the odyssey review – wrap up – study guide. important people
TRANSCRIPT
THE ODYSSEY
Review – Wrap Up – Study
Guide
IMPORTANT PEOPLE
ANTICLEA
Odysseus’ mother
Dies of a broken heart
Odysseus meets her when
speaking with the dead
ANTINOUS
Suitor of Penelope
ARGOS
Odysseus’ dog
Trained as a puppy by Odysseus
Dies after seeing his master
again after 20 years
CALYPSO
Sea Nymph who lives on an island in
the Mediterranean
Keeps Odysseus captive for 7 years
Told by Hermes to allow Odysseus to
go home
CHARYBDIS
Monster that swallows large amounts
of water and then vomits it back up,
creating a huge whirlpool
Across the straight from the Scylla
CIRCE
Goddess of magic
Gives Odysseus’ men wine and honey that
turns them into pigs
Odysseus tricks her with the help of
Hermes and makes her return his men to
human form
EUMAEUS
A faithful swineherd of Odysseus’ that
helps him when he returns to Ithaca
HELIOS
The Sun God
Has a large herd of cattle on his island that
are eaten by Odysseus’ men despite warnings
not to do this
Is angered by the loss of his cattle and
demands restitution
Zeus hits Odysseus’ ship with a bolt of
lightning, sinking it and killing his men, due to
this.
PENELOPE
Odysseus’ wife
Besieged by suitors wanting her to marry them
Tricks them by saying she will marry one of
them when she finishes weaving a burial shroud
for Laerties, Odysseus’ father. Each night she
undoes that day’s work.
POLYPHEMUS
Cyclops
Son of Poseidon
Eats Odysseus’ men.
Is blinded by Odysseus
Prays to his father, the god of the sea, to
make Odysseus’ journey home difficult
SCYLLA
6 headed monster
Across the straight from the
Charybdis.
Will eat a man for each head when a
ship passes.
SIRENS
Sea Nymphs
Lure in sailors with their singing,
causing them to smash into the rocks
Odysseus covers the ears of his men with
wax and commands them to keep rowing
TELEMACHUS
Son of Odysseus
Tries to get rid of the suitors
Goes on a voyage to find out if his
father is still alive
Helps his father destroy the suitors
TIRESIAS
Blind prophet
In the Underworld
Odysseus has to ask him for
information before he can return home
Warns Odysseus not to eat the cattle
of Helios
IMPORTANT PLACES
AEAEA
Home of Circe
Odysseus’ men are turned to pigs
Odysseus and his men spend about a
year here
AEOLUS
Home of the God of the Wind
Odysseus is given a bag of all winds
except for the West Wind
Bag is opened and they are blown
back off course, back to this island
ITHACA
Odysseus’ homeland
The destination he is trying to
reach
Small island off of Greece
LAND OF THE CYCLOPS
Where Odysseus and his men
meet Polyphemus
LAND OF THE DEAD
Hades
The Underworld
Odysseus journeys here to find
Tiresias
Also meets his mother and one of his
men, as well as many other Greek
heroes/characters
LAND OF THE LOTUS EATERS
Island full of peaceful people who eat the
flower of the lotus plant
The plant makes you lose all desire except for
staying on the island and eating the lotus
Three of Odysseus’ men eat the plant which
causes him to pack them up and make his men
leave the island
OGYGIA
The island where Calypso lives
Odysseus is held captive here for
seven years
TROY
An island across the Mediterranean from
Greece.
War was waged between Troy and Greece
lasting 10 years.
Odysseus is instrumental in them winning the
war because of his idea for the Trojan Horse
THINGS TO KNOW
THINGS TO KNOW
How does Athena help Odysseus through this
story? Be able to name multiple times.
How does Odysseus show his intelligence during
this story. Be able to name multiple times.
Be able to name multiple times that Odysseus’
men show that they are unintelligent
THINGS TO KNOW
What does Odysseus disguise himself as
upon returning home and who helps him?
How Odysseus deals with the suitors
living in his home.
The Olive Tree in book 23.