The Odyssey Reading Test! Trivia Quiz

Reviewed by Editorial Team
The ProProfs editorial team is comprised of experienced subject matter experts. They've collectively created over 10,000 quizzes and lessons, serving over 100 million users. Our team includes in-house content moderators and subject matter experts, as well as a global network of rigorously trained contributors. All adhere to our comprehensive editorial guidelines, ensuring the delivery of high-quality content.
Learn about Our Editorial Process
| By Verdun
V
Verdun
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 123 | Total Attempts: 112,403
| Attempts: 3,185
SettingsSettings
Please wait...
  • 1/13 Questions

    What is "The Odyssey" about? 

    • The hero Pylos long-awaited return from the Trojan War to his homeland, Ithaca, after ten years of wandering.
    • The hero Odysseus' long-awaited return from the Trojan War to his homeland, Ithaca, after ten years of wandering.
    • The hero Cyclops long-awaited return from the Trojan War to his homeland, Ithaca, after ten years of wandering.
Please wait...
About This Quiz

Explore 'The Odyssey' in this trivia quiz, assessing knowledge on its plot, characters, and settings. Perfect for learners interested in ancient Greek literature, enhancing understanding of classical narratives and themes.

The Odyssey Reading Test! Trivia Quiz - Quiz

Quiz Preview

  • 2. 

    Odysseus' son. A mere child when his father left for the Trojan War, He is, at the beginning of The Odyssey, an inexperienced, unhappy, and helpless young man. His travels in search of his father help him to mature, and, on Odysseus' return, he fulfills his duties, as the son of a hero should. Athena

    • Eurymachus

    • Nestor

    • Telemachus

    Correct Answer
    A. Telemachus
    Explanation
    Telemachus is the correct answer because the explanation describes him as the son of Odysseus who was a child when his father went to war. It states that he is initially inexperienced, unhappy, and helpless, but his journey to find his father helps him mature. When Odysseus returns, Telemachus fulfills his duties as a son of a hero should. This aligns with the description given in the explanation, making Telemachus the correct answer.

    Rate this question:

  • 3. 

    The protagonist and hero of the poem.

    • Telemachus

    • Penelope

    • Odysseus

    Correct Answer
    A. Odysseus
    Explanation
    Odysseus is the correct answer because he is the protagonist and hero of the poem. Throughout the epic poem "The Odyssey," Odysseus is the central character who embarks on a long and perilous journey back home after the Trojan War. He displays bravery, intelligence, and cunning as he faces numerous challenges and obstacles. Odysseus is portrayed as a strong and courageous leader, making him the rightful choice as the protagonist and hero of the poem.

    Rate this question:

  • 4. 

    The "much-enduring" wife of Odysseus and the patient mother of Telemachus.She keeps home and family intact until Odysseus can return to claim his rights. The suffering she undergoes and the tricks that she employs to keep her suitors at bay bear testimony to her power of endurance and love for her son and husband.

    • Athena

    • Penelope

    • Helen

    Correct Answer
    A. Penelope
    Explanation
    Penelope is the correct answer because she is described as the "much-enduring" wife of Odysseus and the patient mother of Telemachus. The explanation mentions that she keeps home and family intact until Odysseus can return, showing her dedication and love for her son and husband. It also highlights her suffering and the tricks she uses to keep her suitors away, demonstrating her endurance and strength. Athena and Helen are not mentioned as enduring or patient in the given information, making them incorrect options.

    Rate this question:

  • 5. 

    What is the setting of the  "The Odyssey ".

    • Set in ancient England

    • Set in ancient Rome

    • Set in ancient Greece

    Correct Answer
    A. Set in ancient Greece
    Explanation
    "The Odyssey" is set in ancient Greece. This epic poem, written by Homer, follows the protagonist Odysseus as he embarks on a long and perilous journey back to his homeland of Ithaca after the Trojan War. The story is deeply rooted in Greek mythology and showcases various Greek gods and goddesses, as well as the customs and traditions of ancient Greek society.

    Rate this question:

  • 6. 

    The epic poem ends in comedy for Odysseus; he manages to reach his homeland despite all odds and slay the suitors of his wife, who far outnumber him. He is recognized and accepted by his family after initial doubts and is once again master of his house and leader of his people. In the last Book, Athena reconciles the feud between the kinsmen of the slain suitors and Odysseus' party.

    • Outcome

    • Begining

    Correct Answer
    A. Outcome
    Explanation
    The given correct answer is "Outcome". This is because the explanation provided describes the result or outcome of the events in the epic poem. It states that Odysseus is able to overcome the challenges and return to his homeland, where he defeats the suitors and regains his position as the leader of his people. Additionally, it mentions that Athena resolves the conflict between Odysseus' party and the kinsmen of the slain suitors, indicating a positive outcome for Odysseus.

