Literature

Shakespeare

Biography

Biology

Chemistry

Drama

Economics

Film

History

Math

Philosophy

Physics

Poetry

SparkNotes

Literature Study Guides

The Odyssey

Quiz

◄ PREVIOUS
Study Questions & Essay Topics

NEXT ►
Suggestion for Further Reading

The Odyssey

Homer

Quiz

1. In Penelope's archery contest, through how many axes must Odysseus fire his arrow?

(A) two

(B) eight

(D) thirty

2. Which plant makes the sailors forget their desire to return home?

(A) Lotus

(B) Poppy

(D) Hemlock

3. How does Athena disguise herself to make preparations for Telemachus's journey?

(A) As a beggar

(B) As Antinous

(D) As Mephistopheles

4. Who is Argos?

(A) The master of the winds

(B) Penelope's chief suitor

(D) Odysseus's old dog

5. Who first finds Odysseus on the island of Scheria?

(A) Telemachus

(B) King Alcinous

(D) Circe

6. Who has an affair with Eurymachus?

(A) Melantho

(B) Penelope

(D) Helen

7. Menelaus is king of which city?

(A) Pylos

(B) Argos

(D) Sparta

8. Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus based on what distinguishing feature?

(A) A scar on his leg

(B) His cunning

(D) His “noble bearing”

9. How is Odysseus able to listen safely to the Sirens' song?

(A) He has his men bind him to the ship's mast

(B) Athena makes the Sirens appear ugly to him

(D) He isn't; he plugs his ears with wax as the ship passes the Sirens' island

10. Who begs Odysseus to bury him?

(A) Laertes

(B) Polyphemus

(D) Achilles

11. Of what did Odysseus's mother die?

(A) Grief

(B) Drowning

(D) Starvation

12. How old is Telemachus at the start of the epic?

(A) Early thirties

(B) Early teens

(D) Late forties

13. What happens to the disloyal maids after they clean the blood from the great hall?

(A) They are hanged

(B) They are forgiven

(D) They are dismissed from the palace

14. What does Tiresias warn Odysseus not to harm on his voyage?

(A) The eagle of the Moon

(B) The serpent of the Seas

(D) The badger of the Mountains

15. Who kills Antinous's father?

(A) Eumaeus

(B) Odysseus

(D) Laertes

16. In about what year was the Odyssey composed?

(A) a.d. 1590

(B) 700 b.c.

(D) 1200 b.c.

17. Who transforms Odysseus's sailors into pigs?

(A) Calypso

(B) Athena

(D) Circe

18. Odysseus left Penelope bound for what city?

(A) Orinda

(B) Athens

(D) Troy

19. Which goddess often assists Odysseus and Telemachus, and speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on Mount Olympus?

(A) Calypso

(B) Athena

(D) Melantho

20. Why does Poseidon despise Odysseus?

(A) Odysseus does not respect the sea

(B) Odysseus and his men attacked him

(D) Odysseus blinded his son

21. Which two characters provide a point of comparison for Odysseus and Telemachus?

(A) Athena and Zeus

(B) Poseidon and Proteus

(D) Agamemnon and Orestes

22. Who does Zeus send to rescue Odysseus from Calypso?

(A) Hermes

(B) Athena

(D) Nausicaa

23. What did Ajax do to bring disaster upon the homecoming Greek fleet?

(A) He ate all of the army's remaining rations

(B) He murdered sheep

(D) He raped Cassandra

24. What gift does Telemachus accept from Menelaus?

(A) A monkey

(B) A chariot and team of horses

(D) A band of goats

25. How long does Odysseus spend on Calypso's island?

(A) One year

(B) Seven years

(D) Three years

Help | Feedback | Make a request | Report an error | Send to a friend

◄ PREVIOUS
Study Questions & Essay Topics

NEXT ►
Suggestion for Further Reading

The Odyssey message board
Ask a question or post an answer on the community boards.

Writing Help

A blog about grammar, writing, and your papers.

Study On Your Way to Class

PDF
Download a printable version of this SparkNote.

iPod (read)
Download this sparknote to your iPod on iPREPpress.com.

iPod (listen)
Download and listen to this SparkNote at audible.com.

Buy the Book at BN.com

Can't face the work right now? Waste a few minutes with us.

Life

It's already July
Better get cracking on that summer fling

Life

"You look tired"
Translation: "You look absolutely horrible."

Books

James pulls the old mom's-voice-playing-on-a-VHS trick
And Dan can't believe Bella falls for it

Study Guides
Learn more about the subject you're studying with these related SparkNotes.

The Iliad

Mythology

Classic Books
Read the classic text for free online.

The Odyssey

The Iliad