Mrs. Gonzalez
Language Arts I
Odyssey, Homer
Book XII – Comprehension Questions
Directions: Answer the following comprehension questions in your notebook after reading
Book XII: The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis, pages 1230-1236.
Book XII: The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis
1. According to Circe, what will happen to Odysseus’s men if they listen to the Sirens’
singing?
2. How can Odysseus prevent his men from listening to the Sirens’ singing?
3. If Odysseus wants to listen to the Sirens’ singing, what must he do to ensure his own
safety?
4. Where does Scylla live?
5. What does Scylla look like?
6. What happens to every ship that passes by Scylla?
7. What does Charybdis do three times a day?
8. What happens to any ship that passes by Charybdis?
9. Why does Circe advise Odysseus to sail past Scylla instead of sailing past Charybdis?
10. If Odysseus decides to sail past Scylla, where will he end up?
11. Circe warns Odysseus about the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. Of these warnings, what
does Odysseus share with his crew?
12. Why doesn’t Odysseus warn his men about Scylla?
13. Odysseus claims that the events that happen outside Scylla’s cave are “far the worse I
ever suffered” (202). Why might Odysseus consider these the worst?
14. What does Helios threaten to do if payment is not made for the loss of his cattle?
15. What does Zeus do in response to Helios’s threat?