Book 7:

Phaiákia's Halls and Gardens

Odysseus begs for Arete's help.

• Laódamas [Laodamas]

Settings

• Phaiákia [Phaeacia]

Thought Questions

• How is the theme of hospitality to strangers again reinforced?

Questions

1. How did Pallas Athena protect Odysseus as he went to the palace?
2. What disguise does Athena take?
3. Why is Odysseus overwhelmed by the palace?
4. What statues are at the entrance?
5. At what moment is Odysseus revealed to Arete and Alkínoös?
6. What does Alkínoös agree to do for Odysseus?
7. Why does Arete speak sharply to Odysseus?
8. What is it that Alkínoös would like Odysseus to do for them?
9. Where does Odysseus sleep at the end of the book?

Book 8:

A Day for Songs and Contests

Demódokos plays the lute and sings of Troy.

Characters

• Broadsea
• Demódokos [Demodocus]
• Halius

Settings

• Phaiákia [Phaeacia]

Thought Questions

• Some critics believe that the character of Demódokos is based on Homer himself and thus have attributed his blindness to him. How is the bard described? How does Odysseus describe him?
• In what way does Demódokos' second song reinforce the theme of the unfaithful wife?
• Homer is noted for his similes. Look at the stanza following Demódokos' song of Troy regarding Odysseus' crying. What other examples can you find?

Questions

1. Why do the people assemble with Alkínoös and Odysseus?
2. What song does Demódokos sing?
3. How does Odysseus react?
4. Who is the first to challenge Odysseus to a contest?
5. Who insults Odysseus with his taunts?
6. What does Odysseus do to meet the challenge?
7. What second song does Demódokos sing?
8. What does the king have his son and Halius do to entertain Odysseus?
9. What gifts is Odysseus given?
10. What song does Odysseus have Demódokos sing about Troy?
11. Why does Alkínoös have Demódokos stop singing?
12. What foreshadowing does Alkínoös give about how Phaiákia will be punished for helping a stranger get home?
13. What is Alkínoös asking for at the end of the book?

Book 9:

In the One-Eyed Giant's Cave

The blinding of the Kyklopês is one of the most well-known moments in The Odyssey.

Polyphêmos [Polyphemus]

Settings

• Phaiákia
• Ismarus [in flashback]
• Land of the Lotus-eaters [in flashback]
• Kyklopês [Cyclopes]' Island [in flashback]

Thought Questions

• In what way do the men show that coming from Troy they are still in the mindset of "sackers of cities"?
• In what ways does the Kyklopês go against all the tenets of hospitality we have seen? How does he parody that same hospitality?
• Why do you think Homer goes into such graphic detail about the killing and cannibalism of the Kyklopês?

Questions

1. Why does Odysseus say they sacked the city of the Kikones?
2. What effect does the lotus have on anyone who tastes it?
3. What was unusual about the island that lies near the island of the Kyklopês?
4. What kind of occupation does the Kyklopês do?
5. What does Odysseus take with him when they go to investigate the Kyklopês' cave?
6. How many men does the Kyklopês eat each time he eats?
7. Why doesn't Odysseus just kill the Kyklopês?
8. How does Odysseus trick the Kyklopês with his name?
9. How is Odysseus able to blind the Kyklopês?
10. What boastful act does Odysseus do which sets up his suffering later?

Book 10:

The Bewitching Queen of Aiaia

Kirkê turns Odysseus' crew into pigs.

Characters

• Aiolos
• Antiphatês
• Kirkê
• Elpenor
• Eurylokhos [Eurylochus]

Settings

• Phaiákia
• Aiolia, Aiolos' island [in flashback]
• Land of the Laistrygonês [in flashback]
• Aiaia [Aeaea] [in flashback]

Thought Questions

• What kind of woman does Kirkê represent?
• If Odysseus is such a faithful husband, how do you explain his dalliance with Kirkê? What does that say about how Akhaian men viewed themselves verses how they viewed their women?

Questions

1. What gift does Aeolus give Odysseus?
2. Why does Aiolos refuse to help Odysseus a second time?
3. In what ways are the Laistrygonês like the Kyklopês?
4. What happens to Odysseus' fleet?
5. What was unusual about the wolves and lions around Kirkê's residence?
6. Does Kirkê live in a palace or a cave?
7. Who is Eurylokhos?
8. What happens to all but one of Odysseus' men in the first platoon?
9. What is molü [moly] and how does Odysseus learn about it?
10. How does Kirkê know who Odysseus is?
11. What promise does Odysseus make Kirkê give before going to bed with her?
12. How long does Odysseus stay with Kirkê?
13. Who is Elpenor?
14. Who prompts Odysseus to finally leave?
15. Where does Kirkê tell Odysseus he has to travel before he can head home?

Book 11:

The Kingdom of the Dead

The blind prophet Tiresias appears in several ancient Greek works, including Oedipus the King.

Characters

• Akhilles [Achilles]
• Agamemnon
• Antikleia [Anticleia]
• Great Ajax
• Herakles [Heracles]
• Tiresias

Settings

• Phaiákia
• The Kingdom of the Dead [in flashback]

Thought Questions

• What do we learn about the burial customs of the Akhaians?
• Visiting the Land of the Dead allows Homer a chance to talk with famous mythological characters. Who are some of these?
• What view of death does this book convey? Note Achilles' speech (lines 555-573)
• What heroes from the Trojan War does Odysseus speak to?
• The makers of the film "The Odyssey" didn't read Homer when they created the land of the dead. If you have seen the film, compare their view with Homer's.

Questions

1. What does Odysseus have to do which allows the dead to recognize and speak to him?
2. What does Elpenor ask Odysseus to put on top of his grave?
3. What act of penance does Odysseus have to do after he deals with the suitors?
4. How did Odysseus' mother die?
5. Why can't Odysseus embrace his mother?
6. How does Homer remind us we are hearing a story told to the people of Phaiákia?
7. What view of women does Agamemnon's story suggest?
8. What does Achilles ask Odysseus about?
9. Who is the Trojan hero who refuses to speak to Odysseus
10. Part of our understanding of Hades comes from the views of Minos, Tantalus, and Sisyphus. Who were they and what were their punishments?
11. Who is the last great hero that Odysseus sees before leaving the land of the dead?

Book 12:

The Cattle of the Sun

The sierenes were portrayed as both male and female in the earlier works, but later became primarily female. Some areas represented them as having arms.

Characters

• Helios

Settings

• Phaiákia
• Aiaia [Aeaea] [in flashback]
• Island of the Sierenes [Sirens] [in flashback]
• Skylla [Scylla] [in flashback]
• Thrinakia [Thrinacia]
• Kharybdis [Charybdis]

Thought Questions

• Which attribute of the sierenes makes them dangerous?

Questions

1. What does Odysseus do when he returns to Aiaia?
2. What advice does Kirkê give Odysseus regarding Skylla and Kharybdis?
3. What does Odysseus use for his men and for himself to escape the lure of the sierenes?
4. Does Odysseus warn his men about all the dangers that lay in their path?
5. How many men does he lose to Skylla?
6. Why are Odysseus' men starving on the island of the sun god?
7. How is Eurylokhos responsible for the death of Odysseus' crew?
8. Which god asks for the men to be killed?
9. Which god sends the storm and wrecks his ship?
10. How does Odysseus save himself?
11. Where does the story of Odysseus' journey end?