the odyssey review – wrap up – study guide. important people

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.