Name:_________________

TalesfromtheOdyssey
BookThree:SirensandSeaMonsters
By:MaryPopeOsborne

Answerallquestionsattheendofeachchapter.Makesureto
usecompletesentences
andthatyou
readthequestionsfully.Youshouldhighlightunknownwords,newcharacters,andimportantor
interestingpointswithinthestorywhenyouarereading.
Writenotesonthesideitletsmeknow
whatyourethinkingwhenreading.
Ifyouhavequestionsthatcomeupwhenreading,writethem
downontherighthandsidesometimesaskingyourselfquestionswhenreadinghelpsyoubetter
understandthetext.

ChapterOne:TheLandoftheLiving
Questions/Comments/Vocab

ThousandsofwailingghostsmovedtowardOdysseus.Their
anguishedcriesechoedthroughthefog.Odysseusandhismen
begantorun.Theyranfortheirlives,fleeingfromthedead

Landahead!oneofOdysseusmencalled.

Odysseuswokefromhisnightmare.Hehadfallenasleeponthe
deckofhisship.Hehadbeendreamingofhisvisittothespirit
worldruledbyHadesandPersephone.Nowinthedistancehe
couldseetheislandofCirce,theenchantress.

IwilltellCirceallthatIsawandheardintheLandoftheDead,h
e
thought.
ThensurelyshewillhelpusfindourwayhometoIthaca.

Fortwelvelongyears,Odysseushadyearnedtoreturntothe
GreekislandofIthacaandbereunitedwithhisbelovedwifeand
son.Duringthattime,heandhismenhadfoughtintheTrojanWar.
TheyhadbattledtheCyclops,aoneeyedmonster.Theyhad
escapedcannibalgiants,losingallbutoneoftheirships.Odysseus
hadcharmedthewilyenchantressCirce,andheandhismenhad
nowsurvivedajourneytotheLandoftheDeadajourneyfrom
whichnomortalhadeverbeforereturnedalive.

AstheysailednowtowardCircessunlitisland,theGreeks
cheered.Theislandwascoveredwithbeautifulgreenforestsand
ringedbyrockyshores.


BirdssanginthetreesastheGreeksanchoredtheirship.Butas
thesunwentdownandtheydraggedthemselvesashore,agreat
wearinessovertookthem.Eachmancollapsedtothesand,too
exhaustedtospeak.

Lyingonthecoolbeach,Odysseusstaredupatthemoonand
stars.HepushedawayallhismemoriesoftheLandoftheDead.
Hefeltthesoftbreezesandlistenedtothewaveslaptheshore.
Theworldofthelivingseemedanextraordinaryplaceindeed.

Asrosyfingereddawnspreadovertheisland,Odysseusopened
hiseyes.

HesawCirceemergefromherpalace.Shewasdressedina
beautifulgownofrainbowcolors.Herhandmaidenstrailedbehind
herinthefreshmorningair,carryingtraysofmeat,bread,and
wine.

Odysseusjumpedtohisfeetandawakenedhismen.Thenhe
hurriedtogreetthegoddess.Thoughtheenchantresshadonce
triedtoharmhimandhismen,shewasnowtheirfriendand
protector.

Greetings!Odysseuscalled.

Welcome,mybravefriends!saidCirce,smiling.Youhavedone
whatnoothermortalshaveeverdone.Youhavetraveledtothe
LandoftheDeadandreturned.Whenyoudie,otherswillsaythat
youhavediedtwice.

Yes,wearegratefultothegodsforoursafejourneybacktoyour
island,Odysseussaid.Wepraythatyouwillnowhelpusfindour
wayhometoIthaca.

IndeedIwill,saidCirce.Buttodayyoumustrest,foryouhavea
long,hardvoyageaheadofyou.Feastanddrinkandcelebrate
yourreturn.Thentomorrow,whenthedawnbreaks,youshallset
sailforIthaca.

Themencheered.Theywerefamishedandthirstyanddelightedto
spendthedayinthecompanyofCirceandherlovely
handmaidens.

