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6th grade History

The Odyssey, Chp. 5

V. Calypso

1. On the island of Ogygia lived the nymph Calypso, immortal and every young with unchanging
beauty.

2. Describe Calypso’s home.

Calypso lives in a cave. Around it are beautiful flowers and a clear spring. Inside the cave
there are rooms with beautiful wooden furniture. There is also a loom on which Calypso
weaves.

3. Where does Calypso find Odysseus? What sort of condition is he in?

Calypso finds Odysseus on the beach, almost drown, and nearly starved to death.

4. Calypso keeps Odysseus with her for 7 years.

5. Athena looked down upon the sufferings of Odysseus and pitied him.

6. Why does Athena approve of Odysseus?

Athena admires Odysseus’ brain. He is clever and as Goddess of Wisdom, so is she.

7. What does Athena tell Zeus about Odysseus?

Athena reminds Zeus about what a good/kind/just ruler King Odysseus is. She suggests that
his good deeds should be rewarded and that he has suffered enough.

8. What does Zeus tell Athena about Odysseus’s suffering?

Zeus tells Athena that the misfortunes that Odysseus has suffered have come from Poseidon
for blinding Polyphemus.

9. Hermes tells Calypso to release Odysseus from Ogygia.

10. Is Calypso happy that Odysseus gets to leave?

Calypso is not happy about Odysseus leaving. She had hoped that he would grow to like
Ogygia and want to stay there with her forever.

11. What does Odysseus have to build for himself?

Odysseus has to build his own raft to leave Ogygia.

12. What does Calypso give to Odysseus to protect him on the sea?

Calyso gives Odysseus directions on how to get home.

13. What happens to Odysseus’s raft? What saves him?

The raft is destroyed. The veil given to Odysseus by Ino saves him from drowning.