The Odyssey and Epic Poetry: An Introduction, Part 1 Answers

Which event from The Odyssey best highlights the idea that the ancient Greeks greatly disliked greediness?

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.Then I sent out two picked men and a runnerto learn what race of men that land sustained. They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters,who showed no will to do us harm, onlyoffering the sweet Lotus to our friends—but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus,never cared to report, nor to return:they longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey."I am Laertes' son, Odysseus.Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war:this fame has gone abroad to the sky's rim.

What can be learned about the ancient Greeks from this excerpt? Choose two answers.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.This was an army, trained to fight on horseback or, where the ground required, on foot. They came with dawn over that terrain like the leavesand blades of spring. So doom appeared to us, dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days.My men stood up and made a fight of it— backed on the ships, with lances kept in play, from bright morning through the blaze of noonso holding our beach, although so far outnumbered; but when the sun passed toward unyoking time, then the Achaeans, one by one, gave way.

What does Odysseus do on the island of Cicones that best shows the trait of leadership?

Which excerpt from The Odyssey best shows that the ancient Greeks greatly valued the idea of home?

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.My men stood up and made a fight of it— backed on the ships, with lances kept in play, from bright morning through the blaze of noonso holding our beach, although so far outnumbered; but when the sun passed toward unyoking time, then the Achaeans, one by one, gave way.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.I shall not see on earth a place more dear, though I have been detained long by Calypso,loveliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart's delight, as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress,desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent. Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents? In far lands he shall not, though he find a house of gold.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.The wind that carried west from Iliumbrought me to Ismarus, on the far shore,a strongpoint on the coast of Cicones.I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women,to make division, equal shares to all—but on the spot I told them: 'Back, and quickly! ‘Out to sea again!' My men were mutinous,fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep theybutchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,feasting,—while fugitives went inland, runningto call to arms the main force of Cicones.This was an army, trained to fight on horsebackor, where the ground required, on foot. They camewith dawn over that terrain like the leavesand blades of spring. So doom appeared to us,dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days. My men stood up and made a fight of it—60backed on the ships, with lances kept in play,from bright morning through the blaze of noonso holding our beach, although so far outnumbered;