Allmorningandallafternoon,Odysseusandhismenfeastedand
drankwine.Whenthesunfinallysetanddarknesscoveredthe
island,themenlaydowninthehollowoftheirshipandfellfast
asleep.

Odysseushimselfdidnotrest.Circetookhimbythehandandled
himintothemoonlitforest.Togethertheysatintheshadows
beneathatoweringoak.

Tellmeofyourjourney,Odysseus,Circesaid.Whatdidyousee
intheLandoftheDead?Whatdidyoulearnthere?

OdysseustoldCirceabouthisjourneytothegraykingdomof
HadesandPersephone,rulersofthedead.Hetoldheraboutthe
spiritswhohadcomeforth,beggingforbloodsotheymightbe
restoredtolife.

Amongthemwasmymother,hesaidsorrowfully.Shediedof
griefwaitingformetocomehometoIthaca.Shetoldmethatmy
fatherandmywifeandsonstillacheformyreturn.

IspokealsowithmyfriendAchilles,whowasslainintheTrojan
War.IspokewiththeHighKing,Agamemnon.IsawHeracles,
Sisyphus,andTantalus.FinallyIspokewiththeblindprophet,
Tiresias.

Andwhatdidtheprophettellyou?askedCirce.

Hegavemewisecounselandwarnings,saidOdysseus.Thisis
whathesaid:Onyourwayhome,youwillpasstheislandofthe
sungod.Onthisislandtherearemanybeautifulsheepandcattle.
Donotletyourmentouchevenoneofthesecreatures.Theyare
muchadoredbythesun.Anyonewhotriestoslaythemwillmeet
hisdoom.Youalonemightescape.Butifyoudo,youwillbea
brokenman.Youwillfindgreattroubleinyourhouse.

Circesighed.Yes,thosearewisewords,shesaid.Butbefore
youreachtheislandofthesungod,youmustbraveotherdangers.

Listentomecarefully,Odysseus,forIamabouttospeakofterrible
things.ButdoexactlyasIsay,andyouandyourmenwillfindyour
wayhome.

Questions:

1. Theauthoruseditalicsafewtimesinthischapter.There
areafewreasonsshedidthis.Whydoyouthinksheused
italics?
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2. CirceisOdysseusfriendnow.Whatdoesthatsayabout
Circespersonality?
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ChapterTwo:CircesWarnings

Odysseus,canyoubeartohearwhatIhavetosay?Circeasked
him.Areyoupreparedtoknowofthehorrorsthatawaityouon
yourjourney?

Odysseusnodded.WhatcouldbemorehorriblethantheCyclops,
orthecannibalgiantsoreventhespellCirceherselfhadonce
castonhismen,turningthemintoswine?

Circebegan:Soonafteryouleavemyisland,youwillcomeupon
theislandoftheSirens.TheSirensarebeautifulwomen.Froma
fieldofflowers,theysingtoallsailorswhopasstheirshores.

Odysseusalmostlaughed.Whatthreatcouldthesewomen
possiblybetomeandmymen?heasked.

AnysailorwhohearsthesongoftheSirenswillforgethis
homeland,hiswife,andhischildren,saidCirce.TheSirens
lovelysingingwilllurehimtoawaterydeath.

Odysseussmiledandshookhishead.Hecouldnotbelievea
simplesongcouldhavesuchpower.

Heedmywarning,Odysseus!saidCirce.TheSirensshoresare
litteredwiththebonesofsailorsdrivenmadbytheirsong.You
mustmakeyourcrewplugtheirearswithbeeswax,sononewillbe
abletohear.Elseyouwillallperish!

Iwillorderthemtodoso,Odysseusagreed.ButImyselfwill
listen.Idonotbelievemywilltoreturnhomecanbebrokenbya
song.

ThenyoualonemayheartheSirens,saidCirce.Butfirstyour
menmusttieyourhandsandyourfeettothemastoftheship,or
youwillsurelyhurlyourselfintothesea.Tellyourmenthatevenif
youpleadwiththemtoloosenyourbonds,theymustnot.Willyou
sweartodothat?

