Questions and Answers
What happens when the crew opens the bag they believe contains treasure?
Who does Odysseus meet first in the Underworld?
Elpenor
Odysseus must travel to the Underworld to speak with the ghost of ______.
Tiresias
What advice does Tiresias give Odysseus regarding Helios' cattle?
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Odysseus' mother is aware of the events happening in his life.
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Match the books with their descriptions:
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What does Odysseus do to blind the Cyclops?
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Study Notes
Book 9
- Odysseus recounts his adventure to the land of the Cyclops after a detour involving the Lotus-Eaters.
- Arrives at a mysterious island and takes his strongest men to explore due to concerns about the natives, the Cyclops.
- The crew enters a Cyclops' cave and waits for him; upon his arrival, he traps them with a huge stone and devours two crew members.
- The Cyclops continues to eat men each morning until Odysseus devises a plan to escape.
- Odysseus sharpens a stake and tricks the Cyclops into drinking wine, revealing himself as "Nobody."
- Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, and he and the remaining crew escape by hiding under the sheep as they leave the cave.
Book 10
- Odysseus and his men land on Aeolia, staying for a month and feasting with Aeolus.
- After sailing home for 10 days, the crew, jealous of Odysseus' wealth, opens a bag thought to contain treasure, which releases strong winds, pushing them back to Aeolus' island.
- Aeolus refuses further aid, mocking Odysseus and his crew upon their return.
- They reach the land of the Laestrygonians, where King Antiphates devours one of the crew members, leading to a hasty retreat as they are pelted with rocks.
- The crew arrives at Aeaea, home of Circe. There, she transforms Odysseus' men into pigs with her magic.
- Eurylochus escapes to inform Odysseus, who is then guided by Hermes to defeat Circe, armed with an herb for protection.
- Circe falls in love with Odysseus but agrees to never harm him or his men after he demands a promise.
- Odysseus and his crew enjoy a year of feasting at Circe's palace.
Book 11
- Odysseus journeys to the Underworld, led by Circe, and begins by sacrificing a ram and a black ewe to attract spirits.
- He first encounters Elpenor, a crew member who died after falling from Circe's roof, requesting a proper burial.
- Odysseus meets his deceased mother, Anticlea, and learns of her death, but he prioritizes meeting Tiresias, a renowned prophet.
- Tiresias reveals that Poseidon is punishing Odysseus for blinding Polyphemus and predicts that he will reach Thrinacia Island, home to Helios' cattle.
- The prophet warns that harming the cattle will result in the destruction of Odysseus' crew and ship.
- Tiresias predicts that upon returning to Ithaca, Odysseus will find suitors vying for his wife Penelope and instructs him to kill them.
- After Tiresias departs, Odysseus attempts to embrace his mother three times, but as a ghost, she remains elusive.
- Encounters various other spirits, including Agamemnon, who shares his tragic story of death and betrayal.
Book 12
- Details of Odysseus' adventures continue with new challenges faced on his journey home.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Books 9 and 10 of Homer's Odyssey. Explore Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops and the challenges he faces on Aeolia. This quiz covers key events, characters, and themes from these exciting chapters.
