Book 8

Question 1

What is Book 8 called?

Answer 1

The Phaeacian games

Question 2

What did Athene do in the morning?

Answer 2

She went through the town disguised as a herald from Alcinous
She told them about the assembly for the stranger who ‘looks like an immortal God’

Question 3

What did Athene do to Odysseus to help him?

Answer 3

• Invested his head and shoulders with a divine beauty
• Made him seem taller and broader

Question 4

Why did Athene make Odysseus look better?

Answer 4

• So he’d inspire the Phaeacian people with not only affection, but with fear and respect, and emerge successfully from any tests he’s put through

Question 5

What did Alcinous ask for to help Odysseus’ journey home?

Answer 5

A black ship
52 young oarsmen

Question 6

What did Alcinous do after the oarsmen were acquired?

Answer 6

Sacrificed a dozen sheep, eight boars and two oxen, to make a feast for the spectators

Question 7

Who is the Phaeacian bard?

Answer 7

Demodocus
- The Muse loved him above all others, but had robbed him of his eyes when granting him the gift of song

Question 8

What was Demodocus’ first song?

Answer 8

The Quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles
- Agamemnon was happy to see this happy, as it completed a prophecy that when the two noblest Greeks had argued, he’d capture Troy

Question 9

How did Odysseus react to Demodocus’ first song?

Answer 9

He drew his cloak over his head and hid his face as he cried

Question 10

What did Alcinous say after he noticed Odysseus crying?

Answer 10

He encouraged everyone to go outside and try their skills at sports, to show Odysseus that no one can beat the Phaeacians at boxing, wrestling, running and jumping

Question 11

Who first asked Odysseus to take part?

Answer 11

Laodamas
- He says that Odysseus is well built and not too old

Question 12

What did Laodamas first say to Odysseus?

Answer 12

He asked Odysseus to take part if he’s good at spot
He should cast his cares aside as soon he’ll be homewards bound

Question 13

How did Odysseus first respond to Laodamas?

Answer 13

He said he was too sick at heart to play games

Question 14

Who responded to Odysseus’ rejection to play games?

Answer 14

Euryalus

Question 15

What did Euryalus say to Odysseus?

Answer 15

He says that he shouldn’t have taken Odysseus for an athlete, as he’s more like a skipper of a merchant crew
Anyone can see Odysseus isn’t an athlete

Question 16

How does Odysseus respond to Euryalus?

Answer 16

He says that the Gods obviously dont grace men equally with good looks, brains, and eloquence

he says Euryalus is short in brains, and that he is an athlete

Question 17

What does Odysseus do after insulting Euryalus?

Answer 17

Picked up the biggest discus, greater than any the Phaeacians usually used, and threw it farther than any of the Phaeacians

Question 18

What did Athene do to help Odysseus when he threw the discus?

Answer 18

• Disguised as a member of the crowd, she called out to congratulate him for his throw, and stated that no Phaeacian could be as good as that.

Question 19

What did Athene’s congratulations of Odysseus’ throw do?

Answer 19

• Her words made Odysseus a lot happier, and he dared the Phaeacians to take him on at any sport

Question 20

What does Alcinous say the Phaeacians take the most pleasure in?

Answer 20

The feast

The lyre

The dance

Frequent changes of clothes

Hot baths

Their beds

Question 21

What story did Demodocus sing?

Answer 21

The love of Ares and Aphrodite

Question 22

How did Hephaestus come to know about Aphrodite’s affair?

Answer 22

• The Sun had witnessed the two meeting in Hephaestus’ palace, and went to tell Hephaestus

Question 23

What did Hephaestus do when he found out about Aphrodite’s affair?

Answer 23

• He went straight to his workshop and forged an unbreakable net of chains
• He threw the netting around the legs of the bed and the rafters so it hung like an invisible web

Question 24

What happened once Hephaestus had set his trap for Aphrodite and Ares?

Answer 24

• He made a commotion about leaving for Lemnos, when Ares saw him leave he came to Hephaestus’ palace filled with desire for Aphrodite
• The two went to bed, but as soon as they lay down, the net fell on them and they were stuck

Question 25

What did Hephaestus do when he found Aphrodite and Ares?

Answer 25

• He called aloud to all the Gods
• He demanded that Zeus gives him back all the gifts he gave to him to be able to wed Aphrodite

Question 26

Which of the Gods came to see Aphrodite and Ares trapped?

Answer 26

Poseidon
Hermes
Apollo
All the Goddesses stayed at home out of modesty.

Question 27

How did Poseidon react to Hephaestus’ trap?

Answer 27

• He kept begging Hephaestus to free Ares
• He promised that Ares would properly atone for what he’d done
• He then promises to pay the fine himself
• Hephaestus then agrees to free them

Question 28

What happened when Ares and Aphrodite were freed?

Answer 28

• Ares fled to Thrace
• Aphrodite fled to Paphos in Cyprus, where the Graces bathed and anointed her with celestial oil, and dressed her in lovely clothes

Question 29

What does Alcinous suggest should be done for Odysseus?

Answer 29

• Parting gifts should be made for him
• Each of the thirteen princes, including Alcinous should present him with a fresh cloak, tunic and a talent of gold
• Euryalus should make a personal apology to Odysseus

Question 30

How does Euryalus apologise to Odysseus?

Answer 30

• He gives him a bronze sword and a sheath of ivory
• He hopes for Odysseus to reach home again

Question 31

What does Nausicaa say to Odysseus when he’s leaving?

Answer 31

• She wishes good luck for him, and that he will remember he sometimes as she saved his life

Question 32

What is the second tale Demodocus tells?

Answer 32

• Odysseus and his men sitting in the wooden horse at Troy
• How the Acheaeans then ravaged Troy, whilst Odysseus engaged in a terrible fight with Deiphobus, which Athene helped him to win.