Book XIII Practice Quiz — The Odyssey
by Homer — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Book XIII
What additional gifts do the Phaeacians give Odysseus before he departs?
Each Phaeacian noble presents Odysseus with a large tripod and a cauldron, funded by a public levy proposed by King Alcinous.
What happens to Odysseus during the sea voyage from Scheria to Ithaca?
Odysseus falls into a deep, almost deathlike sleep and remains unconscious for the entire journey. The Phaeacians carry him ashore still sleeping.
Where do the Phaeacians leave Odysseus and his treasures in Ithaca?
They leave him on the shore near the harbor of Phorcys, placing his treasures by the root of an olive tree, away from the road.
How does Poseidon punish the Phaeacians for helping Odysseus?
With Zeus's permission, Poseidon turns the Phaeacian ship into stone as it returns to Scheria, rooting it to the sea floor just outside the harbor.
How does Alcinous respond to the ship turning to stone?
He recalls his father's old prophecy about Poseidon's anger, then orders the Phaeacians to stop giving sea escorts and sacrifice twelve bulls to appease the god.
What false story does Odysseus tell the disguised Athena?
He claims to be a Cretan fugitive who killed Orsilochus, son of Idomeneus, and fled on a Phoenician ship that was blown off course to this unknown land.
What do Odysseus and Athena do with his treasures?
They hide all the gold, bronze, and clothing inside the cave of the Naiads, and Athena sets a stone against the cave's entrance to seal it.
What plan do Odysseus and Athena devise at the end of Book XIII?
Athena disguises Odysseus as an old beggar and instructs him to go to the swineherd Eumaeus, while she travels to Sparta to bring Telemachus home.
Who is the last person Odysseus addresses before boarding the Phaeacian ship?
Queen Arete. He places a ceremonial cup in her hands and wishes her happiness with her children, her people, and King Alcinous.
In what form does Athena first appear to Odysseus on the beach?
She appears disguised as a young shepherd of delicate and princely appearance, wearing a fine cloak and carrying a javelin.
Why does Athena say she did not help Odysseus during his sea wanderings?
She did not want to quarrel with her uncle Poseidon, who never forgave Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus. She assures him she was never worried because she knew he would return safely.
How does Athena react when Odysseus lies to her about his identity?
She is delighted rather than offended, smiling and praising him as the most accomplished counselor among all mankind, comparing his craftiness to her own divine cunning.
Who is Eumaeus, and why does Athena send Odysseus to him?
Eumaeus is the swineherd who manages Odysseus's pigs. Athena directs Odysseus to him because Eumaeus has remained loyal to Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus throughout the suitors' occupation.
How does Book XIII explore the theme of nostos (homecoming)?
Odysseus physically reaches Ithaca but cannot recognize it through the mist, suggesting that true homecoming requires more than arrival — he must reclaim his identity and household.
What does Odysseus's instinctive lying reveal about the theme of identity?
His compulsion to deceive even when safely home shows that cunning and deception are inseparable from his identity. Athena recognizes this as the very quality that makes him exceptional.
How does divine justice operate in Book XIII?
Zeus permits Poseidon to punish the Phaeacians for their hospitality, while simultaneously sanctioning Odysseus's safe return. Divine authority enforces consequences while honoring prior commitments.
What role does concealment play in setting up the rest of the epic?
The fog over Ithaca, the hidden treasures, and Odysseus's beggar disguise establish concealment as the dominant strategy for the second half of The Odyssey, where recognition scenes will drive the plot.
Identify the epic simile used to describe Odysseus's eagerness to leave Scheria.
Homer compares Odysseus to a ploughman who has been working all day with oxen and longs for supper when night falls, emphasizing his exhaustion and desperate desire to go home.
What epic simile describes the speed of the Phaeacian ship?
The ship is compared to a four-horse chariot flying over a racecourse, with its prow curving like a stallion's neck, emphasizing supernatural swiftness.
How does Homer use dramatic irony in the encounter between Odysseus and the disguised Athena?
The audience knows the shepherd is Athena, but Odysseus does not, creating irony as he tries to deceive a goddess who already knows everything about him.
What is the literary significance of the cave of the Naiads having two entrances?
The two entrances — one for mortals (north) and one for gods (south) — create a liminal space symbolizing the boundary between the mythical world of Odysseus's wanderings and the human world of Ithaca.
What does "nostos" mean in the context of The Odyssey?
Nostos is the Greek concept of homecoming or return, the central theme driving Odysseus's journey and the structural goal of the entire epic.
What is a hecatomb, as mentioned in the description of the cave?
A hecatomb is a large ritual sacrifice to the gods, originally meaning one hundred oxen but used more broadly for any grand offering.
What does "plausible" mean when Athena calls Odysseus plausible, shrewd, and shifty?
In this context, plausible means appearing believable or trustworthy — Athena acknowledges Odysseus's ability to make his lies sound convincing.
Who says: "He must be indeed a shifty lying fellow who could surpass you in all manner of craft even though you had a god for your antagonist"?
Athena says this to Odysseus after he tells her his elaborate Cretan lie, revealing her true identity and expressing admiration for his unmatched cunning.
Who says: "I was never uneasy about you, for I was certain you would get back safely though you would lose all your men"?
Athena tells Odysseus this when explaining why she did not intervene during his sea wanderings, revealing she foresaw the outcome of his journey.
What does Odysseus say immediately after recognizing Ithaca?
He kisses the soil and prays to the Naiad nymphs, greeting them with "loving salutations" and promising to bring offerings if Athena grants him life and brings his son to manhood.