Odysseus Study Guide Terms – Flashcards
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Laertes
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Odysseus' father who left when he was young, but was reunited with Odysseus at the end of the Epic
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Teiresias
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Blind prophet in Hades who told Odysseus what would happen when he and his men arrived at Thrinacia and warned him not to touch the cattle of the Sun-god
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Ithaca
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Home of Odysseus and his main motivation throughout the Epic
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Troy
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Land where the Trojan War took place and the starting point of Odysseus' journey home
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Laestrygonians
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Giant cannibals who dropped stones and destroyed 11 out of 12 ships in Odysseus' fleet while he was journeying towards Aeaea
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Hermes
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Messenger god who guides Odysseus up the mountain Circe's castle and gives him an herb, moly, to prevent Circe's spell from working
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Alcinous
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King of the Phaeacians who housed and aided Odysseus in exchange for his story
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Poseidon
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God of the Sea who disliked Odysseus and prolonged his journey home
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Circe
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Sorcerous goddess who was the lover of Odysseus and turned half of his men into swine; kept him on her island for a year before releasing him
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Polyphemus
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Cyclops who was tricked and blinded by Odysseus (Nohbdy) after consuming 6 of his 12 best men
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Athene
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Goddess who watched over and protected Odysseus
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Helen
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Queen of Troy
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Eurymachus
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Rival of Telemachus and one of the "Leader Suitors"
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Scylla
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6-headed, 12-footed, female, grey, monster-like rock creature that barks like a dog and eats anything near it; consumed 6 of Odysseus men
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Aeolus
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God of the wind who aided Odysseus by giving him the west wind
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Elpenor
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Drunken man of Odysseus who fell of Circe's castle and was seen by Odysseus in the Land of the Dead
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Swine
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The animal Circe turned some of Odysseus' men into
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Cicones
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People who were tortured and plundered by Odysseus and his crew; got their revenge by killing half of his crew
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Ino
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Goddess who gives Odysseus a veil that protects him during a storm
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Sirens
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Dangerous women who lured sailors to their deaths by singing
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Calypso
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Sea nymph who held Odysseus for 7 years
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Menelaus
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King of Troy and host of Telemachus
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Homer
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Blind author of the Odyssey
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Telemachus
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Son of Odysseus who aided him in battle against the suitors
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Unfaithful Servants
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Those who were unfaithful to Odysseus' family and sided with the suitors after the constant abuse from them
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Hades
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Land of the Dead were Teiresias was found
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Trojan War
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War from which Odysseus spends 20 years returning from
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Odysseus
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Main character in the Odyssey with a character flaw of pride
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Argos
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Odysseus' loyal dog who died shortly after seeing Odysseus return from his 20 year journey'
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Charybdis
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Whirlpool that swallowed everything around it 3 times a day every 8 hours
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Helios
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Sun-god who owned the cattle on Thrinacia
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Antinous
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Leader of the suitors who taunted and attacked Odysseus, who was disguised as a beggar, with a stool
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Zeus
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King god who conflicted with Odysseus and sent a lightning bolt which destroyed his ship and crew
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Lotus
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Anyone who ate this flower became forgetful and lost their desire for home
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Eumaus
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Odysseus' swineherd who took him in when Odysseus was disguised as a beggar
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Penelope
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Odysseus' wife who remained faithful and hopeful of Odysseus' return
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Beggar Disguise
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Disguise given by Athena to hide Odysseus identity when he returned to Ithaca
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Odysseus/Penelope's Secret
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The location of their bedroom; home was built around a tree
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Shroud Weaving
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How Penelope delayed having to choose a suitor for years
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Archery Competition
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Decided who Penelope chose as her new husband
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Nausicaa
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Young daughter of Alcinous who is tall and beautiful as a goddess
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Moly
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Herb with black roots and a white blossom given to Odysseus by Hermes
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Cronus
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Father of Zeus
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Nestor
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King of Pylos; the Gerenian Charioteer visited by Telemachus
