About
After a long war to rescue Helen from the city of Troy, Odysseus is anxious to return to his home of Ithaca. However, many obstacles block his route home, including the mysterious lotus-eaters and the monstrous one-eyed Polyphemus.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
Who is the main character of the story and describe him in your own words?
Page 11 — The king of an island; married to Penelope and has a son named Telemachus; lived simply; enjoys taking care of his orchards and fields as well as working with his hands as a craftsman and carpenter
11
What did Odysseus do to help his country, Greece, when Helen was old enough to wed?
Page 15 — made all of the princes and kings promise to defend Helen’s marriage whomever she decided to marry. He feared jealousy would bring their nation to ruin
15
When the messenger saw that Odysseus was acting mad, what did he do to prove that he wasn’t?
Page 16 — Put Telemachus on the ground in front of the plow, to see if Odysseus would be sane enough to not run over his baby
16
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Describe Athena.
Page 20 — Goddess of wisdom and war; daughter of Zeus; wore a shining helmet and carried a spear and shield; flashing gray eyes; gaze was fierce and kind
20
What was Athena’s plan to get into the city?
Page 21 — Build a large wooden horse; hide a few men inside; The rest of the Greek army act like they are retreating in defeat; when the guards bring the horse into the city, the Greek army will return and Odysseus will open the gates for the Greek army
21
Who helped convince the Trojans they should take the horse into the city?
Page 24 — A Greek prisoner who professed to be a traitor
24
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What did the sailors say caused the great storm at the beginning of this chapter?
Page 30 — Some Greek warriors invaded Athena’s temple and were violent and weren’t respectful; they had offended the goddess who had helped them gain victory
30
Why did Odysseus not want to eat the flowers the islanders offered him?
Page 34 — They made his men be in a trance
34
Why didn’t the three men want to get onboard the ship and return home with Odysseus?
Page 36 — They wanted to stay on the island and eat lotus flowers
36
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What does it mean to be lawless?
Page 40 — To not follow or have laws
40
Why did Odysseus take a goatskin of their sweetest wine onboard when he explored to see who lived on the other shore?
Page 42 — He wanted to give it as a gift to anyone who welcomes into his home
42
Who did they find out lived in the cave?
Page 44 — A monster
44
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What was the name of the monster?
Page 46 — Polyphemus
46
Why did Polyphemus get angry at Odysseus when he mentioned Zeus?
Page 49 — He is a son of Poseidon
49
Why didn’t Odysseus slay Polyphemus?
Page 51 — They needed Polyphemus alive to roll the rock away from the opening of the cave or they would be trapped forever in the cave
51
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did Polyphemus do in the morning after that first night?
Page 55 — Took two more Greeks and had them for breakfast, then opened the cave, took his goats, and closed the cave again with the Greeks inside
55
What did Odysseus tell Polyphemus when the monster asked for his name?
Page 61 — No One
61
What was the plan to escape Polyphemus’ cave?
Page 62 — Odysseus gave Polyphemus wine and the giant lost his balance and fell, going to sleep. Odysseus and his men jabbed the sharpened stake into his eye and with Polyphemus’ cried the other giants came to help him, but they went away because Polyphemus said, “No One blinded me. No One tried to kill me.” Polyphemus rolled the stone away but sat in the opening to catch any that tried to escape
62
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What was the consequence of Odysseus jeering at Polyphemus as they made their way out to sea?
Page 72 — Polyphemus through a huge boulder at them and caused a tidal wave to push them back to the beach; then he asked his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus
72
What was the curse?
Page 75 — That Odysseus would never reach his home alive; that he would lose his way, his ships, his men; that he would only find sorrow and trouble on his journey
75
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Describe Aeolus.
Page 79 — The wind god; has 6 sons and 6 daughters; friendly to Odysseus and enjoyed hearing his tales
79
What did Aeolus do to honor Odysseus?
Page 82 — He bundled the world’s winds into a sack so none could hinder Odysseus on the way home; he left out the west wind to carry the ships to Ithaca
82
Why didn’t Aeolus help Odysseus put the winds in a bag again so they could get home?
Page 88 — He had been cursed by the Cyclops and the gods were punishing him
88
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Additional files
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