Odysseusnodded.

OnceyouhavesailedpasttheSirens,youwillseetwoseapaths,
saidCirce.OnepathwillleadyoubetweentheWanderingRocks.
TheWanderingRocksaregiganticbouldersthatpoundagainstone
anotherwithterrificfury.Nolivingthingnotevenadoveonher
waytoZeuscanpassbetweenthemwithoutbeingcrushed.

ThewavesthatfoamabouttheWanderingRocksarefilledwith
thewreckageofshipsandthebodiesofsailors.OnlyJasonandhis
Argonautshavesurvivedthem,butthatwasbecausethegoddess
HeralovedJasonandprotectedhim.

Ifearwecannotdependuponprotectionfromthegods,said
Odysseus.Tellme,Circe,whatistheotherpath?

Theotherpathleadsbetweentwoseacliffs,saidCirce.Onecliff
isquitelow.There,underagreatfigtree,dwellsthedeadly
whirlpoolmonster,Charybdis.AnyshipthatsailsnearCharybdisis
suckedtotheblackbottomofthesea.EvenPoseidonhimself
cannotsavemortalsailorsfromthemonsterwhirlpool.

Andwhatoftheothercliff?askedOdysseus.Whatdangerlies
onitsshore?

Highonthesideofthesecondcliffisadarkcave,saidCirce.In
thecavedwellsthemonsterScylla.Sheyelpslikeasmallhound.
Butintruthsheisaterriblebeast.Eventhegodsandgoddesses
cannotlookuponherwithoutbeingsickened.

Whyisshesoterrible?askedOdysseus.

Scyllaisamonsterwithsixhuge,hideousheads,saidCirce.Her
sixmouthsarefilledwithrazorsharpteeth.Inaninstant,the
monstercandevoursixmen.Allday,Scyllasitsinsidehercave,
gazinggreedilyovertheseawithhertwelveeyes.Wheneveraship
sailsby,shestrikeswithallherheadsandsnatchessixsailorsfrom
thedeck.Innotime,sheripsherpoorvictimstopieces.

Odysseusstaredattheenchantress.Thenthechoiceyougiveme
isimpossible,hesaid.Eitherwearedrownedbythewhirlpool
monsterorwedieinthejawsofthesixheadedbeast.

Thechoiceisthis,Circesaid.Ifyousailclosetothemonster
whirlpool,youwillalldie.ButifyousailclosetoScylla,onlysixwill
belost.

Odysseusclosedhiseyes.Hehadalreadyseendozensofhismen
diehideousdeaths.Somehadbeeneatenbythemonstrous
Cyclops.Othershadbeenspearedalivebycannibalgiants.How
couldhebeartoseemoreslaughtered?

Icounselyoutotakethecoursethatleadspastthemonster
Scylla,saidCirce.Donottrytofighther.Youwilllosesixmen.
Butifyousailswiftlyenoughpastthemonster,youwilllose
only
six.Therestwillhaveachancetoescape.

Odysseuswassilentforamoment.Hecouldhardlybeartofollow
Circescounsel.HowcanIknowinglysacrificemymentosucha
hideousdeath?heasked.HowcanIchoosewhichsixwilldie?

Itisnotinyourpowertochoosewhoshalldie,saidCirce.The
monsterwillmakethechoiceforyou.Perhapsshewilleven
choose
you
.

Odysseusshookhishead.No.Iwillkillherbeforeshetouches
any
ofus,hesaid.

Donotbesoproud,Odysseus!Circesaid.Youareonlyamortal.
NomortalnoevenyoucandefeatScylla.Whileyouwastetime
attackingherwithyoursword,shewilldevouranothersixmen.You
mustrowyourshipatfullspeed!AndshoutaprayertoScyllas
mother,askingforhelp.Onlyshecanstophersavagedaughter
fromdevouringmoremen.

BeforeOdysseuscouldprotestfurther,Circewenton.

