Introduction

The war for Troy was rough but, somehow, thanks to your leader and friend, Odysseus, you were able to survive the ten years of battle it took to see the fortress fall. Now, after so many years, it's time to go home, but there are many dangers lurking in the sea: gigantic monsters and ferocious beasts, savage men and beautifully dangerous women. What's more, you have missed Odysseus's ship and must travel on your own.

Your family is waiting and winter is approaching. Can you make it?






Based on Homer's The Odyssey, this webquest is meant to be a basic high school study of Odysseus's adventures.

Task:

While traveling, you must write a log of every encounter you face: who they are, what they are, where they came from, and what they did to other visitors. When the log is complete, and you are safely home, give the log to your instructor so he or she may spread the word of your adventure.

Uh oh! You have missed Odysseus's ship!

Looking around the harbor, you see another ship about to set out. After talking to the captain, you have been able to barter passage. First, however, you must arm yourself. Choose two weapons from below:


1.) A Sword- an offensive weapon better for fighting people. It is very maneuverable, but unfortunately it is too short to fight off non-human opponents.

2.) A Spear- an offensive weapon better for fighting in long range situations, such as monsters. Unfortunately, however, it is too long to do well in close combat situations, such as with people.

3.) A Shield- a defensive weapon with a shiny surface. It offers protection from both long-range and short-range attacks, and has other uses as well.


State why you chose the weapons you did as the first entry in your log.

It has been three days since you began your journey home!

The weather has been nice and sunny. You see a lush green island with white sparkling sand in the distance. The captain is planning on stopping to give everyone on board a chance to stretch their legs.

Once disembarked, something just does not feel right: the island is too quiet, except for the lapping waves.
All the sudden, two figures lope out of the forest. You grab hold of your weapon, but they are unarmed so you you relax. They present each sailor with a small flower, which they encourage you to eat.

As the second entry in your log, please use the resource below to explain who these people are and what the significance of the lotus is. What happens to Odysseus when he encountered these people? How did he escape?

Resource One:
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Lotophagi.html

You and your shipmates have escaped the Island of the Lotus Eaters!

It's a good thing, too, because who knows how long you would have been delayed?

Unfortunately, however, there is a storm brewing on the horizon and there is only one place to dock: an island feared by all the other sailors. After tying a rope to a tree on shore, everyone settles into the captain's quarters for a long night. To pass the time, the sailors talk about the one-eyed monster that lives on the island.

In your log, use this resource to write down who the monster is and how Odysseus escaped? What was the name Odysseus used?

Resource One:
http://www.2020site.org/ulysses/cyclops.html

The storm is over!

But the ship was ripped from the island in the night and its mast and sails need repairing. Another island is in the distance and the captain has no choice but to dock. The cliffs are very steep.

Once everyone is on shore, the captain sends you and two other sailors to investigate.

As the three of you are walking through the forest, you smell a very sickly-sweet stench. Following your noses, you find a village with a very large BBQ pit in the center. There is also a very large soup pot. The natives seem to be preparing for a festival, but you hang back and clutch your weapon. Did you just see a human arm hanging out of the pot?


After hurrying back to the ship, use the resources below to record who these cannibals are and who the people they are cooking probably are. Why was Odysseus's ship the only one to excape?

Resource One:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/trojanwarinlit/a/OdysseyX.htm

You are lost!

And it is hardly practical to go back and ask the Laestrygonians for directions before they have had dinner.
So the captain is searching for another island with friendlier inhabitants.

In the mean time, use to the resource below to tell who Poseidon is and why he is angry at Odysseus. Also, who did Poseidon contest with for Athens?

Resource One:
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/Poseidon.html

Another island appears!

The next day, another island appears in view. After the last few encounters, however, the whole crew is nervous. You volunteer to search the island for someone who wouldn't want to eat you.

After an hour or two of exploring, you hear a snuffling sound, and a woman crying. Curious, you both follow the sound until you find her sobbing on a make-shift bench. A pig is shuffling in the leaves at her feet.

After greeting the woman, she tells you about how she has just lost her beloved, the warrior Odysseus, and wishes to send him an urgent messege: his family is in danger! You very kindly volunteer for the task, since you ae looking for him anyway.

As the next entry in your log, record who this woman is and how Odysseus avoided her magic.

Resource One:
http://www.theoi.com/Titan/Kirke.html

Circe gives you directions!

Circe, after more conversation, tells you that Odysseus has journeyed to the underworld and you cannot join him at the moment.  She gives you directions to Ithica instead and soon after you get back to the ship, you set off again.

In your log, use the resource below to record who the king and queen of the Dead are, and how they became rulers of the underworld. What happens to the earth when the queen returns to the underworld every year?

Resource One:
http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Haides.html

What's that sound?

Following Circe's instructions, your ship floats passed the island known for its gate to the underworld. You look at it wistfully, but soon another island comes into view. It is very small and a soft, beautiful music can barely be heard floating on the waves. Everyone else plugs their ears while you listen, enchanted.

In your log, write some of the dangers Circe had you avoid by not going to the underworld. What creature guards the gate? Also, what are the singing creatures on the tiny island? How do they kill their victims, and how did Odysseus and his men escape their song?

Resource One:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cerberus.html

Resource Two:
http://www.crystalinks.com/sirens.html

The water's current is growing stronger!

After escaping from the sirens, the captain is very careful about avoiding a certain set of rocks. They are tall, and act as a kind of gate to another island. The current is very, very strong here, and after a few minutes, the swirl becomes visible.

In your log, use the resources below to detail what lives in the strait and what was causing the current. How did each of these monsters become monsters?

Resource One:
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Sa-Sp/Scylla-and-Charybdis.html

You're almost home!

It's been many days since your journey began, but the captain assures you that the journey is almost over.  Next the ship must journey past Calypso's island. The continent of Ithica can be seen far into the distance.

As the next entry in your log, use the resources below to describe who Calypso is and how she trapped Odysseus. Who made Calypso release him? How long was he trapped, according to the Odyssey?

Resource One:
http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/calypso-odysseus-greek-myth/

You found Odysseus!

Before you go home, you go to Odysseus' house to give him Circe's message. He in turn tells you that he already solved the problem and describes the battle to save his home and family.

Tell how Odysseus and his son were able to defeat the suitors, and which god helped them. Also, what were the two challenges Penelope presented to the suitors? How long was Odysseus gone?
Resource One:
http://www.stanford.edu/~plomio/penelope.html

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed your quest!

Even though you were able to avoid all of the major dangers, you now have a written record of your adventure and know the story of Odysseus and the perils he went through to get home. Using these records, you can now create your own monster and describe it's strengths and weaknesses. Where would it live? What would it eat? Who were it's parents?

After you are finished, turn in your log and monster to your instructor.






A brief summery of Odysseus's adventures can be found at http://www.greeka.com/ionian/ithaca/ithaca-myths/odysseus.htm