Name:_________________

Due:__________________
TalesfromtheOdyssey
BookFour:TheGrayEyedGoddess
By:MaryPopeOsborne

Answerallquestionsattheendofeachchapter.Makesureto
usecompletesentences
andthatyou
readthequestionsfully.Youshouldhighlightunknownwords,newcharacters,andimportantorinteresting
pointswithinthestorywhenyouarereading.
Writenotesonthesideitletsmeknowwhatyoure
thinkingwhenreading.
Ifyouhavequestionsthatcomeupwhenreading,writethemdownontheright
handsidesometimesaskingyourselfquestionswhenreadinghelpsyoubetterunderstandthetext.

ChapterOne:OdysseusandPenelope
Questions/Comments/Vocab

Odysseus,kingofIthaca,walkedslowlyalongtheshoreofthe
woodedisland.Ashestaredattherestlesssea,heyearnedforhis
distanthomeland.HehadnotseenhisislandofIthaca,orhis
family,foralmosttwentyyearsnotsincehehadsailedawayto
fightintheTrojanWar.Hemournedhisilllucksincethewarsend.

PerhapsIwouldbehomeinIthacanow,
hethought,
iftheGreeks
hadnotangeredAthena,thewarriorgoddess,andcausedour
shipstobeblownoffcourseorifIhadnotangeredPoseidon,
thegodoftheseas,byblindinghisson,theCyclopsorifmy
menhadnotangeredthegodofthewindsorthegodofthesun

Odysseussighedwithsorrowanddespair.Allhismenweredead
now,struckdownbythewrathofthegodsfortheirgrievoussins.
Healonehadbeenspared.Hisstrengthandcouragehadhelped
himsurvivethehorrorsofwarandtheperilsofhisjourneytoward
home.

NowOdysseusfeltasifhewerelivinginthenightmarefromwhich
hecouldnotwake.Forsevenlongyears,theseagoddess
Calypsohadkepthimcaptiveonherisland.Everydayshetriedto
makehimforgethispastwithherhoneysweetwords.She
promisedhimanything,ifonlyhewouldmarryher.Shepaidno
heedtohisproteststhathestilllovedhistruewife,Penelope,and
theirson,Telemachus.

Andwhatishappeningtomyfamilynow?O
dysseuswondered.


Herememberedthewordstheghostofhismotherhadspoken
whenhejourneytotheLandoftheDead:
Yourfamilyhasbeen
brokenbysorrow.Yourwifestillwaitsforyou.Butshespendsher
daysandnightsweeping.Yoursoninstrongandbrave.Though
heisyoung,heguardsyourhome,yourfields,andyourlivestock.
Healsomournsyourabsence,asdoesyourfather...

Ithadbeenmanyyearssincehismothersspirithadspokenthose
words.Didhisfatherstilllive?Andwhathadbecomeofhisson?
TelemachushadbeenababywhenOdysseusleftIthaca.Nowwe
wouldbeayoungmanoftwenty.

AndwasPenelopestillfaithful?Orhadshecastoffallmemoryof
Odysseusandmarriedanother?

DesperatetogobacktoIthacaandbereunitedwithhisfamily,
Odysseusstaredatthewinedarkwavesandprayedforashipto
takehimhome.

Far,farawayfromCalypsosisland,Odysseuswife,Penelope,
stoodathertowerwindowlisteningtotherowdysuitorsinthe
courtyardbelow.

Penelopeshuddered.Forthelastfouryears,suitorshadtraveled
fromnearandfar,seekingherhandinmarriage.Shedespised
themall.Sheknewitwasnothertheytrulywanteditwas
Odysseusfarmsandfields,hislivestockandservants,hisrule
overtheisland.

Whenthesuitorshadfirstcome,Penelopehadthoughtofaclever
plantowardthemoff.Shetoldthemshecouldnotremarryuntil
shefinishedweavingashroudforOdysseusfathertowearwhen
hedied.Everydayshesatatherloom,weavingthegarment.But
everynight,bytorchlight,sheunraveledallherdayswork.

Forthreeyears,Penelopecarriedoutherdeception,yearningfor
herhusbandtoreturn.Butinthefourthyear,oneofhermaidstold
thesuitorsofhertrick.

Thesuitorswerefurious.TheydemandedthatPenelopepickone
ofthemtobehernewhusband.Still,Peneloperefused.Noneof
thegreedy,rudemencouldevercomparetoherlostOdysseus.