Ifyouescapefromthemonster,itwillbetimetoheedthe
warningsofTiresias,Circesaid.Forsoonyouwillcometothe
islandofHelios,thesungod.Thereyouwillseesevenherdsof
cattleandsevenflocksofsheep.

Therearefiftybeastsineachherd.Theyaretendedbytwofair
nymphs,daughtersofHelios.Thesheepandcattlenevergive
birth.Theyneverdie.Butifandofyourmensomuchastouches
them,allyourcrewwillperish.Youyourselfmightescape,butyou
willhaveasadandterribletimewhenyoureturnhometoyour
island.Yourwifeandsonwillsufferalso.

Odysseusstoodup.Thethoughtthathisfamilymightbeindanger
kindledhisdesiretostartforhomeatonce.Thankyouforyour
help,hesaidtoCirce.Ipromisetoheedyourwarnings.

Good,shesaid.Ihavetoldyouallthatyouneedtoknow.Your
pathwillbedangerousindeed.ButifyoudoasIsay,youwillfind
yourwayhome.Gonow,forthedawnisalmostuponus.

Odysseuslookedaroundattheforest.Amistygoldenpinklight
filteredthroughthetrees.Abreezemadetheleavesquiverand
dance.Birdsbegantosing.

WhenOdysseusturnedbacktotheenchantress,shewasgone.

Circe!hecalled.

Shedidnotanswer.Shehadslippedawayintothedawnsrosy
light.

Questions:

1. Circetalksaboutalotofmonstersandstugglesthat
OdysseuswillhavetofacebeforereachingIthacawhatare
they?
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2. Whichofthemonstersdoyouthinkwouldbethemost
terrifying?Whydoyouthinkthat?
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3. WhatsounddoesScyllamake?
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ChapterThree:SongoftheSirens

Odysseuswaseagertosetsail.Ashehurriedbacktotheshore,
Circeswordsechoedinhisears:
Yourpathwillbedangerous
indeed.ButifyoudoasIsay,youwillfindyourwayhome.

Odysseusboardedhisshipandcommandedhismentocastoffat
once.

TheGreeksstumbledfromtheirsleepandtooktheirplacesatthe
oarsoftheblackvessel.AsOdysseuswasabouttoraiseanchor,
Circeshandmaidensappearedonthebeach.Theycarriedfood
andwineforthevoyage.

Themenhappilyloadedtheirgiftsontotheship.Thentheybade
farewelltothefairmaidensandpushedofffromtheshore.

Astheshipsailedawayfromland,Odysseusstaredwistfullyatthe
islandofmysteriousenchantress.Forthepasttwelvemonths,
Circehadcontrolledhisfate:shehadchangedhismenintoswine
andbackagain.Shehadsenthimonanunfathomablejourneyinto
theLandoftheDead.Shehadarmedhimwithpropheciesand
warningsforhisdangerousvoyagehome.

Evennowhecouldfeelherpresenceasgentlebreezescarriedhis
shipacrossthewaves.

Ashisshipsailedontotheopensea,OdysseusthoughtofCirces
warningsandthedangersheandhismenwouldsoonface.

Itisnotfair,
hethought,
thatIshouldknowwhathorrorsawaitus,
whilemymeknownothing.

Odysseusstoodupandcalledforhiscrewtolisten.

Friends!hesaid.Circehastoldmemuchaboutthejourney
ahead.Nowyoushallhearherwarningsaswell.Wewillsoon
approachtheislandoftheSirens.TheSirensarebeautifulwomen
whosingfromafieldofflowersnearthesea.

Themenlaughed,certaintheyhadnothingtofearfromlovely
singers.

Takeheed,saidOdysseus,Circehaswarnedmethatanyman
whohearsthesongoftheSirenswilldrownhimselftryingtogetto
them.Youmustplugyourearssothatyoucannothearthe
enchantingsong.Ialonemaylisten,butonlyifyoubindmyhands
andfeetsotightlytothemastoftheshipthatIcannotbreakloose.
IfIbegyoutosetmefree,youmustbindmetighterstill.

