The Odyssey- Part I
Reader’s Notes Help
As you read the assignments for this week, continue to keep your readers notes. The
questions below will help you make sure you have covered the important parts of the
story and that you understand the story completely. No need to answer these questions
by number in your notes, just use them to help you write your notes.
Remember- Readers Notes consist of:
The Basics – what happens in the story?
Connections – connections can you find between the story and other things you know?
Introduction and Lotus Eaters – Thursday, 12/4
1. Frame story - Odysseus tells his journey story to Alcinous from Phaeacia who
gives him a ship
2. Where is Odysseus when telling the story?
3. Why did so many of his men die after the war?
4. How long after the war does he leave Calypso’s island?
5. Why is he famous?
6. What did he do in Ismarus (Land of Cicones)?
7. How did Zeus punish Odysseus’ ships?
8. Why didn’t the men want to leave the Lotus Eaters?
Cyclops – Monday, 12/8
1. What do the Cyclops look like?
2. What do they not do?
3. Where do they live?
4. What does the Cyclops do when the men first see him?
5. What does he ask them?
6. What is their reply?
7. What do they ask for?
8. Why should the Cyclops give it?
9. What is the Cyclops’ reaction?
10. Why does Odysseus not kill the Cyclops?
11. How do the men get away?
12. What does he yell as he is leaving? Why? What harm does it do?
Homework: Illustrate – in 5 pictures – the main events of this story.
Land of the Dead and The Sirens – Tuesday,12/9
1. Why is Odysseus in the Land of the Dead?
2. What happens there?
3. What are the three prophecies of Tieresias?
4. What are sirens?
5. What is Odysseus’ plan to deal with them?
6. Does Odysseus succeed?
7. What does the reader learn about Odysseus and the epic hero from this adventure?
Scylla and Charybdis – Wednesday, 12/10
1. How does Odysseus encourage his men after they pass the Sirens? Name two.
2. What do they face in Scylla and Charybdis?
3. How do the men react?
4. What does the reader learn about Odysseus? How is he heroic by Greek standards?
Cattle of the Sun God – Thursday, 12/11
1. What does Eurylochus say to persuade Odysseus’ men to slaughter the cattle of
Helios?
2. Why is Odysseus unable to keep his men from killing the cattle?
3. How do the men get punished?
4. Do the crew members deserve the punishment?
5. How are Odysseus’ actions and feelings in this story heroic?
Hotwords 9 plus Reader’s Notes Check (40 formative points) – Friday, 12/12
Quiz on “The Journey” (all you have read so far + Greek hero stories) – Monday, 12/15
We will review in class before the Hotwords test on Friday