Evenaftersomanyyears,shecouldstillclearlypictureher
beloved:hisproudposture,hisbroadshoulders,hisauburnhair
andlively,dartingeyes.ShefeltthespiritofOdysseuswhenever
shelookedabouttheirhouseinthewoodworkhehadtrimmed
withsilverandgoldandivoryinthespecialbedhehadcarvedfor
them.Odysseushadbuilttheirbedroomaroundanolivetree.He
hadcutthelimbsoffthetreeanduseditstrunkforoneofthe
bedposts.OnlyheandPenelopeknewthissecret.

PenelopedesperatelywishedforOdysseustoreturnandtake
swift,fierceactionagainstthevillainswhoweretryingtotakehis
place.Withoutherhusband,therewasnoonetoprotecther.

Odysseusfatherwastooagedandfeebletohelp.Lostingrief,
theoldmanwanderedtheisland,nevercomingnearthepalace.

Telemachus,Penelopesson,wastooyoungtohelpher.Hehad
hisfathersbrighteyesandauburnhair,butnothisstrengthor
cunning.Lately,thesuitorshadgrownmoreandmorescornfulof
Telemachus.Theyhadalsogrownangrierandmoreinsistentthat
Penelopechooseoneofthemforahusband.

Asrudelaughtercamefromthecourtyard,Penelopeclosedthe
shuttersofherwindow.Shereturnedtoherloomandbegan
weaving.

Desperateforhelp,sheprayedforhertruehusbandtocome
homesoon,beforeitwastoolate.

Questions:

1. DoyouthinkitwouldbeashockforPenelopetoremarry
afterherhusbandhasbeengonefortwentyyears?Whyor
whynot?
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2. WhatwasPenelopesplantotrickthesuitorsintowaitingto
marryher?
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3. HowlonghasOdysseusbeenonCalypsosisland?
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4. WhywontCalypsoletOdysseusgo?Whatdoyouthink
thatsaysabouther?
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ChapterTwo:SonofOdysseus

Telemachusdespisedhismotherssuitorsevenmorethan
Penelopeherselfdid.Everyday,theyinvadedhisfathersestate.
TheyslaughteredOdysseusoxen,hislonghornedcattle,his
sheep,andhispigs.Theystolewinefromhisvineyardsandgave
orderstohisservants.WheneverTelemachustoldthemtoleave,
theylaughedandmockedhim.

Now,intheafternoonlight,thesuitorsweresprawledaboutthe
courtyard,restingonthehidesofoxentheyhadkilled.Theywere
playingdiceanddrinkingfromhugebowlsofwine.

Ifmyfatherwouldonlycomehome,
Telemachusthought,
he
wouldquicklydrivethemallawayandrestorehisruleoverthe
island.

Lostinhisangrythoughts,Telemachusdidnotnoticefora
momentthatastrangerwaswaitingpatientlyatthethresholdof
thehouse.Thestrangerworeglitteringgoldsandalsandcarrieda
bronzespear.

WhenTelemachusfinallysawthestranger,hejumpedfromhis
chairandhurriedtowelcomehim.Goodday,sir!hecried.Iam
sorryyouhavebeenkeptwaitingatourgate!

Thestrangerdidnotspeak.HestaredatTelemachuswithpiercing
grayeyes.

Comein,comein!saidTelemachus,usheringthestrangerinto
thecourtyard.Refreshyourselfwithfoodanddrink.Thenyou
musttellmefromwhereyouhavecomeandwhatyouseek.

Telemachusledthestrangerquicklypastthesuitorsinthe
courtyardandintothegreathall.Hewantedtoprotecthisguest
fromthesuitorsrudenessandnoise.

Pleasesithere,Telemachussaid.Hegesturedtoatall,carved
chairdrapedwiththefinestcloth.Restyourfeetonthisstool.

Telemachussatnexttohisguest.Servantsbroughttraysofmeat
andbread.Theypouredwineandfreshwaterintogoblets.

SoonPenelopessuitorsbeganbargingintothehall.Theyhad
cometohearmusic,singsongs,anddance.Telemachuswas
eagertoaskquestionsofthevisitingstranger,buthewaitedfor
themusictobeginsothesuitorswouldnothearhisconversation.

Assoonasthemusicandsingingstarted,Telemachusleaned
closetohisgrayeyedguest.

Tellme,sir,whoareyou?theyyoungmanasked.Wherehave
youcomefrom?Whatsortofshipbroughtyouhere?Areyoua
strangertothishouse?Didyoueverknowmyfather,Odysseus
kingofthisisland?

MynameisMentor,saidthestranger.IamchiefofTaphos.
Yourfatherwasafriendofmine,butIhavenotseenhimsincehe
lefttofighttheTrojanWar.RecentlyIhaveheardthathehad
comehome,soItraveledheretoIthacatoseehimagain,Iwanted
tocelebratehissafereturn.