AsOdysseusspoke,thewindpickedup,fillingthesailandcarrying
theblackshipfasterandfasteracrossthewaves.Then,justas
suddenly,thewindceased.Thewatergrewominouslystill.The
menlookedaboutwithfear.

Whereisthebreeze?onewhispered.

Thereisnotarippleonthewaves,saidanother.Whathas
becomeofthewind?

WemustbenearingtheislandoftheSirens,Odysseussaid.
Quick!Letdownthesailandstowitaway!Besilent.Beswift.

ThemendidasOdysseuscommanded.Theyloweredthesailand
stoweditinthehold.Thentheypickeduptheiroarsandrowed
silentlythroughtheeerie,stillwaters.

Whilethemenrowed,Odysseusgrabbedawheelofbeeswax.He
heldthewaxinthesununtilitwassoft,thencutitintomanysmall
pieces.Hemoldedthepieceswithhisfingers,thenhandedtwoto
eachman.

UsethesetokeepthesongoftheSirensfromreachingyourears,
hesaid.Andthenyoumustbindmetothemast.

Themensealedtheirearswiththewax.Thentheytooklongs
cordsofropeandtiedOdysseustothemastoftheship.Theytied
theknotssotightlythatnomancouldloosenthem.

TheGreeksthenpickeduptheiroarsagainandbegantorow.

Astheblackshipmovedclosertotheisland.Odysseusbeganto
hearsingingwaftthroughthemist.Thesoundwasmorebeautiful
thanhehadevenimaginedhigh,sweet,andlilting.Thewordsof
theSirensfloatedonthesoftwind:

Harken,braveOdysseus,
Listentousnow!
Noonecanpassourislandwithoutstaying
Tohearoursong.
Hewholistenswillbeallthewiser,
Hewholistens
Willdiscoverthesecretsofthegods.

Theshipsailedclosertotheshore.Throughthemistbeyondthe
stillwaters,Odysseussawtwolovelywomeninaflowerymeadow.

Tohisamazement,hesawthatthewomenhadwingslikebirds.
Theirfeathersweretranslucentintheearlymorninglight.

Odysseusfeltanunbearablelongingtobewiththebeautiful
creatures.Heyearnedtospendtherestofhislifewiththem.

Ashisshipdrewcloser,Odysseussawheapsofbleachedbones
aroundthebirdwomen.Hesawtherottenskinofdecayingbodies.
Heknewhewaslookingattheremainsofthesailorswhohadbeen
enchantedbytheSirens.

ButevensuchaghastlysightdidnotkeepOdysseusfromyearning
tothrowhimselfintotheseaandswimtotheisland.

AstheSirenssangtheirsweetsongoverandover,Odysseus
nearlywentmad.Hetwistedandturned,tryingtobreakfreefrom
hisbonds.

Hismenquickenedtheirrowing.TwoofthemboundOdysseuswith
moreropes.Theyrowedfasterandfasteroverthestillwaters.As
theyrowed,thesongoftheSirensgrewfainter.

Odysseusstrainedtohearthelovelysingingasitfadedawayinthe
distance.Hisheartwasfilledwithgriefasitgrewsofterandsofter.
..untilfinallyitwasgoneandallwassilentagain.

Suddenlythewindpickedup.Wavesrippledandrolled.Seagulls
swoopedandcawed.

Odysseusgriefturnedtojoy.Hebegantolaugh.Hewassafe!His
menweresafe!ThesongoftheSirenswasbehindthem,andthey
wereallsafeandwell.

Questions:

1. WhydoyouthinkOdysseus
neededt
olistentotheSirens
song?
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2. WhatdidOdysseusgivetohismensothattheywouldnot
heartheSirenssong?
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3. WhatdotheSirenspromisetoOdysseusifhestaysand
listenstotheirsong?
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ChapterFour:TheWhirlpoolMonster

WhenOdysseusmensawhimlaughing,theypulledthewaxfrom
theirears.

Untietheropes!Odysseusorderedthem.Setmefree!

