The Odyssey Book 10

a year

About how long do Odysseus and his men stay on Circe's island?

the land of the Laestrygones

After leaving King Aeolus' island, where does the crew land?

the underworld; "the cold homes of death and pale Persephone"

Circe tells Odysseus that before he can go home, he has to journey to ____________. (where?)

Yes, because it is Odysseus' curiosity that leads them into bad situations, and his arrogance got them there in the first place

Do you think Eurylochus is right in his harsh criticism of Odysseus? Why or why not?

No

Does Circe want to keep Odysseus against his will?

They all stood around him and cried, thanking him; epic simile

How do Odysseus' men react when he returns to his ship to get them?

He makes her swear an oath to work no more enchantment to his harm, or he won't sleep with her

How does Odysseus protect himself from Circe?

I would probably follow Eurylochus because I would be afraid of the consequences of trusting someone I did not know

If you were among the group, whom would you follow: Polites or Eurylochus? Why?

a request to keep her promise and help him get home

In response to his wake up call, what does Odysseus bring to Circe?

Eurylochus leads one platoon to explore the island, while Odysseus stays behind on the ship with the remaining crew

Odysseus divides his crew into two groups. Who leads the group that explores the island and who stays behind on the ship?

they bombard their ships with boulders and eat some of the men

What do the Laestrygones do to Odysseus' crew?

"mingle and make love upon our bed"

What does Circe want to do with Odysseus?

He thinks they shouldn't go; he believes Circe will turn them into swine, wolves, and lions; he blames Odysseus' "foolishness" for all the death and chaos

What does Eurylochus think about going to Circe's hall?

"I entered Circe's flawless bed of love"

What does Odysseus do after Circe promises not to use her magic on him?

He drew his sharp sword and held it against her throat

What does Odysseus do when Circe tells him to go "down in the sty and snore among the rest?"

"to draw the blade that swung against my side and chop him up, blowing his head upon the ground"

What does Odysseus want to do when Eurylochus challenges his command?

"Dear friends, no need for stealth: here's a young weaver singing a pretty song to set the air a-tingle on the lawns and paven courts. Goddess she is, or lady. Shall we greet her?"

What does Polites suggest that they do when they encounter the goddess Circe?

he refuses to help them again, because he now thinks that their voyage is cursed by the gods

What does the king say to Odysseus when they come back to the island? Why does he say this?

he feels a "pang", or a sharp feeling of emotional distress; he feels sad because he is homesick

What emotion(s) do you think Odysseus is feeling when he turns his thoughts to Ithaca?

the stormy winds escape

What happens as a result of this mistake?

They were younger, more handsome, and taller than before

What happens to Odysseus' men when Circe turns them back into men?

they turned into pigs

What happens to the men after they drink Circe's magic potion?

The drink failed

What happens when Odysseus drinks Circe's wine?

"I felt a weight like stone within me"; he is upset and just wants to go home

What is Odysseus' reaction upon hearing the news that he must go to the underworld?

there were wolves and mountain lions laying there; they weren't attacking the visitors

What is unusual about Circe's hall?

His shipmate tells him: "Captain, shake off this trance, and think of home --- if home indeed awaits us, if we shall ever see your own well-timbered hall on Ithaca"

What makes Odysseus "wake up" and think of Ithaca again?

They open the bag of stormy winds thinking it contains gold and silver

What mistake do the men make with the bag of winds?

a fair west wind blowing the ships toward Ithaca, and a great bag holding all the unfavorable, stormy winds

What two parting gifts does Aeolus give to Odysseus?

Hermes warns Odysseus to make the goddess swear that she will play no "witches' tricks"

What warning does Hermes give Odysseus?

back to Aeolus' islands

Where does the wind blow Odysseus' ship?

fierce cannibals

Who are the Laestrygones?

Eurylochus

Who does not want to enter Circe's hall because he fears a snare?

Hermes is a messenger god that Odysseus meets on the way back from Circe's island; Hermes gives Odysseus moly, a magical plant that will protect him from Circe's power

Who is Hermes? What does he give Odysseus?

queen of the underworld; Demeter's daugter

Who is Persephone?

a blind prophet from Thebes; to hear his prophecy and warning

Who is Tiresias, and why does Odysseus have to see him?

Hades

Who is the god of the underworld?

Aeolus

Who is the wind king?

Circe

Who lives on the island of Aeaea?

So Odysseus will eat and drink

Why does Circe free Odysseus' men from her spell?

Never a mortal man that drank the cup but when it passed his lips he had succumbed

Why is Circe so surprised when Odysseus is not affected by her wine? Why is she so shocked?