Circe, the Grace of the Witch and The Land of the Dead Reading Quiz

Question 1 What does Aeolus give Odysseus? How do the crew members interfere with Aeolus’s help?

Question 2 To emphasize the strangeness of Circe’s island, what epic simile does Odysseus use to describe the wild beasts? Must write what is being compared to what in your answer.

Question 3 Provide textual evidence and commentary for the following question: Why must Odysseus go to the land of the dead? What does his willingness to do this show about his character?

Odysseus wept at the sight of the first shade, Elpenor, why? Question 4 Odysseus wept at the sight of the first shade, Elpenor, why?

Provide textual evidence and commentary for the following question: What does Elpenor’s request reveal about Greek beliefs of death?

Question 6 What does Tiresias foretell? What directions and warnings does he give Odysseus?

Answer 1: What does Aeolus give Odysseus Answer 1: What does Aeolus give Odysseus? How do the crew members interfere with Aeolus’s help? Aeolus gives Odysseus ”two parting gifts: a fair west wind that will blow the fleet of ships toward Ithaca, and a great bag holding all the unfavorable, stormy wind” (386). The men, fearful that Odysseus has something desirable in the bag open it while he sleeps. ”Within sight of home” the bad wind blows the ship back to Aeolus’ island (386).

Answer 2: To emphasize the strangeness of Circe’s island, what epic simile does Odysseus use to describe the wild beasts? Must write what is being compared to what in your answer. Odysseus compares the “wolves and mountain lions” to “hounds” (6-7). He remarks on their strange mild behavior and notices that instead of behaving like predatory animals, the beasts behave more akin to domestic dogs “who look up when their master comes with tidbits for them […] from [the] table” (7-8).

Answer 3: Why must Odysseus go to the land of the dead Answer 3: Why must Odysseus go to the land of the dead? What does his willingness to do this show about his character? Though Circe turns Odysseus’ crew from pigs to humans again, the men are not yet free from Circe’s spell, thus Odysseus must make a deal with Circe. She requests that “they must first visit the land of the dead and hear a prophecy from the ghost of Tiresias” (387). Odysseus demonstrates courage by agreeing to visit the underworld to hear the prophecy. He also illustrates characteristics of a good leader by volunteering to enter a dangerous place for the sake of his men’s lives.

Answer 4: Odysseus wept at the sight of the first shade, Elpenor, why? Odysseus weeps for Elpenor because when Odysseus left Circe’s land, Elpenor was still alive. Odysseus asks him, “how could your journey to the western gloom swifter afoot than I in the black lugger?” (30-31). Odysseus also remarks that Elpenor “lay unburied still on the wide earth” (25). This realization upsets Odysseus because the Greek culture believed in burying the dead.

Answer 5: What does Elpenor’s request reveal about Greek beliefs of death? Elpenor’s request is straightforward, but his appeal reveals a significant belief of the ancient Greeks. Elpenor requests that Odysseus “fire [his] corpse, and all the gear [he] had, and build a cairn” (50-51). Elpenor goes on to request that the oar that he “pulled in life with [his] companions” be placed on top of the mound (55). Elpenor’s plea suggests that the Greeks valued a proper burial at time of death. Elpenor’s secondary desires also convey a sense of connection to both the earthly belongings and the earthly legacy left behind.

Answer 6: What does Tiresias foretell Answer 6: What does Tiresias foretell? What directions and warnings does he give Odysseus? Tiresias foretells that Odysseus seeks “a fair wind and the honey lights of home”, but instead he will be met with “anguish” (78-79). Tiresias emphasizes that the only way to emerge from the journey without hardships is “denial of yourself” and “restraint of shipmates” (84). He warns Odysseus to avoid Helios’ bovines or he will suffer a loss of his crew and arrive home alone. When he does arrive home he will find his “own home filled with […] insolent men eating” the livestock and courting Penelope (95). Though the arrival home will be tumultanous, Odysseus will make the suitors “atone in blood” (97). Tiresias also says that Odysseus must make a sacrifice to Psoideon and the other gods at a spot that will be revealed to him. Perhaps the most hopeful part of the prophecy is that Tiresias reveals that Odysseus will make it home alive.