What obstacles has Odysseus faced so far on his road of trials? Check all that apply.

Lord Helios, the sun god, has killed Odysseus’s men for eating his cattle.
His boat has crashed, and the crew is shipwrecked on the Isle of Man.
The crew has been attacked by an army at Cicones.
Zeus has sent a huge sea storm.
Some of the men have eaten the lotus flower and had to be rescued.

11 answers

Odysseus has faced the following obstacles on his road of trials:

  1. Lord Helios, the sun god, has killed Odysseus’s men for eating his cattle.
  2. The crew has been attacked by an army at Cicones.
  3. Zeus has sent a huge sea storm.
  4. Some of the men have eaten the lotus flower and had to be rescued.

The obstacle regarding his boat crashing and the crew being shipwrecked on the Isle of Man is not accurate in the context of "The Odyssey." While Odysseus does encounter shipwrecks and various islands, there is no specific mention of the Isle of Man in the epic.

Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
The bows went plunging at the gust; sails
cracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.
We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards,
unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore
worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining.

–The Odyssey,
Homer

Which stage of the hero’s journey is represented in this passage?

the call to adventure
the return home
the road of trials
the transformation

The stage of the hero's journey represented in this passage is the road of trials. This segment describes the challenges and hardships that Odysseus and his crew face during their journey, specifically the storm sent by Zeus, which exemplifies the struggles and obstacles encountered along the way.

What does Odysseus do when his men eat the lotus plant that shows the epic hero characteristic of leadership?

He forces his men to leave and continue the journey home.
He sends his best men to investigate the island.
He comes up with a plan to defeat the lotus-eaters.
He instructs his men on how to avoid tasting the lotus.

Odysseus demonstrates the epic hero characteristic of leadership by forcing his men to leave and continue the journey home. After some of his men eat the lotus plant and lose their desire to return home, Odysseus recognizes the danger it poses to their mission and takes decisive action to bring them back to their senses and continue their journey. He physically drags the men who have eaten the lotus away from the island and ensures they return to the ship.

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 noon
so holding our beach, although so far outnumbered

–The Odyssey,
Homer

Which elements of epic poetry are demonstrated in this passage? Check all that apply.

repetition
an epic hero showing bravery in battle
an invocation of the muse
a difficult journey with trials
supernatural elements

In this passage from "The Odyssey," the following elements of epic poetry are demonstrated:

  1. Repetition - The phrase "dark word of Zeus" and references to their plight can be seen as an example of repetition in themes or language.
  2. An epic hero showing bravery in battle - Odysseus and his men are depicted as fighting bravely against overwhelming odds.
  3. A difficult journey with trials - The situation described reflects the challenges and struggles encountered on their journey home.
  4. Supernatural elements - The reference to "dark word of Zeus" suggests the influence of the gods in the events that unfold.

An invocation of the muse is not present in this particular passage. This element typically appears at the beginning of epic poems, where the poet calls upon a muse for inspiration.

1. an epic hero showing bravery in battle
2. a difficult journey with trials
3. supernatural elements

Yes, you've correctly identified the elements of epic poetry demonstrated in the passage from "The Odyssey." To summarize:

  1. An epic hero showing bravery in battle - Odysseus and his men are depicted as bravely defending themselves, showcasing their courage in the face of overwhelming odds.

  2. A difficult journey with trials - The excerpt reflects the challenges they face along their journey home, which is a key theme in the epic.

  3. Supernatural elements - The reference to "dark word of Zeus" indicates the influence of divine forces on the events unfolding in their journey.

These elements contribute to the overall epic nature of the poem and highlight the struggles and heroism of Odysseus as a central figure.

Six benches were left empty in every ship
that evening when we pulled away from death.
And this new grief we bore with us to sea:
our precious lives we had, but not our friends.

–The Odyssey,
Homer

Which is the most effective paraphrase of the passage?

Six men from every ship were killed, leaving six empty benches.
We escaped with our lives, but many of our friends did not, which made us very sad.
There was no point grieving for our lost friends, so we pulled away from shore.
We had the additional burden of our grief when we sailed away.

The most effective paraphrase of the passage is:

We escaped with our lives, but many of our friends did not, which made us very sad.

This paraphrase captures the essence of the original passage, emphasizing both the loss of comrades (indicated by the empty benches) and the emotional weight of that loss as they continue their journey.