Telemachusloweredhishead.Iamsorrytosaymyfatherhasnot
returned,hesaid,andwehavehadnowordofhim.Ifearhehas
metwithanillfateandweshallneverseehimagain.

Perhapsthegodsareonlykeepinghimawayforawhile,said
Mentor.Perhapsheisaprisoneronanislandsomewhere.Iam

notasoothsayer,butdeepwithinmyheart,thegodswhisperto
methatyourfatherisnotdead.Remember,heisamanofgreat
courageandstrength.Evenifhewereinchains,hewould
eventuallybreakfreeofthemandfindhiswayhome.

Telemachussighed.HedarednotbelieveMentorswordscouldbe
true.Somanytimesovertheyears,hishopesabouthisfatherhad
beendashed.

Thenoisegrewlouderinthehall.Allthesuitorsweresingingnow,
andshouting,andmakingruderemarks.

Mentorlookedatthem.Whoarethesemenwhoswaggerabout
yourhome?heaskedTElemachus.Whydotheybehaveinsuch
acoarseanddisgustingmanner?

Sir,whenmyfatherwashere,hisestatewasasafeandcivilized
place,saidTelemachus.Butafterhehadbeengoneforsome
years,menfromnearbyislandsbegantoinvadeourhome.Now
theyslaughterandeatmyfatherslivestock.Theyharassmy
motheranddemandthatshechooseoneofthemtomarry.

Mentorseyesflashedwithanger.Odysseusmustcomehome
soon,hesaidinalowvoice.Ihavewitnessedyourfathers
strength.Ifhewereherenowhewouldquicklypunishthese
villains.

Yes,Iknowhewould,saidTelemachus.ThatiswhyIachefor
hisreturn.TheywillnotlistentoanythingIsay.Ievenfearthey
maysoontrytokillme.

Myboy,youmustgatheryourstrengthandcourage,said
Mentor,hisvoiceshakingwithanger.Youmustfindawaytodeal
withthesemen.Callthemtogethertomorrowandorderthemto
leaveatonce.Thengatheracrewoftwentygoodmen.Takethe
bestshipyoucanfindandsetsailimmediatelyinsearchofyour
father.

Telemachuswasamazedbythevehemenceofhisguest.IIdo
notknowhowtosearchforhim,hesaid.

SailtoPylosfirst,saidMentor.GotothehomeofwiseNestor.
HewasyourfathersfriendandabravewarriorintheTrojanWar.
AskNestoraboutOdysseus.Hewilltellyouwhatheknows,orhe
willtellyouwhoelsetoask.

Andwhatthen?askedTelemachus.

IfyoulearnthatOdysseushasdied,returnhomeandmournfor
him.Helpyourmothermakeplanstomarryagain.Killthose
suitorswhowillnotleaveyourestate.

Telemachuswasfrightenedbythethoughtofsuchachallenge.

AsifhecouldreadTelemachusthoughts,Mentorleanedcloser
andlookeddeepintotheyoungmanseyes.Makeanamefor
yourself,Telemachus,hesaid,sopeoplewillpraiseyourbrave
spirit.Yourareamannow,notaboy.

TelemachusfeltheartenedbytheadvicefromMentor.Sir,you
havebeenmostkindtotalktomeinthisway,hesaid.Ifeel
almostasifyouaremyownfathertalkingtome.Iwilldoexactly
asyousay.

Mentorstooduptoleave.NowImustgobacktomyshipand
crew,hesaid.

Oh,pleasestaylonger,imploredTelemachus.Rest,refresh
yourself.Letmegiveyougiftstotakewithyou.

Nay,donotkeepme,saidMentor.IwillreceiveyourgiftswhenI
stophereagain.ButnowImustbeonmyway.

Withthesewords,thegrayeyedstrangervanishedasswiftlyasa
birdtakingflightonthewind.

Telemachuswasfilledwithwonder.Herealizedhedbeeninthe
presenceofadivinebeing.

Questions:
1. WhydoesTelemachusdislikethesuitors?
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2. Whatisamentor?WhydoyouthinkHomerchosetogive
thecharacterthisname?
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3. WhydoyouthinkTelemachusfearsforhislife?
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4. WhichdivinebeingdoyouthinkvisitedTelemachus?
Whatevidencefromthetextdoyouhave?
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Chapter3:TheGrayEyedGoddess

InspiredbyMentorswords,Telemachuswasdeterminedtothrow
thesuitorsoutofhishouse,onceandforall.

Theyhadquieteddownabit.Amusicianwasplayinghislyreand
singingabouttheGreeksreturningfromtheTrojanWar.Hesang
aboutAthenasangerandhowshehadtoldthegodstopunishthe
Greekwarriors.Hesangaboutthestormsthathadblowntheir
shipsoffcourse.

