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The Odyssey

Odyssey Tests

Unit tests cover the Bronze Age Greeks, epic conventions, and the events of the Odyssey.

By Rick Reed

Odyssey Homer Epic poetry Test

Test A

GREAT BOOKSMr. Reed

Test – The Odyssey

Test #

Objective: To memorize and apply Durant’s five “generators” of civilization

1.
Who is our principal source of knowledge regarding daily life in Bronze Age Greece?
2.
Which generator of civilization did the Greeks meet with an elected king?
3.
Which generator of civilization did the Greeks meet with “To be Greek is to be civilized”?
4.
Name any one of the three means of education used by Bronze Age Greeks.
5–8.
List the four moral points observed in the Odyssey. [Use blanks 5–8.]
9.
Which civilization studied so far this semester had a religion similar to that of the Greeks?
10.
Who, traditionally, wrote the Odyssey? [Give a name.]

II. Identify the epic convention represented in each passage from the Odyssey.

Objective: To define and to recognize the eight epic conventions that appear in The Odyssey

11.
Imagine a deer in the jungle, which has laid her suckling fawns just born to sleep in the den of a strong lion, while she goes over the hillocks and into the grassy dells to seek her food: then the lion comes back to his lair, and deals death on the lot of them, dam and fawns, and tears them to pieces! So Odysseus will deal death on these and tear them to pieces!
12.
From Dulichion two and fifty lads, picked men, with six servants; from Same four and twenty young fellows; twenty lads from Zacynthos, and twelve from Ithaca itself, the best in the island, and they have with them Medon the marshall and a fine singing-man and a couple of good carvers.
13.
Tell me ... of the man of many ways, who was driven far journeys, after he had sacked Troy’s sacred citadel. [See #29 before giving your answer.]
14.
[Same passage: This passage presents two epic conventions. Identify one on blank 28 and the other on blank 29.]
15.
[Book X: the consultation with Teiresias]
16.
...the first man who came was Leiodes, their diviner, the son of Wineface Oinops, Leiodes, who always sat up at the very end of the hall beside the great mixing bowl.
17.
[Books IX–XII: the recounting of Odysseus’ wanderings]
18.
[The fact that the events described in Books IX–XII occur before those in Book I]

III. Arrange the following events in the order in which they happen to Odysseus.

Objective: To trace the Great Wanderings of Odysseus (as related in Books IX–XII)

  • A. consultation with Teiresias
  • B. destruction of his last ship by a thunderbolt that kills the rest of his crew
  • C. entrapment by the Cyclops
  • D. the raid on the Ciconians of Ismaros
  • E. seven-year long stay with Calypso
  • F. sojourn among the Phaiacians
  • G. year-long stay with Circe
19.
Which event took place first in the life of Odysseus?
20.
Which event took place second in the life of Odysseus?
21.
Which event took place third in the life of Odysseus?
22.
Which event took place fourth in the life of Odysseus?
23.
Which event took place fifth in the life of Odysseus?
24.
Which event took place sixth in the life of Odysseus?
25.
Which event took place seventh in the life of Odysseus?

IV. Select ten (10) of the items listed. Identify each by briefly stating a kinship relationship to Odysseus or by briefly stating the item’s role in the plot. On the short lines on the answer sheet, write the items you have chosen to identify IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write the appropriate identification.

Objective: To identify characters and places in The Odyssey.

  • AGAMEMNON
  • AIOLOS
  • ANTICLEIA
  • ANTINOOS
  • ARETE
  • ARGOS
  • ATHENA
  • CRETE
  • DEMODOCOS
  • ELPENOR
  • EUMAIOS
  • EURYCLEIA
  • EURYLOCHOS
  • EURYMACHOS
  • HELIOS
  • IROS
  • LAERTES
  • LAISTRYGONIANS
  • MEDON
  • MELANTHIOS
  • MELANTHO
  • MENTOR
  • NAUSICAA
  • PEISISTRATOS
  • PHEMIOS
  • PHILOITIOS
  • SCYLLA
  • THEOCLYMENOS

Select two of the following short essay questions. Present your answer as a fully developed paragraph. The correctness of your composition style counts equally with the completeness and accuracy of your answer.

