Odyssey Review Game

The Homecoming.

Who ‘Dat?Characters in the Odyssey

100

OdysseusThe king of Ithaca

200Removes the suitors’ weapons from the great hall.

Telemachus

300The loyal swineherd who brings Odysseus his bow.

Eumaeus

400Dies after seeing Odysseus make it home.

Argos

500Recognizes Odysseus while giving him a footbath.

Eurycleia

That’s What Heroes Are Made Of

Epic Hero Traits Revealed in Quotes

100 “He draws between his thumb

and forefinger / a sweet new string upon a peg: so effortlessly / Odysseus in one motion strung the bow.”

Battle Skills Not one of the other suitors can

string the bow, but Odysseus does it in one try!

200 “‘Now listen to your orders: / when the time

comes, those gentlemen, to a man, / will be dead against giving me a bow or quiver. / Defy them. / Eumaeus, bring the bow / and put it in my hands there at the door. / Tell the women to lock their own door tight. / Tell them if someone hears the shock of arms / or groans of men, in hall or court, not one / must show her face, but keep still her weaving. / Philoeteus, run to the outer gate and lock it. / Throw the crossbar and lash it.’”

Authority/Leadership Odysseus demonstrates authority as he tells

Eumaeus to bring him the bow and Philoeteus to lock the gate when the fight begins.

300 “‘I am home, for I am he. / I bore

adversities, but in the twentieth year / I am ashore in my own land.’”

Determination/Persistence Even after 20 years of hardships,

Odysseus never gives up and returns to Ithaca!

400 “Now from his breast into his

eyes the ache / of longing mounted, and he wept at last, / his dear wife, clear and faithful in his arms.”

Loyalty/Persistence Odysseus is finally home, happy

to be reunited with his wife.

Name That Epic Characteristic

Applying Epic Characteristics to Quotes

100 “Athena / lent him beauty, head

to foot, She made him / taller, and massive, too, with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth / but all red-golden.”

Divine Intervention Athena transforms Odysseus into

a strong, young, good-looking man.

200“‘Now watch me hit a

target that no man has hit before.’”

Boasting Odysseus is bragging that

he can hit the target that no one else could.

300 “‘The stranger / you welcomed in

your hall has not disgraced you. / I did not miss, neither did I take all day / stringing the bow. My hand and eye are sound, / not so contemptible as the young men say.’”

Boasting Odysseus brags that it didn’t take him

forever to string the bow and hit the target.

400 “‘I find / the two of you, alone among my people, / longed for my coming. Prayers I never heard / except your own that I might come again. / So now what is in store for you I’ll tell you: / If Zeus brings down the suitors by my hand / I promise marriages to both, and cattle, / and houses built near mine. And you shall be / brothers-in-arms of my Telemachus.’”

Hospitality Code If Eumaeus and Philoeteus help bring down

the suitors, Odysseus will reward them with ladies, cattle, and homes—not too shabby!

“My Name Is Nohbdy!”

More Characters from the Odyssey

200She holds off the suitors with a weaving trick

Penelope

400This suitor is the first to die because he was the ringleader.

Antinous

600This suitor tries to get Odysseus’ forgiveness by promising to pay back wine and food.

Eurymachus

800This character (the cowherd) is told to lock the outer gate.

Philoeteus

1000A disloyal maid; calls the beggar a drunk

Melantho

I Know That Hero Trait

Applying Epic Hero Traits to Quotes

200 “Now flashed / arrow from

twanging bow clean as a whistle / through every socket ring, / and grazed not one, / to thud with heavy brazen head beyond.”

Battle Skills Odysseus is able to make his shot

go through all the holes and not hit a one.

400 “‘You yellow dogs, you thought I’d never

make it / home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder, / twisted my maids to serve your beds. You dared / bid for my wife while I was still alive. / Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide / heaven, / contempt for what men say of you hereafter. / Your last hour has come. You die in blood.’”

Authority/Leadership/Persistent Odysseus tells the suitors they will pay for

invading his home, taking advantage of his wife, and plotting to kill his son.

600 “‘Not for the whole treasure of your

fathers, / all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold / put up by others, would I hold my hand. / There will be killing till the score is paid, / You forced yourselves upon this house. / Fight your way out, / or run for it, if you think you’ll escape death.’”

Authority/Leadership/Cleverness Odysseus refuses to accept any payment

from the suitors for their despicable behavior; their payment will be death!

.The Bold, the Brave, and the Boastful

More Characters from the Odyssey

200Calls the beggar a pig and kicks him on the way to town

Melanthius

400Odysseus’s father’s name

Laertes

600Calls Penelope “cold-

hearted” for not taking Odysseus back immediately

Telemachus

800Where Odysseus and Telemachus first go when they return to Ithaca

Eumaues

1000Reassures Odysseus and gives him confidence that he can “whip those dogs.”

Athena

Prego—It’s in There!

It Could Be Anything!

200 Epic hero trait that applies to this

event: Penelope holds off the suitors for

2-3 years by unweaving a loom she told them she must finish before she can marry.

Intelligence/cleverness

400 Epic characteristic in this quote: “Now flashed / arrow from

twanging bow clean as a whistle / through every socket ring, / and grazed not one, / to thud with heavy brazen head beyond.”

Exaggeration Odysseus can shoot an arrow

through twelve tiny holes and not hit a one?

600Name this character:Throws a stool at Odysseus

Antinous

800 Epic characteristic in this quote: “He draws between his thumb and

forefinger / a sweet new string upon a peg: so effortlessly / Odysseus in one motion strung the bow.”

Exaggeration Odysseus can string the bow in one

try, yet the suitors could barely even bend it.

Gods, Goddesses, and Mortals, Oh My!Characters in The Odyssey

200This king takes in

Odysseus as a stranger, and Odysseus tells him about his travels

Alcinous

400Warns Telemachus that the

suitors plan to ambush himAthena

600Hangs the disloyal maidsTelemachus

800Devises a bow and arrow

contestPenelope

1000Tells Penelope that

Odysseus is back and has defeated the suitors

Eurycleia