Quotes

Question 1

What are the main 8 themes in the Odyssey

Answer 1

1. Hero
2. revenge/justice
3. immortals & mortals
4. Xenia & nostos
5. fate
6. family
7. women & slaves
8. disguise & recognition

Question 2

Odyssey quotes on the theme Hero (3)

Answer 2

1. “Odysseus, you are one of those hard men whose spirits never flags and whose body never tires” Eurylochus, book 12
2. “I stayed and endured” -Odysseus, book 10
3. “there is no one I’ll back away from” -Odysseus, book 8

Question 3

Odyssey quotes on the theme revenge/justice (3)

Answer 3

1. “you will take revenge on these men for their misdeeds” -Teiresias. book 11
2. “he will come back to his home and will punish all who dishonour his wife and his noble son” -Eumaeus, book 14
3. “the womens heads were held fast in a row, with nooses round their necks”-book 22

Question 4

Odyssey quotes on the theme gods (3)

Answer 4

1. “It is not so easy to divert the immortal gods from their purpose” King Nestor, book 3
2. “The gods, after all, can do anything” -Hermes, book 10
3. “never in my life have I seen the gods display such an open affection as Pallas Athene showed in her companionship of Odysseus” -King Nestor, book 3

Question 5

Odyssey quotes on Xenia (2) & Nostos (2)

Answer 5

1. “It was you, lady, who gave me back my life”-Odysseus, book 8
2. “he was longing to be on his way” book 13
3. “I, for one, know of no sweeter sight for a man’s eyes than his own country” -Odysseus, book 9
4. “welcome friend.You can tell us what has brought you here when you have had some food” -Telemachus, book 1

Question 6

Odyssey quotes on the theme fate (3)

Answer 6

1. “If ever a man was born to suffer, it was he” -Telemachus, book 3
2. “one and all, your fate is sealed”-Odysseus, book 22
3. “you and your friends may yet reach Ithaca, though not without suffering” - Teiresias, book 11

Question 7

Odyssey quotes on the theme family (3)

Answer 7

1. “It was my heartache for you, my glorious Odysseus…that brought my life with all it’s sweetness to an end” -Anticlea, book 11
2. “if men could have anything for the asking my first wish would be for my fathers return” -Telemachus, book 9
3. “like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years abroad” -book 16

Question 8

Odyssey quotes on women (2) & slaves (1)

Answer 8

1. “I shall never find so kind a master again wherever I may go” -Eumaeus, book 14
2. “women, I tell you, are no longer to be trusted” -Agamemnon, book 11
3. “by day she used to weave at the great web, but every night had torches set beside it and undid the work” book 2

Question 9

Odyssey Quotes on disguise (2) & recognition (1)

Answer 9

1. “to look like a visitor she assumed the appearance of a family friend” book 1
2. “telemachus flung his arms round his noble fathers neck and burst into tears” book 16
3. “my name is nobody”-Odysseus, book 9