STUDY QUESTIONS
on Homer's Odyssey
1. Cite from the Odyssey:
instances of irony
recognition scenes
similes
instances of retrospective and prospective narrative
repeated passages
epithets
2. What does it mean to say that a work of literature has a certain "form" or "structure"? What is
the relationship between the "form" and the "content" of the Odyssey?
3. What does the Odyssey have to tell us about respect for the aged and about the role of women
in society? How does our modern view differ?
4. What the characteristics of a mature person as the Odyssey presents maturity? How does
Telemachus mature during the course of the story? How does your definition of maturity differ
from Homer's?
5. To what extent do the gods actually determine men's fate or men's action? Cite passages
where they seem to be decided by the will and design of the gods. Cite passages where men's
own choices and activities determine what happens to themselves and to others.
6. Do the gods control Odysseus so completely that he is not free? Is this fate predetermined?
What choices does he have?
7. What does Odysseus expect from the gods? What, if anything, does he believe he owes to the
gods?
8. Are the rulers in the Odyssey absolute monarchs?
9. What are Odysseus' "kingly virtues"?
10. What obligations to other human beings are the most important in Homer's world?
11. What does the fact that Zeus is the protector of strangers and suppliants say about one's moral
obligations to strangers?
12. According to Homeric values, under what circumstances is killing people justified or even
praiseworthy?
13. What actions and attitudes of the suitors indicate that they are immoral (according to the
value system of their own society)?
14. What constitutes the really "good life" in the opinion of Homer's characters?
15. Does Homer seem to believe the theory that there was once a Golden Age, but men's
morality, strength and happiness have since declined?
16. In the Odyssey, how do gods communicate with men? Give some examples. How important
are the revelations which the gods give to men?
17. What are the usual ways religion is practiced by Homeric people? What is the purpose of
these practices?
18. What is "expiation"? What is "divination"? Give examples of sacrifices made for both
purposes in the Odyssey.
19. List the essential attributes of gods and of men. Which characteristics, if any, do they have in
common? In what ways are they most dissimilar?
20. What aspects of the gods are examples of psychological anthropomorphism? Which of
physical anthropomorphism?
21. Is mortality considered to be a natural attribute of man?
22. Which of the following are functions of the gods?
a. Regulation of the forces and harmony of nature
b. Cause of natural disorders, i.e. floods
c. Establishment and/or enforcement of certain moral laws and customs
d. Enforcement of proper relations between god and man
e. Creation of the world
f. Causal agent in human affairs
g. Others not listed.......................................
23. In what ways does your own value system differ from Homer's?
These study questions for Homer's Odyssey been used for many years by Professor Tom Sienkewicz in his courses at
Howard University and at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. If you have any questions, you may contact him at
toms@monm.edu.