Book 9

1. What does the incident with the Lotus Eaters suggest about Odysseus' relationship with his men? How does the conflict between Odysseus and his men show itself in the rest of their journey?

2. What kind of society do the Cyclopes have?

3. What is the significance of the fact that Odysseus calls himself "Nobody"?

4. What are the results of Odysseus' boasting as he leaves the Cyclops' island?

5. How do Odysseus' actions here and later relate to what is expected in a hero? E.g., what would Achilles do in these situations?

6. Compare Homer's account of the Cyclops story with that in Euripides' Cyclops. What stays the same? What changes?

Book 10

1. Does Odysseus or Hermes get credit for getting around Circe?

2. What is the significance of the fact that Odysseus' men are changed into beasts?

3. What is Odysseus' relationship with Circe?

Book 11

1. Why does the poet have Odysseus go to the underworld?

2. What does Odysseus learn from Achilles? from Ajax? from Agamemnon? from Elpenor? from Tiresias? What effect does this knowledge have on him in the rest of the poem?

Book 12

1. Why does Odysseus listen to the Sirens?

2. What happens everytime Odysseus falls asleep?

Book 13

1. Why does the poet have Poseidon turn the Phaiakians' ship to stone?

2. Why do Athena and Odysseus lie to each other?

3. Why is Odysseus made to look like an old tramp?