Asthemansanghissadsong,Telemachussawhismothercome
downthesteepstairwayfromherchambers.Twoloyal
handmaidenswalkedbehindher.

Penelopestoodintheshadows,listening.Thoughherfacewas
coveredbyaveil,Telemachuscouldseethatshewept.

Beforethesongwasover,sheliftedherveil,Singer,singa
differentsong!shecriedout.Icannotendureyourtale.Itbreaks
myheart.

Telemachussteppedovertohismother.Inspiredbyhistalkwith
Mentor,hespokeinastrong,calmvoice.

Lethimsingon,Mother,hesaid.Heisnotthecauseofour
sorrow.OnlyZeuscanbringsuchgrieftomankind.Goback
upstairstoyourloom.Donotworryaboutourestate.Fromnow
on,Iwillbemasterofmyfathershouse.

PenelopewasastonishedbyTelemachusboldanddecisive
words.inthismoment,youtrulyseemthesonofOdysseus,she
said.

Penelopebegantoweepagain.Suchavividreminderofher
husbandmadeherevenmoresorrowfulthanbefore.

AsherhandmaidenshelpedPenelopebackupthestairs,the
suitorsshoutedafterher,begginghertochooseoneofthemto
marry.

Telemachusturnedtothem.Youareshameless!hesaid.Enjoy
themusicanddancingtonight.ButtomorrowmorningIshall
commandyoutoleaveourhouse.Fromthenon,youwillsteal
fromanothertablenotmine,andnotmymothers.

AmazedbyTelemachusboldspeech,thesuitorsdidnotspeakat
first.Butwhentheyrecoveredtheywerequicktoshowtheywere
notafraid.Antinous,leaderofthesuitors,smiledmockingly.Suck
boldwords,Telemachus,hesaid.Ipraythegodsnevermake
you
ruledoverthisisland.

Telemachusstoodhisground.Antinous,withthegodsblessings,
I
will
havecommandoverallthatmyfatherhasfoughtforand
won,hesaid.

LettheheavensdecidewhowillbetherightfulkingofIthaca,
then,saidanothersuitor.Buttellusaboutthestrangerwhowas
justhere.Fromwhatcountryhadhecome?Whatfamily?Didhe
bringnewsofyourfather?Hehurriedawaysoquickly,wecould
notgettoknowhim

HewasMentor,anoldfriendofmyfather,answered
Telemachus.Hecametoinquireaboutmyfathersreturnwhich
hebelieveswillbeverysoon.

Thesuitorslaughedandshooktheirheads.Theytheyturnedback
tothesweetlylullingmusic.Lostintheiridlepleasure,theytookno
moreheedofthesonofOdysseus.

Telemachusleftthegreathallandheadedtowardhisbedroom.
Hisoldnursemaid,Euryclea,carriedtwoblazingtorchestolight
hisway.

EuryclealovedTelemachusasherownchild,forshehadcaredfor
himsincehewasaninfant.Inhisroom,shepreparedhisbedand
carefullyputawayhisclothes.Thenshelefthimalonewithhis
thoughts.

Telemachuslayunderasoftwoolenfleeceandstaredintothe
dark.Hismindburnedwithaquestion:
IsitpossiblethatMentoris
thegoddessAthenaindisguise?

Telemachusrememberedthestorytoldtohimsincehewasa
child:BeforetheGreekshadangeredAthena,shehadfavored
Odysseusaboveallothermen.Shehadtoldhimhowtobuildthe
TrojanhorsesotheGreekscouldlaysiegetothecityofTroy.

HadAthenafinallytakenpityonthemanshehadonceloved?Had
shedisguisedherselfasMentorandcometosaveOdysseuswife
andson?

Afterall,Mentorsbronzetippedspearwasveryliketheseparof
thegoddess.Hisglitteringgoldsandalswerelikethemagic
sandalsthatcarriedherthroughtheair.

Anddidnothisgrayeyesshinelikethebrighteyesofthegoddess
herself?

Forthefirsttimeinmonths,Telemachusallowedhopetoenterhis
heart.Hefeltcertainthegrayeyedgoddesshadbeenwithhim
today.Shehadcometohelphimfindhisfather.

Questions:

1. WhatdoyouthinkabouttheywayTelemachustreatedhis
motherwhenshespoketothemusician?
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2. Whatkindofmenarethesuitors?Whyaretheyatthe
house?
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3. Whatdoyouthinkthesuitorswilldowhentheyfindout
TelemachusisleavingtosearchforOdysseus?
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