Book VII Practice Quiz — The Odyssey
by Homer — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Book VII
How does Ulysses enter the Phaeacian city without being detected?
Minerva (Athena) conceals him in a thick supernatural mist so no Phaeacian can see him as he walks through the streets.
In what disguise does Minerva appear to guide Ulysses to the palace?
She appears as a little girl carrying a pitcher of water.
What does Ulysses do when he reaches Queen Arete inside the palace?
He falls at her knees in supplication, and at that moment Minerva's concealing mist lifts, making him suddenly visible to the entire court.
Who speaks first to urge Alcinous to show hospitality to the stranger?
The elder Echeneus, described as an excellent speaker among the Phaeacians, tells Alcinous it is not creditable to leave a stranger sitting among the ashes.
What does Alcinous do after Echeneus speaks?
He takes Ulysses by the hand, raises him from the hearth, seats him in the honored place of his favorite son Laodamas, and orders food, drink, and a libation to Zeus.
Why does Arete question Ulysses after the other guests leave?
She recognizes the shirt, cloak, and clothes he is wearing as the handiwork of herself and her maids, and wants to know who gave them to him.
What story does Ulysses tell Arete about his recent past?
He describes his seven-year captivity on Calypso's island, his raft voyage, the storm Neptune raised against him, and his rescue by Nausicaa on the Phaeacian shore.
How does Ulysses protect Nausicaa's reputation when Alcinous criticizes her?
He claims the decision to travel separately was his own idea, saying he was ashamed and afraid of displeasing the king, even though Nausicaa had actually told him to follow the maids.
What makes Queen Arete uniquely powerful among women in The Odyssey?
She is respected beyond measure by her children, her husband, and all the people, who greet her like a goddess. She helps settle disputes and wields real political authority.
Who is Eurymedusa and what is her role in the Phaeacian household?
She is an old servant from Apeira who was given to Alcinous as a prize. She served as Nausicaa's nurse and now tends to her by lighting fires and bringing supper.
What does Alcinous speculate about the stranger's identity?
He wonders whether Ulysses might be an immortal god visiting in disguise, since the gods have previously appeared openly at Phaeacian feasts.
How does Ulysses respond to Alcinous's suggestion that he might be a god?
He firmly denies it, saying he has nothing of the immortal about him and most resembles the most afflicted of mortals. He emphasizes his very human suffering and hunger.
Who is Echeneus and what role does he serve in the Phaeacian court?
He is an elder among the Phaeacians and an excellent speaker who acts as the voice of proper custom, urging Alcinous to seat the stranger and offer him hospitality.
How does Book VII illustrate the Greek concept of xenia (guest-friendship)?
Echeneus invokes Zeus's protection of suppliants, Alcinous provides food and shelter, and the Phaeacians collectively agree to help Ulysses return home—all fulfilling the sacred obligations of xenia.
What does the motif of concealment and revelation represent in Book VII?
Minerva's mist hides Ulysses until the dramatic moment at Arete's knees when it lifts, mirroring the broader pattern of Ulysses concealing his true identity until the right moment throughout the epic.
How do the Phaeacians occupy a liminal space between the human and divine worlds?
Alcinous says the gods appear openly at their feasts, their ships move like thought itself, and they claim kinship with the gods as close as that of the Cyclopes and giants.
What does Ulysses's speech about hunger reveal about his character philosophy?
It shows his pragmatic survivalism—even in deepest sorrow, the body's needs demand attention. An empty stomach "thrusts itself on a man's notice no matter how dire is his distress."
What literary device is Homer using in the extended description of Alcinous's palace and gardens?
Ekphrasis—an elaborate descriptive passage that conveys the wealth and divine favor of the Phaeacians while creating a sense of wonder.
What simile describes Phaeacian ships and what does it convey?
Minerva says their ships "glide along like thought, or as a bird in the air," emphasizing the supernatural speed and effortlessness of Phaeacian seafaring.
What type of dramatic irony operates throughout Book VII?
The reader knows Ulysses is the famous hero of Troy, but the Phaeacians see only a ragged stranger. Alcinous even speculates he might be a god, missing the truth entirely.
What is the supplication scene at Arete's knees an example of?
It follows a formal epic convention (type-scene) for supplication, where a stranger clasps the knees of a powerful figure to invoke the obligation of hospitality.
What does "suppliant" mean in the context of Book VII?
A person who humbly begs for help or mercy, placing themselves under the protection of the gods. Zeus is specifically invoked as the protector of suppliants.
What is a "hecatomb" as mentioned by Alcinous?
A large-scale sacrificial offering to the gods, originally meaning the sacrifice of one hundred oxen, used in the epic to denote grand religious ceremonies.
What does "importunate" mean when Ulysses calls an empty stomach "a very importunate thing"?
Persistent and demanding to the point of annoyance—Ulysses means that hunger forces itself on a person's attention regardless of other concerns.
Who says "the bolder a man is the more likely he is to carry his point, even though he is a stranger"?
Minerva (Athena), advising Ulysses to go straight into the palace without hesitation and appeal directly to Queen Arete.
Who says "it is not creditable to you that a stranger should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth"?
The elder Echeneus, rebuking Alcinous for leaving the stranger in a humble position and urging him to offer proper hospitality.
Who says "an empty stomach is a very importunate thing, and thrusts itself on a man's notice no matter how dire is his distress"?
Ulysses himself, in a speech that denies he is a god and emphasizes his mortal need for food despite his profound suffering.