    Rate this question:

  • 7. 

    The two goddesses with whom Odysseus has extended affairs.

    • Circe and Calypso

    • Athena and Hermes

    Correct Answer
    A. Circe and Calypso
    Explanation
    Odysseus has extended affairs with Circe and Calypso. Circe is a powerful sorceress who turns Odysseus' men into pigs but later falls in love with him and helps him on his journey. Calypso is a nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years, offering him immortality and eternal youth in exchange for his love. These affairs play a significant role in Odysseus' journey and demonstrate his ability to navigate complex relationships with powerful women.

    Rate this question:

  • 8. 

    The stringing of the great bow by Odysseus and the slaughter of the suitors. At the end of Book 21, Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, lifts the heavy bow, bends it, picks up an arrow, and sends it effortlessly through a line of twelve axes. The suitors are greatly surprised at this incredible feat. In Book 22, Odysseus strips himself of his rags and reveals his true identity to all after killing Antinous. Eurymachus begs for forgiveness on behalf of all the wooers, but Odysseus refuses, and a bloody battle follows in which the suitors are slain. Odysseus finally establishes his superiority in his own house   . He gets rid of the young men who were wasting his wealth and corrupting the environment by sleeping with the maidservants. These twelve disloyal women are hung by Telemachus on Odysseus' instructions. Finally, the house is purified with sulfur and fire, symbolizing the re-establishment of order in Ithaca after the return of the king and the punishment of the evildoers.

    • Outcome

    • Climax

    Correct Answer
    A. Climax
    Explanation
    The climax of the story is the stringing of the great bow by Odysseus and the slaughter of the suitors. This is the point of highest tension and excitement in the narrative, as Odysseus reveals his true identity and demonstrates his superior strength and skill. It marks a turning point in the story, where Odysseus finally takes control of his own house and eliminates those who have been causing chaos and corruption. The climax is significant because it represents the culmination of Odysseus' journey and his ultimate triumph over his enemies.

    Rate this question:

  • 9. 

    The _____________ of Odysseus is the series of trials, inflicted by many individual antagonists; in order to successfully return home and regain his rightful place, he must overcome each of them. The god of the sea, Poseidon, keeps Odysseus wandering for ten weary years, forcing him to arrive in Ithaca in a pitiable condition, with trouble waiting for him at home. He has punished Odysseus for blinding his one-eyed giant son, Polyphemus. Through the eventful course of these ten years, Odysseus is pitted against varied forces - the Cicones, the Lotus-Eaters, the Cyclops, the Laestrygonians, the goddess Circe, the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, sea storms raised by gods, Calypso's temptation of immortal love, and, finally, the suitors at Ithaca. The suitors may be his worst enemies, but they are not the only ones to cause conflicts in Odysseus' travels, and their slaying, though it provides a climax to the work, is only one episode   in the long list of struggles Odysseus endures. He needs to be cunning and resourceful throughout, even while winning over friends such as the Phaecians. So, while Odysseus is clearly the protagonist, a single antagonist does not exist. Instead, this brave hero fights against odds and antagonistic situations more than antagonists themselves.  

    • Antagonist

    • Protagonist

    Correct Answer
    A. Antagonist
    Explanation
    In the given passage, it is mentioned that Odysseus faces a series of trials and conflicts throughout his journey, including the gods, mythical creatures, and even the suitors at Ithaca. These trials and conflicts can be considered as the antagonistic situations that Odysseus has to overcome. While there are individual antagonists like Poseidon and the suitors, the passage emphasizes that it is not a single antagonist that Odysseus fights against, but rather the various challenges and obstacles he encounters. Therefore, the correct answer is antagonist.

    Rate this question:

  • 10. 

    The Odyssey, like The Iliad, is pre-eminently a poem of action. It resembles other heroic poetry, as well as sub-heroic oral narrative verse, in the way it engages the listeners or readers with the poem and involves them imaginatively in it. In such poems the thrill of action is important, but it is attended by a notable concern for what humans do and suffer and the many ways in which they face their challenges. While the plot is advanced by strong, dramatic action, the poem also goes into detail about the characters' thoughts, words, and feelings. Indeed, there is almost no human emotion that Homer does not present in his characters or arouse in his listeners/readers. Human emotions are an important theme of the epic.

