Book 6

Question 1

At the start of book 6 where is Odysseus?

Answer 1

In the land of the Phaeacians, naked, under two olive bushes.

Question 2

Where did the Phaeacians used to live?

Answer 2

The broad land of Hypereie.

Question 3

Why did the Phaeacians move?

Answer 3

Their land was savaged by the Cyclopes.

Question 4

What did the Phaeacians do once in Scherie?

Answer 4

They built temples for the gods, they built hoyses, divided up the land for cultivating and they built a city wall.

Question 5

Who is Nausicaa?

Answer 5

The daughter of Alcinous, the King of the Phaeacians.

Question 6

How does Athene communicate to Nausicaa?

Answer 6

In a dream.

Question 7

What does Athene tell Nausicaa to do?

Answer 7

Go and wash clothes, sashes, robes and bright rugs. She says that if she does every noble man in Phaeacia will want her as his wife.

Question 8

How does Alcinous show that he trusts his daughter?

Answer 8

He lets her go and wash the items.

Question 9

What shows that Alcinous cares for his daughter?

Answer 9

He makes her servants go with her in a carriage with a hood on it.

Question 10

How does Nausicaa get to the beach?

Answer 10

With her ladies in a wagon pulled by mules.

Question 11

What does the women take with then to the beach?

Answer 11

Soft olive oil, for rubbing themselves after bathing, various kinds of appetising provisions and delicacies.

Question 12

After they had finished eating what did the women do?

Answer 12

They played with a wall.

Question 13

How did the women wash the clothes?

Answer 13

They trod on them. They rinsed them in the dark water and dried time by using he son.

Question 14

What did they use as detergent?

Answer 14

Olive oil.

Question 15

What did Athene do while they were playing with the ball?

Answer 15

She created a beat for them to play to.

Question 16

How did Odysseus wake up?

Answer 16

By a loud shrieking of the maids and Nausicaa.

Question 17

What caused the shrieking?

Answer 17

Athene made one of the maids miss the ball which fell into the water.

Question 18

What is Odysseus compared to?

Answer 18

A mountain lion, defying wind and rain in the pride of his power, with fire in his eyes, to hunt down the oxen or sheep or pursue the wild deer.

Question 19

Why is the comparison not necessarily a good one?

Answer 19

He doesn’t want to eat, he just wants help.

Question 20

Why does Odysseus distance himself from Nausicaa?

Answer 20

He thought that she might take offence if he decided to wrap his arms around her legs and beg for help.

Question 21

How is Odysseus speech to Nausicaa flattering?

Answer 21

He calls her beautiful a couple of times and asks her whether she is a god. He also says that the man who gets to dance with her is the most blessed because she is so wonderful.

Question 22

What does Nausicaa tell her maids to do?

Answer 22

Bathe him in the river and to feed him.

Question 23

What does he look like after he has washed?

Answer 23

Radiant with grace and beauty.

Question 24

What does Athene do to Odysseus?

Answer 24

Make him look taller and sturdier.

Question 25

Why does Athene make him better?

Answer 25

So Nausicaa admires and him and wants to marry someone like him.

Question 26

Why doesn’t Nausicaa enter the city with Odysseus?

Answer 26

She doesn’t want a bad word against her, she thinks that if she is seen with a man people will start asking questions or think that he is to be her husband, or marrying a foreigner.

Question 27

When Odysseus was praying to Athene what did he do?

Answer 27

First he said who he was praying to, then he said why she should listen to him, then he asked her for what he wanted.

Question 28

What did Odysseus want from the Phaeacians?

Answer 28

Kindness and compassion.

Question 29

Although Athene hears Odysseus why does she help him?

Answer 29

Out of deference to Poseidon who persisted in his rancour against the noble Odysseus until he reaches his own land.

Question 30

How was Odysseus nimble-witted in book 6?

Answer 30

When he first met Nausicaa he didn’t instantly start crying and begging for help, he showered her in compliments in order to make himself likable.

Question 31

How does book 6 show Nausicaa understands xenia?

Answer 31

She told her ladies to feed and bathe Odysseus.

Question 32

What shows Nausicaa is beautiful?

Answer 32

She is compared to Artemis.

Question 33

What shows Nausicaa is close to her father?

Answer 33

She calls him father dear.

Question 34

What shows Nausicaa’s courage?

Answer 34

When Odysseus came out of the forest she didn’t run away but stayed strong.

Question 35

What shows Nausicaa cares about her reputation?

Answer 35

She doesn’t want to be seen with Odysseus as she worries what people will think.

Question 36

How does Athene help Odysseus?

Answer 36

She comes to Nausicaa in a dream so that she will go and find Odysseus. She causes the maids to drop the ball so that Odysseus will be awoken. She puts courage in Nausicaa’s heart so she wouldn’t be afraid. She makes Odysseus taller and radiant so he is more appealing to Nausicaa.

Question 37

How does Athene not help Odysseus?

Answer 37

When he prays, she doesn’t reply.

Question 38

Why does Athene answer the prayer?

Answer 38

Poseidon.