This page shows questions in the Odyssey Tennyson public release module at MSDE. ELA Grade 10
"Odyssey Tennyson"

Today you will read and analyze passages from two poems. As you read these passages, you will gather information and answer questions about each passage individually and about the relationships between the passages so you can write an analytical essay.

Read the passage from The Odyssey by the ancient Greek epic poet Homer. Then answer the questions.

from The Odyssey

by Homer

translated by Ian Johnston

From Troy my ships were carried by the wind
to Ismarus, land of the Cicones.
I destroyed the city there, killed the men,
seized their wives, and captured lots of treasure,
5 which we divided up. I took great pains
to see that each man got an equal share.
Then I gave orders we should leave on foot—
and with all speed. But the men were foolish.
They did not listen. They drank too much wine
10 and on the shoreline slaughtered many sheep,
as well as shambling cows with twisted horns.
The Cicones set off and gathered up
their neighbors, tribes living further inland.
There are more of them, and they are braver men,
15 skilled at fighting enemies from chariots
and also, should the need arise, on foot.
They reached us in the morning, thick as leaves
or flowers growing in season. Then Zeus
brought us disaster—he made that our fate,
20 so we would suffer many casualties.
They set their ranks and fought by our swift ships.
We threw our bronze-tipped spears at one another.
While morning lasted and that sacred day
gained strength, we held our ground and beat them back,
25 for all their greater numbers. But as the sun
moved to the hour when oxen are unyoked,
the Cicones broke through, overpowering
Achaeans. Of my well-armed companions,
six from every ship were killed. The rest
30 made our escape, avoiding Death and Fate.

We sailed away from there, hearts full of grief
at losing loyal comrades, though happy
we had eluded death ourselves. But still,
I would not let our curved ships leave the place
35 until we'd made the ritual call three times
for our poor shipmates slaughtered on that plain,
killed by the Cicones. Cloud-gatherer Zeus
then stirred North Wind to rage against our ships—
a violent storm concealing land and sea,
40 as darkness swept from heaven down on us.
The ships were driven far off course, our sails
were ripped to shreds by the power of that wind.
We lowered the masts into the ships' holds,
and, fearing for our lives, quickly made our way
45 toward the land. For two whole days and nights
we rested there, hearts consumed with sorrow.
We were exhausted. But when fair-haired Dawn
gave birth to the third day, we raised the masts,
hoisted white sails, and took our place on board.
50 Wind and helmsman held us on our course,
and I'd have reached my native land unharmed,
but North Wind, sea currents, and restless waves
pushed me off course, as I was doubling back
around Malea, driving me past Cythera.

55 Nine days fierce winds drove me away from there,
across the fish-filled seas, and on the tenth
we landed where the Lotus-eaters live,
people who feed upon its flowering fruit.
We went ashore and carried water back.
60 Then my companions quickly had a meal
by our swift ships. We had our food and drink,
and then I sent some of my comrades out
to learn about the men who ate the food
the land grew there. I chose two of my men
65 and with them sent a third as messenger.
They left at once and met the Lotus-eaters,
who had no thought of killing my companions,
but gave them lotus plants to eat, whose fruit,
sweet as honey, made any man who tried it
70 lose his desire to ever journey home
or bring back word to us—they wished to stay,
to linger there among the Lotus-eaters,
feeding on the plant, eager to forget
about their homeward voyage. I forced them,
75 eyes full of tears, into our hollow ships,
dragged them underneath the rowing benches,
and tied them up. Then I issued orders
for my other trusty comrades to embark
and sail away with speed in our fast ships,
80 in case another man might eat a lotus
and lose all thoughts about his journey back.
They all raced on board, went to their places,
and, sitting in good order in their rows,
they churned the grey sea water with their oars.

Homer, The Odyssey, Book IX, lines 39–106 (public domain). Translation copyright © 2019, Ian Johnston. Used by permission.

Read the passage from The Lotos-Eaters, a poem by the English author Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892). Then answer the questions.

from The Lotos-Eaters

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Lotos blooms below the barren peak:
The Lotos blows by every winding creek:
All day the wind breathes low with mellower tone:
Thro' every hollow cave and alley lone
5 Round and round the spicy downs the yellow Lotus-dust is blown.
We have had enough of action, and of motion we,
Roll'd to starboard, roll'd to larboard, when the surge was seething free,
Where the wallowing monster spouted his foam-fountains in
Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind,
10 In the hollow Lotos-land to live and lie reclined
On the hills like Gods together, careless of mankind.
For they lie beside their nectar, and the bolts are hurl'd
Far below them in the valleys, and the clouds are lightly curl'd
Round their golden houses, girdled with the gleaming world:
15 Where they smile in secret, looking over wasted lands,
Blight and famine, plague and earthquake, roaring deeps and fiery sands,
Clanging fights, and flaming towns, and sinking ships, and praying hands.
But they smile, they find a music centred in a doleful song
Steaming up, a lamentation and an ancient tale of wrong,
20 Like a tale of little meaning tho' the words are strong;
Chanted from an ill-used race of men that cleave the soil,
Sow the seed, and reap the harvest with enduring toil,
Storing yearly little dues of wheat, and wine and oil;
Till they perish and they suffer—some, 'tis whisper'd—down in hell
25 Suffer endless anguish, others in Elysian valleys dwell,
Resting weary limbs at last on beds of asphodel.
Surely, surely, slumber is more sweet than toil, the shore
Than labour in the deep mid-ocean, wind and wave and oar;
Oh rest ye, brother mariners, we will not wander more.

From The Lotos-Eaters by Alfred, Lord Tennyson — Public Domain

Write an essay analyzing how Tennyson uses Homer's The Odyssey as a source for his depiction of the gods in The Lotos-Eaters. Be sure to use evidence from both passages in developing your response.

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