Objective: To draw concrete details supporting the theme of maturation from The Odyssey, particularly as they relate to Odysseus and Telemachos

V. For centuries critics have viewed the Odyssey as a story about maturation. Explain how Odysseus moves from rash to cautious, a significantly mature development, by offering two examples of his rashness and two examples of his cautiousness. Be sure to include the event that most contributed to his change.

Objective: To cite and to discuss ethical tenets voiced in The Odyssey

VI. Select one of the four moral tenets demonstrated throughout the Odyssey. Begin your paragraph by explaining the meaning of the tenet you select. Then, offer at least four varied examples that indicate their proper application. You may use both positive and negative examples as long as you clearly indicate which is which.

Objective: To interpret the theme(s) of literature encountered in the course

VII. Another major theme of the Odyssey is fidelity. Begin your paragraph response by stating the significance of the theme. Then, offer four completely different examples that illustrate the theme. You may use both positive and negative examples as long as you clearly indicate which is which.

Objective: To identify and interpret archetypes encountered in the course

VIII. Like most heroic legends, the Odyssey abounds with archetypes. First, explain what an archetype is. Then, explain an instance of each of the following in the epic: an archetypal character, an archetypal plot, and an archetypal image.

Test A answer sheet

GREAT BOOKSMr. Reed

Test – The Odyssey

NameDatePer.

I. Short answer [2 points each]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

II. Epic conventions [4 points each]

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

III. Plot order [2 points each]

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

IV. Identification

26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

Circle the Roman numeral that indicates the short essay prompt you are answering.

V VI VII VIII

Circle the Roman numeral that indicates the short essay prompt you are answering.

V VI VII VIII

Test B

GREAT BOOKSMr. Reed

Test – The Odyssey

Test #

I. Answer each of the following questions briefly but specifically.

1.
Who is our principal source of knowledge regarding daily life in Bronze Age Greece?
2.
Which generator of civilization did the Greeks meet with an elected king?
3.
Which generator of civilization did the Greeks meet with “To be Greek is to be civilized”?
4.
Name any one of the three means of education used by Bronze Age Greeks.
5–8.
List the four moral points observed in the Odyssey. [Use blanks 5–8.]
9.
Which civilization studied so far this semester had a religion similar to that of the Greeks?
10.
Who married Helen (of Troy)? [Give a name.]
11.
What “gift” did Eris send to the wedding reception held for Peleus and Thetis?
12.
Who judged the divine beauty pageant? [Give a name.]
13.
Who won the divine beauty pageant? [Give a name.]
14.
Which side did Zeus favor in the Trojan War?
15.
Who is Odysseus’ divine patron? [Give a name.]
16.
Who is Odysseus’ divine antagonist? [Give a name.]
17.
Which Greek ethic do the suitors violate?
18.
Which Greek ethic do the suitors’ families apply in Book XXIV?
19.
Of the liquids used by Odysseus to summon the dead, which is the most vital?
20.
Who is the leader of the ambush set to kill Telemachos? [Give a name.]
21.
What secret identifies Odysseus to Penelope’s satisfaction?
22.
What tool will Odysseus use in the ritual he must perform to appease his divine antagonist?
23.
Who, traditionally, wrote the Odyssey? [Give a name.]
24.
Who did the translation you read? [Give a name.]

II. Identify the epic convention represented in each passage from the Odyssey.

25.
Imagine a deer in the jungle, which has laid her suckling fawns just born to sleep in the den of a strong lion, while she goes over the hillocks and into the grassy dells to seek her food: then the lion comes back to his lair, and deals death on the lot of them, dam and fawns, and tears them to pieces! So Odysseus will deal death on these and tear them to pieces!
26.
...the first man who came was Leiodes, their diviner, the son of Wineface Oinops, Leiodes, who always sat up at the very end of the hall beside the great mixing bowl.
27.
From Dulichion two and fifty lads, picked men, with six servants; from Same four and twenty young fellows; twenty lads from Zacynthos, and twelve from Ithaca itself, the best in the island, and they have with them Medon the marshall and a fine singing-man and a couple of good carvers.
28.
Tell me ... of the man of many ways, who was driven far journeys, after he had sacked Troy’s sacred citadel. [See #29 before giving your answer.]
29.
[Same passage: This passage presents two epic conventions. Identify one on blank 28 and the other on blank 29.]
30.
[Book X]
31.
[Books IX–XII]
32.
[The fact that the events described in Books IX–XII occur before those in Book I]

III. Select fifteen (15) of the items listed. Identify each of the fifteen by briefly stating a kinship relationship to Odysseus or by briefly stating the character’s role in the plot. On the short lines on the answer sheet, write the items you have chosen to identify IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write the appropriate identification.

