penelope is crying?

B. Epic Heroes and Conflict – What internal conflict is Odysseus experiencing?

C. Summarizing – How do the swineherd and cowherd prove they can be trusted?

“The Test of the Great Bow”

Pages 1085-1091

D. Paraphrasing – What insults to the suitors throw Odysseus’s way? Do you expect their inhospitality to go unpunished?

E. Epic Similes – Here, Odysseus’s handling of the bow is described in terms of a master musician readying an instrument. What effect do Odysseus’s effortless actions have on the suitors?

“The Test of the Great Bow”Pages 1085-1091

F. Asking Questions – What “amusements” do you think might be in store for the suitors?

* Analyzing Historical Context – What lesson(s) do you think Homer is trying to show the reader?

“Death at the Palace”Pages 1092-1095

A. Paraphrasing – Restate what happens in this passage?

B. Epic Heroes and Conflict – In what ways is Eurymachus a “character foil” to Odysseus? What does his speech reveal about his character?

“Death at the Palace”Pages 1092-1095

C. Epic Similes – To what are the suitors compared? To what are the suitors’ attackers compared?

D. Making Judgments – Do you think Odysseus has over-reacted to the situation with the suitors? Did he need to kill them in order to achieve his goals?

Literary Response“The Test of the Great Bow” and

“Death in the Palace” Read the text carefully and note how Odysseus is able to overcome the challenges he faces during

Part II of the story. 

Which three character traits have been most useful for Odysseus to overcome the

challenges in Part II?Would any of Odysseus’s

actions be considered excessive?

Explain your thoughts and ideas and use evidence from the text to support your response.

“Odysseus and Penelope”Pages 1096-1101

Page 1097

A. Epic Heroes and Conflict – What internal conflicts do you imagine both Odysseus and Penelope are facing? Are these feelings mutual? EXPLAIN!!!

B. Epic Heroes and Conflict – What admirable qualities do both Odysseus and Penelope display here?

“Odysseus and Penelope”Pages 1096-1101

Page 1100

C. Paraphrasing – What trick does Penelope use to get Odysseus to prove who he is? How does Odysseus describe the bed?

Page 1101

D. Summarizing – What key information are we given here?

Odyssey – Part II1. Questions 1-7 (shorter answers) on page

11022. Questions 8-14 (longer more detailed

answers) on page 11023. Vocabulary Check 1-5 on page 11034. Vocabulary Skills: Your Turn 1-5

Activities on page 1103*Read the Information

5. Vocabulary Skills: Vocabulary Development 6-9 on page 1104*Read the Information

The CyclopsA. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1048)–

Epic heroes need a mighty opponent to show how resourceful they can be. How does Homer make it clear that Odysseus faces a formidable opponent in the Cyclops?

B. Analyzing Historical Context (1048)– In this passage Odysseus informs the Cyclops that Zeus will punish the Cyclops if he injures or harms his guests. What can you infer about Greek society from this statement?

The CyclopsC. Asking Questions (1050)– Why

doesn’t Odysseus kill the Cyclops at this moment? What must Odysseus consider when devising an escape plan?

The CyclopsD. Paraphrasing (1051)– What

does Odysseus do with the stake? Explain in your own words.

E. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1051)– As the leader and hero, Odysseus could have simply chosen the men he wanted for the job. Why do you think he draws lots?

F. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1055)– What heroic character trait is Odysseus showing?

The CyclopsG. Asking Questions (1057) – Odysseus’s

love of boasting is one of his character traits. Is he wise for revealing his name to the Cyclops? Why or why not? Why do you think he reveals his name?

H. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1057)– Heroes and their opponents often have character flaws that can undo them. What character flaws have led to the Cyclops’s downfall?

I. Summarizing (1058)– How has Odysseus handled himself in this dangerous situation?

The CyclopsLiterary Response Question

Read the text carefully and note the words and actions of Odysseus as he faces the challenge of the Cyclops.

Has Odysseus behaved like an epic hero should

behave?What specific actions and

words support your judgment?

Use text evidence and details to support your thoughts and

ideas.

