Fact Questions for
The Odyssey by Homer
The Land of the Dead
Please read about these questions here.
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What happens to the three men whom Odysseus sends to investigate Cannibal island? (p. 16)
How do the the giant cannibals destroy the ships of Odysseus' men? (p. 17)
After Cannibal Island how many ships and how many men does Odysseus have? (p. 21)
What kind of animals do Odysseus' men meet outside Circe's palace? (p.33)
What is strange about these animals? (p. 35)
What does Circe look like? (p. 35)
What does Circe do to the men after they drink her potion? (p. 38)
Who comes to help Odysseus before he goes to confront Circe? (p. 44)
What herb does Odysseus eat to protect him from Circe? (pp. 45-46)
What does this herb look like? (p. 45)
After Circe changes the pigs back into men what is different about them? (p. 54)
How long does Odysseus stay on Circe's island? (p. 60)
Where must Odysseus travel to before he can start his journey home? (p. 62)
Who rules the Land of the Dead? (p. 62)
Whom is Odysseus supposed to talk to in the Land of the Dead? (p. 74)
Why did Odysseus' mother die? (p. 80)
Who was Agamemnon? (p. 84)
How did Agamemnon die? (p. 85)
Who was Achilles? (p. 86)
When Odysseus calls Achilles a prince among the dead how does Achilles respond? (p. 87)
What is the punishment Tantalus must endure? (p. 88)
What is the punishment Sisyphus must endure? (p. 89)
What is the punishment Heracles must endure? (p. 89)
Answers
What happens to the three men whom Odysseus sends to investigate Cannibal island? (p. 16) A girl invites them to her home, but her mother is a giantess and her father is a giant who eats one of the men.
How do the the giant cannibals destroy the ships of Odysseus' men? (p. 17) They throw huge boulders at them.
After Cannibal Island how many ships and how many men does Odysseus have? (p. 21) 1 ship, 45 men
What kind of animals do Odysseus' men meet outside Circe's palace? (p.33) wolves and mountain lions
What is strange about these animals? (p. 35) The wolves licked the warriors and whined like dogs. The lions acted like house cats.
What does Circe look like? (p. 35) a goddess
What does Circe do to the men after they drink her potion? (p. 38) She turns them into pigs.
Who comes to help Odysseus before he goes to confront Circe? (p. 44) Hermes, the messenger of the gods
What does Odysseus eat to protect him from Circe? (pp. 45-46) moly
What does this herb look like? (p. 45) It has a black root and white flower.
After Circe changes the pigs back into men what is different about them? (p. 54) They were younger and more handsome
How long does Odysseus stay on Circe's island? (p. 60) one year
Where must Odysseus travel to before he can start his journey home? (p. 62) The Land of the Dead
Who rules the Land of the Dead? (p. 62) Hades and Persephone
Whom is Odysseus supposed to talk to in the Land of the Dead? (p. 74) Tiresias, the blind prophet
Why did Odysseus' mother die? (p. 80) She was so sad that he had not come back from the war at Troy. She says, "I became too sad to live."
Who was Agamemnon? (p. 84) He was the high king of the Greeks during the Trojan war.
How did Agamemnon die? (p. 85) His wife killed him when he returned from the Trojan war.
Who was Achilles? (p. 86) bravest of all the Greeks.
When Odysseus calls Achilles a prince among the dead how does Achilles respond? (p. 87) He says he would rather be a poor man's servant in the world of the living than the greatest of kings in the Land of the Dead.
What is the punishment Tantalus must endure? (p. 88) He must stand in water up to his chin. When he lowers his head to drink, the water dries up, when he reaches above his head to grab some fruit the wind blows the branches into the air so he can't reach them.
What is the punishment Sisyphus must endure? (p. 89) He must roll a huge rock up a hill, but every time he reaches the top the rock rolls back down to the bottom.
What is the punishment Heracles must endure? (p. 89) He stands ready to shoot his arrow—forever—but will never be able to shoot it.
©2005-2012 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
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