  • ALCINOOS
  • ANTICLEIA
  • ANTINOOS
  • CALYPSO
  • CIRCE
  • DEMODOCOS
  • EUMAIOS
  • EURYCLEIA
  • EURYMACHOS
  • HELEN
  • IROS
  • LAERTES
  • LEUCOTHEA
  • MELANTHIOS
  • MELANTHO
  • MENELAOS
  • MENTOR
  • NAUSICAA
  • NESTOR
  • PEISISTRATOS
  • PHEMIOS
  • PHILOITIOS
  • POLYPHEMOS
  • TEIRESIAS

IV. Select ten (10) of the items listed. Identify each of the ten by briefly telling what happened to either Odysseus or Telemachos at that place or how that being is connected to either Odysseus or Telemachos. On the short lines on the answer sheet, write the items you have selected IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write the appropriate identification.

  • AIAIA
  • AIOLIA
  • ARGOS
  • CHARYBDIS
  • CRETE
  • HADES
  • ILION
  • LACEDAIMON
  • MOLY
  • OGYGIA
  • PYLOS
  • SCHERIE
  • SCYLLA
  • SIRENS
  • THRINACIA

V. Select five (5) of the items listed. Identify each of the five in such a way that each is distinctively differentiated from each of the others. On the short lines on the answer sheet, write the items you have selected IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write appropriate identification.

  • AGAMEMNON
  • AIOLOS
  • ELPENOR
  • EURYLOCHOS
  • HELIOS
  • HERMES
  • LAISTRYGONIANS
  • MENTES
  • PROTEUS
  • THEOCLYMENOS

Test B answer sheet

GREAT BOOKSMr. Reed

Test – The Odyssey

NameDatePer.Test #

BE SURE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH SECTION OF THE TEST CAREFULLY!

I. Short answer [2 points each]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

II. Epic conventions [4 points each]

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

III. Identification [2 points each]

33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.

IV. Identification [2 points each]

48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.

V. Identification [2 points each]

58.
59.
60.
61.
62.

Test C

GREAT BOOKSMr. Reed

Test – The Odyssey

NameDatePer.

I. Select fifteen (15) of the items listed. Identify each of the fifteen by briefly stating a kinship relationship to Odysseus or by briefly stating the character’s role in the plot. On the short lines, write the items you have chosen to identify IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write the appropriate identification.

  • ALCINOOS
  • ANTICLEIA
  • ANTINOOS
  • CALYPSO
  • CIRCE
  • DEMODOCOS
  • EURYCLEIA
  • EURYMACHOS
  • HELEN
  • IROS
  • LAERTES
  • LEUCOTHEA
  • MEDON
  • MELANTHIOS
  • MELANTHO
  • MENELAOS
  • MENTOR
  • NAUSICAA
  • NESTOR
  • PEISISTRATOS
  • PHEMIOS
  • PHILOITIOS
  • POLYPHEMOS
  • TEIRESIAS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

EUMAIOS

II. Select ten (10) of the items listed. Identify each of the ten by briefly telling what happened to either Odysseus or Telemachos at that place or how that being is connected to either Odysseus or Telemachos. On the short lines on the answer sheet, write the items you have selected IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. On the long lines, write the appropriate identification.

  • AIAIA
  • AIOLIA
  • ARGOS
  • CHARYBDIS
  • CRETE
  • HADES
  • ILION
  • LACEDAIMON
  • MOLY
  • OGYGIA
  • PYLOS
  • SCHERIE
  • SCYLLA
  • SIRENS
  • SPARTA
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.