Is Odysseus an Epic Hero?1. Represents the values of the society2. Is an Exceptional Person3. Undertake difficult quests or

journeys to achieve something of tremendous value to themselves or their people

4. Experience many obstacles or challenges

• External Conflicts – created by forces of nature (or the gods)

• Internal Conflicts – they struggle to overcome their own feelings or fears

The Enchantress Circe&

The Land of the Dead

• Read the sections of text• Complete the reading chart as

you read each page• Pay attention to the Literary

and Reading Focus Questions

The Land of the DeadA. Analyzing Historical Context (1061)–

Sacrificial offerings to the gods have been mentioned several times. Why might such a ritual have been important to the ancient Greeks?

B. Asking Questions (1062) – What is happening here? Where is Odysseus?

The Land of the DeadC. Summarizing (1064) – What does

the prophecy reveal about Odysseus’s destiny? How does the prophecy increase the feeling of suspense in the story?

The Enchantress Circe& The Land of the Dead

Literary Response QuestionRead the text carefully and note the words and actions of Odysseus as he faces the challenge

of Circe and the Land of the Dead.

Which character traits have helped Odysseus overcome the

challenges he has faced in this section of the text?

Use text evidence and details to support your thoughts and ideas.

Let’s Play a Game1. Think about how this story could be

turned into a board game.2. Identify the characters we have seen so

far in the text. Make a list of each character and include a few details about each one.

3. Identify the settings of the story. List them in the order Odysseus visits them. Briefly describe each location.

4. Consider the challenges and obstacles that Odysseus has faced and how he has overcome them.

Let’s Play a Game5. Create two sections of the game board.

>Trojan War>The Lotus Eaters>Cyclops>Circe>Land of the Dead

>Calypso>Phaeacians>(Home-Ithaca)

6. Design and decorate your section of the game to reveal as much as possible about the story.

The Video

Both

The Text

People and Places in The Odyssey

1. Read the information on pages 1032-1033.

2. Create a chart to categorize the characters and places listed in the section.

3. Your chart should be divided into at least four different categories.

4. Be sure to include the description of each entry in your chart.

5. Make sure the chart is clear, easy to read, and useful as a tool to help you better comprehend the text.

Is the Odyssey an Epic Myth?1. A physically impressive hero of national or

historical importance2. A vast setting3. A quest or journey undertaken in search

of something of value4. The involvement of supernatural forces5. A basis in a specific culture or society6. Characters struggling against fate

Is the Odyssey an Epic Myth?

What are the elements of epic literature?

Which element(s) can be seen in the Odyssey?

Which element do you think has been the most important?

The Sirens; Scylla and CharybdisA. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1065) –

From what you know about Odysseus, do you think he will try to avoid the conflict that lies ahead? EXPLAIN!!!

B. Paraphrasing (1066) – What dangers lie ahead? List and briefly describe each one.

The Sirens; Scylla and CharybdisLiterature Link*Read the poem “Siren’s Song” on

page 1067.1. Who is the speaker in the poem?2. What new idea about the Sirens

does the poem express?

The Sirens; Scylla and CharybdisC. Asking Questions (1068) – Why does

Odysseus put wax in his men’s ears?D. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1069) –

Think about the kind of hero Odysseus is in this story. What does he tell his men to reassure them? Why do you think he decides not to tell them everything he knows?

The Sirens; Scylla and CharybdisE. Summarizing (1071) – What has

happened? How have Odysseus and his men managed to escape?

• Read through the passage and locate examples of imagery. (language that appeals to our senses)

• Locate an example of personification.

(a nonhuman thing is described in human terms)

The Cattle of the Sun GodA. Paraphrasing (1072) – What

warning does Odysseus issue his men upon landing?

B. Paraphrasing (1073) – What is Eurylochus’s insidious plea?

*What does insidious mean?

The Cattle of the Sun GodC. Epic Heroes & Conflict (1074) –

Odysseus takes the credit when things go well. Now, when a disaster occurs, he blames the gods. What does this reveal about his character?

D. Summarizing (1074) – What exactly happened to cause the gods’ fury?

Part One: The Wanderings

Wrap-Up Activities1. Questions/Activities

1-11 on page 10752. Writing Focus

Question on page 1075 (one complete well-developed paragraph)

3. Vocabulary Check 1-5 on page 1076