    • Middle Theme

    • Minor Themes

    • Major Themes

    Correct Answer
    A. Major Themes
    Explanation
    The given passage describes how The Odyssey engages the listeners or readers with its action-packed plot and also explores the characters' thoughts, words, and feelings. It emphasizes that Homer presents almost every human emotion in his characters and evokes these emotions in the listeners or readers. This suggests that human emotions are an important theme in the epic. Therefore, the correct answer is "Major Themes."

    Rate this question:

  • 11. 

    An epic deals with a large canvas, and, as such, there are numerous minor themes. While Odysseus dominates the poem, his wife and son play important roles as well. The growth and development of Telemachus from inexperienced, naive youth to a hero is a minor theme. His mother Penelope's endurance and prudence, in contrast to Clytemnestra's infidelity and cruelty in The Iliad, is another theme of some importance. The suitors occupy quite a large part of the epic, and their unheroic, impudent behavior is in great contrast with the noble qualities of the heroic ideal. They are a part of the generation that did not fight at Troy, and they have not learned the lessons that war teaches. The descriptions of their transgressions and the necessity of their punishment are a minor theme. The Odyssey deals twice with the ancient theme of the witch who detains the hero on his return by making him live with her. She need not be malevolent, but she hinders his desire to go home. In The Odyssey, she appears in two quite different forms as Circe and Calypso. Circe has a ruthless, cruel side, while Calypso is more gentle and charming, although she keeps Odysseus hidden in Ogygia for eight years. Another minor theme is the loyalty of some of the servants to Odysseus. Odysseus' relationship with Eumaeus is especially delineated. Later, Eurycleia and Philoetius are also presented as loyal to the hero. Odysseus is capable of winning steadfast faithfulness, and this contributes to his heroic stature.

    • Minor themes

    • Major themes

    • Middle themes

    Correct Answer
    A. Minor themes
    Explanation
    The given answer correctly identifies the themes discussed in the passage as minor themes. The passage mentions various themes such as the growth of Telemachus, the contrasting behaviors of the suitors, the presence of witches like Circe and Calypso, and the loyalty of Odysseus' servants. These themes are not the central focus of the epic but still hold importance in the overall narrative.

    Rate this question:

  • 12. 

    The ________is exciting, which is typical of an ancient epic. The excitement is seen especially in the first half when the canvas is very large and includes numerous fabulous events. There is an adventure, mystery, suspense, and even terror, especially in the recounting of Odysseus' supernatural adventures on the way home from the Trojan War. In the second half of The Odyssey, from Book 13 onward, the age-old tale of the wanderer's return is told, and the mood becomes more low-keyed and domestic. Thus, the tale of an enduring wife, a revengeful husband, a maturing son, and villainous suitors is combined with stories of monsters, ghosts, nymphs, and giants. Two distinct moods, one of supernatural, epic excitement, and another of human drama are merged effectively in The Odyssey to produce an epic poem that possesses diverse colors.

    • Them

    • Plot

    • Mood

    Correct Answer
    A. Mood
    Explanation
    The given correct answer for this question is "mood". The explanation is that the passage describes the different moods present in The Odyssey, an ancient epic. It mentions the excitement, adventure, mystery, suspense, and terror in the first half of the poem, which represents the supernatural, epic excitement. In the second half, the mood becomes more low-keyed and domestic, focusing on the human drama of the characters. Therefore, the passage highlights the merging of these two distinct moods, supernatural excitement and human drama, in The Odyssey, making "mood" the appropriate answer.

    Rate this question:

  • 13. 

    The protagonist of this epic poem is Odysseus, the pivot of most of the action. After his ten years of war at Troy, Odysseus is away from home another ten years. He is kept away for so long by the wrath of Poseidon, who is angered by the blinding of his son, Polyphemus. The Odyssey is about Odysseus' struggle and final return home. The Trojan War lies in the background as Odysseus leaves Ogygia, reaches Phaecia, where he narrates his adventures up until that point, and returns home to Ithaca. Once at Ithaca, he slays the suitors who have been wooing his wife   . Odysseus is the chief of the surviving heroes of the Trojan War, and the story of his adventures and return is the most famous of many. He himself is an enlarged and elaborated version of what he is in The Iliad.

    • CONFLICT

    • PLOT

    Correct Answer
    A. CONFLICT
    Explanation
    The correct answer is CONFLICT. In the given passage, it is mentioned that Odysseus faces numerous challenges and obstacles during his journey back home, including the wrath of Poseidon and the suitors who have been wooing his wife. These conflicts drive the plot of the epic poem and create tension and suspense as readers follow Odysseus' struggle to return home.

    Rate this question:

Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Mar 22, 2023 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Dec 16, 2009
    Quiz Created by
    Verdun
Back to Top Back to top
Advertisement
×

Wait!
Here's an interesting quiz for you.

We have other quizzes matching your interest.