Book 6

Question 1

What happens at the start of book 6?

Answer 1

Athena visits the princess, Nausicaa in her dream disguised as her friend.

Question 2

What does Athena tell Nausicaa to do?

Answer 2

1. Wash her clothes.

2. Because she is soon to be married.

Question 3

What does Nausicaa do after this having the dream?

Answer 3

She goes to see her mother and father.

Question 4

What does Nausicaa ask for from her parents?

Answer 4

1. A carriage

2. A mule

Question 5

What does the princess hide from her father?

Answer 5

Her true motive.

Question 6

What is her excuse to do the washing?

Answer 6

She needs to wash her 5 brothers’ clothes

Question 7

How does Alcinous feel about this

Answer 7

He sees through her, but lovingly complies.

Question 8

What does her mother give her?

Answer 8

A picnic for her and her maids

Question 9

What do the men do after she is given the picnic?

Answer 9

They prepare the carriage for her trip.

Question 10

What does Nausicaa and her maids to at the river?

Answer 10

They wash the clothes

Question 11

What do they do whilst waiting for the clothes to dry in the sun?

Answer 11

1. Bathe
2. Anoint themselves with oil
3. Eat

Question 12

What do the women start doing, after they have eaten?

Answer 12

They take off their veils

The maids play ball whilst Nausicaa sings and keeps time.

Question 13

Who is Nausicaa likened to after singing? Why?

Answer 13

Artemis, as she stands out because of her youth and prettiness.

Question 14

What does Nausicaa do as they are about to leave?

Answer 14

She throws the ball into the river

Question 15

Who makes Nausicaa throw the ball?

Answer 15

Athena

Question 16

How do the girls react to the ball being in the river?

Answer 16

They shriek

Question 17

What do the shrieks cause?

Answer 17

Odysseus to wake up

Question 18

What does Odysseus do in response to waking up?

Answer 18

He deliberates who the girls might be and decides the face them

Question 19

What is Odysseus likened to? Why?

Answer 19

A hungry lion, he is compelled by necessity, hunting for help

Question 20

What do the maids do as they see Odysseus?

Answer 20

They run in terror, at his gruesome sight

Question 21

Who stands firm to face Odysseus? Why?

Answer 21

Nausicaa, Athena has put courage into her

Question 22

What does Odysseus deliberate, as he approached Nausicaa?

Answer 22

He thinks about what is the best way to supplicate her

Question 23

Why does he think about how he supplicates her?

Answer 23

He is conscious his naked state might offend her.

Question 24

What does Odysseus decide to do?

Answer 24

He chooses to keep his distance at the cost of having his supplication ignored

Question 25

How does he decide to supplicate her?

Answer 25

He uses crafty and subtle words. He flatters Nausicaa, relating his troubles and requests her help

Question 26

What does Nausicaa tell him?

Answer 26

His problems come from Zeus and he must endure them

Question 27

What does she tell her maids to do?

Answer 27

To bathe him

Question 28

What is Odysseus' reply?

Answer 28

He bathes himself due to the embarrassment

Question 29

What does Athena do to Odysseus' looks?

Answer 29

She makes him seem taller, sturdier and hondsomer

Question 30

Why does Athena make him more attractive?

Answer 30

To make Nausicaa think of him as a suitor

Question 31

What is Nausicaa's response to Odysseus' new look?

Answer 31

She admires him and orders her maids to feed him.

Question 32

What does Odysseus do after being given food?

Answer 32

He avidly eats it

Question 33

What does Nausicaa instruct Odysseus to do?

Answer 33

She instructs him on how to enter the city.

Question 34

What description does she give Odysseus next? What does this show?

Answer 34

She then gives a detailed description of the city - complete with walls, 2 harbours, agora and temples. This shows the Phaeacians are worthy sailors.

Question 35

What is Odysseus told by Nausicaa? Why?

Answer 35

To not follow her once into the city, so that no one gossips about them and her reputation suffers.

Question 36

Where is Odysseus told to wait?

Answer 36

At Athena's sacred grove

Question 37

After waiting at the grove he is told to?

Answer 37

Seek Alcinious' palace later

Question 38

Once he gets to the Palace he is told to?

Answer 38

Supplicate Arete

Question 39

Where does Odysseus then get to after entering the city?

Answer 39

Athena's sacred grove.

Question 40

What does he do once at the grove?

Answer 40

He prays to her that the Phaeacians should receive him with kindness and compassion.

Question 41

What is Odysseus unaware of at this time?

Answer 41

All of Athena's help, he accuses her of being deaf to his prayers.

Question 42

What does Athena do next after Odysseus says his prayers?

Answer 42

She hears them but refrains from appearing to Odysseus before he reaches Ithaca, out of deference of Poseidon.