AshismenuntiedOdysseus,hethankedthem.

Iamgratefultoyouall,hesaid.Ihaveheardthesongofthe
Sirens,andIhavesurvived.

Themenaskedhimtodescribethebeautifulsinging.Butbefore
Odysseuscouldspeak,heheardadeeprumblinginthedistance.

Everyonelookedtowardthesound.Theseahadgrowneerilydark.
Hugeripplesbegantorocktheshipfromsidetoside.

Therumblinggrewlouderandlouderuntilitwasadeafeningroar.
Wavesbillowedandbrokewithgreatforceagainsttheshipshull.

OnlyOdysseusunderstoodwhatwashappening.Hisshipandall
aboarditwerebeingpulledintothewhirlpoolofCharybdis.

Row!Rowforyourlives!Odysseussaid.

ButOdysseusmenshoutedinfearandthrewdowntheiroars.The
shipbegantospininthesea.

Odysseusknewthattoescapethewhirlpool,hemuststeertheship
swiftlyandsteadilytowardthecaveofthemonstrousScylla.Buthe
couldnotbeartotellhismenthehorrorthatawaitedthemthere.

Instead,Odysseuswentaroundthedeck,urgingeachmannotto
surrendertofear.

Wehavehadgreattrials,hetoldthem,butweescapedthe
monstrousCyclops.WesurvivedtheenchantmentofCirce.We
journeyedtotheLandoftheDeadandreturnedunharmed.Pickup
youroarsnow!Rowswiftly!Whateveristocome,wemustfaceit
withcourage!

Odysseusheartwasheavyashespoketohismen.Healone
knewthatatleastsixofthemwouldsoondiehideouslyinthejaws
ofthemonsterScylla.

Ignorantoftheirfateandheartenedbytheirleaderswords,the
Greekspickeduptheiroarsagainandbeganrowingthroughthe
wildlyrushingwaters.

Asthehelmsmanstruggledtoholdtheshipsteady,thewhirlpools
roargrewunbearablyloud.Ferociouswavescrashedovertheship.

SoonOdysseussawatoweringcliffloomingahead.Thecliff
seemedtoreachtoheavenitselfitspeaklostinacloud.Noman
couldclimbtoitstop,forthecliffssteepsideswereassmoothas
marble.

Nearthecliffssummitwasadarkcave.
ThehomeofScylla,the
sixheadedmonster.
Odysseusthoughtwithdread.

AgainOdysseuschosenottotellhismenaboutthemonster
waitinginherlair.Iftheyknew,theircouragewouldleavethemand
theywouldceasetorowandallwouldbelostinthewhirlpoolof
Charybdis.

Bettersixshalldiethanall,
Odysseusthoughtbitterly.

Soagain,heurgedhismentosummontheircourage:

DoasIsaytrustinZeusrowwithallyourmight!Steercloseto
thetallcliffthatdisappearsintotheclouds.

Odysseustriedtospeakcalmly.Buthewasenragedthatsixofhis
comradeswereabouttodie.Hisfurygrewuntilitledhimtomakea

rashdecision:hewoulddefythecounselofCirce.Hewouldslay
themonsterbeforeshedevouredevenoneofhismen.

Odysseusstrappedonhisarmor.Heseizedtwolongspears.
Grippingaspearineachhand,hestaredupattheloominggray
cliff.

MistpartiallycoveredthemouthofScyllascave.Thecavewasso
highthateventhebestwarriorcouldnotsendanarroworspear
insideit.Odysseuswouldhavetowaitforthemonstertoemerge.

Ashismenrowedfuriouslythroughthedarksea,Odysseus
listenedforthepuppylikeyelpsofthemonster.Hewaitedtosee
hersixlongnecksandherhideousheadswiththeirrowsof
gleamingteeth.

Hestoodontheforedeckoftheblackship,readytoslayher.

Questions:

1. Makeaprediction(guess)ofwhatwillhappenwhen
Odysseusmeetsthemonster,Scylla.
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