Odyssey Book 10: Aeolus, the Laestrygonians and Circe - OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation (The Homeric World) Exam Questions

Practise 38 exam-style questions on Odyssey Book 10: Aeolus, the Laestrygonians and Circe for OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation (The Homeric World). Write your answer as you would in the exam and get it marked in seconds against the mark scheme, point by point, with an AI tutor on hand if you get stuck.

38 questions
1–15 marks each
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20 questions, marked as you go

Sample questions with model answers

Here are 4 of the questions in this topic, each with a model answer, an explanation of why it earns the marks and the mark scheme an examiner would use.

Question 1

1 mark

In Book 10, Hermes gives Odysseus a herb with a black root and a flower as white as milk, to protect him from Circe's drugs. What do the gods call this herb?

Model answer

Moly.

Explanation

Homer says moly is the gods' name for the herb, and that it is hard for mortal men to dig up, though the gods can do anything. Do not confuse it with the lotus of Book 9, which made men forget their homecoming - moly protects against the drugs that would have done the same.

Mark scheme

1 mark
Moly
Accept molu / moli. Do not accept 'lotus'.

Question 2

2 marks

In Book 10, Circe's drug failed to work on Odysseus, and she realised who he was. Why was she so amazed that the drug had failed, and how did she know who he must be?

Model answer

She was amazed because no other man had ever resisted her drugs once he had drunk them. She realised he must be Odysseus because Hermes, the Argus-slayer, had always told her that Odysseus would come to her island on his way home from Troy.

Explanation

Circe calls Odysseus a man with a mind that cannot be bewitched and uses his famous epithet polytropos, 'of many turns'. As with Polyphemus and Telemus' prophecy in Book 9, Odysseus' arrival has been foretold - but this time the encounter ends in friendship.

Mark scheme

1 mark
No other man had ever withstood / resisted her drugs (once he had drunk them)
Accept 'everyone else who drank it was bewitched', 'she thought no mortal could resist it'.
1 mark
Hermes had always told her that Odysseus would come (on his way home from Troy)
Accept 'Hermes / the Argus-slayer had prophesied his arrival', 'it had been foretold that Odysseus would come'. Do not accept 'he told her his name' (he did not).

Question 3

4 marks

Source A: Homer, Odyssey 10

Odysseus has killed a huge stag and carried it back to the ship, where his men lie grieving.

'I threw the stag down in front of the ship and roused my companions with gentle words, going up to each man in turn.'

Odysseus says: 'My friends, we shall not go down to the house of Hades yet, for all our troubles, before our fated day comes. Come, while there is still food and drink in our fast ship, let us think of eating, and not waste away with hunger.'

He continues: 'So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words. They uncovered their faces on the shore of the barren sea and marvelled at the stag, for it was a huge beast.'

What impressions do you gain of Odysseus as a leader in this passage? Make two points.

Model answer

Odysseus seems a caring leader, because he roused his men 'with gentle words, going up to each man in turn'. He is also encouraging and practical: he lifts their spirits by saying 'we shall not go down to the house of Hades yet' and provides them with food, telling them to eat and 'not waste away with hunger' - and 'they quickly obeyed', which shows they respect him.

Explanation

After the loss of eleven ships to the Laestrygonians, the crew are in despair, and Odysseus restores their morale through action (the stag) and words. This is one of the clearest examples of good leadership in Book 10, to set against moments such as his clash with Eurylochus.

Mark scheme

2 marks
First impression of Odysseus as a leader with supporting evidence from Source A: 1 mark for a valid impression, 1 mark for a relevant reference or quotation from the passage that supports it. The evidence mark is awarded for a relevant reference or quotation even if the impression is missing, weak or wrong. The two marks are independent: award 1 for a valid point even if no evidence is given, and 1 for a relevant quotation from, reference to or close paraphrase of the source even if the point is missing, weak or wrong.
Two pairs from, e.g.: caring / kind (1) - 'roused my companions with gentle words, going up to each man in turn' (1); encouraging / raises morale (1) - 'we shall not go down to the house of Hades yet' (1); practical / provides for his men (1) - he brings them food and says 'let us think of eating, and not waste away with hunger' (1); strong / skilful hunter (1) - he has killed and carried 'a huge beast' (1); respected / persuasive (1) - 'they quickly obeyed my words' (1); realistic, accepts fate but refuses despair (1) - 'before our fated day comes' (1). The second pair must make a different point. Points must come from the passage.
2 marks
Second, different impression with supporting evidence from Source A: 1 mark for a valid impression of Odysseus as a leader, 1 mark for a relevant reference or quotation from the passage that supports it. The two marks are independent: award 1 for a valid point even if no evidence is given, and 1 for a relevant quotation from, reference to or close paraphrase of the source even if the point is missing, weak or wrong.
As above; must be a different impression from the first point.

Question 4

8 marks

Source A: Homer, Odyssey 10

Eurylochus has fled back alone from Circe's house, and Odysseus has told him to lead the way there. Eurylochus clasps Odysseus' knees and begs:

'Do not take me there against my will, favourite of Zeus; leave me here. I know that you will not come back yourself, and you will not bring back any of your companions. Let us escape quickly with these men who are left; we may still avoid the day of doom.'

Odysseus replies: 'Eurylochus, you may stay here in this place, eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship. But I shall go: a strong necessity is upon me.'

To what extent is Odysseus presented as a good leader in Book 10? Use Source A as a starting point and your own knowledge.

Model answer

Source A shows Odysseus as a brave and responsible leader. When Eurylochus returns in terror and begs to be left behind, insisting that Odysseus 'will not come back', Odysseus does not force him or shame him, but allows him to stay 'eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship'. He himself goes alone to rescue his men, because 'a strong necessity is upon me' - he feels a duty to save them whatever the risk. He follows Hermes' advice exactly, faces Circe with his sword and makes her swear an oath, and he refuses to eat her food until his men are freed. This shows courage and loyalty to his crew.

Other episodes support this view. At Telepylus he moors his own ship outside the harbour, and when the Laestrygonians attack he cuts the cables and urges his men to row, saving one ship. On Aeaea he kills a huge stag to feed his grieving men and encourages them with gentle words, saying 'we shall not go down to the house of Hades yet'. He divides the crew fairly and chooses the scouting party by lot.

However, there are also failings. On the voyage from Aeolia he insists on handling the sheet himself for nine days, without telling his men what is in the bag; when he falls asleep in sight of Ithaca, they open it out of suspicion and greed. His temper flares when Eurylochus accuses him of recklessness, and he almost cuts off Eurylochus' head until the others hold him back. Most strikingly, he stays a whole year on Aeaea, and it is his men who have to remind him of home.

Overall, Odysseus is a good leader in a crisis: brave, caring and willing to risk his life for his men, as Source A shows. But his secrecy, his temper and his long stay with Circe show that he is not a perfect leader, and some of his men, like Eurylochus, no longer fully trust him.

Explanation

Source A is a strong example of Odysseus' courage and sense of duty, but a top answer must weigh it against the bag of winds, the clash with Eurylochus and the year with Circe. Analysis of why he acts as he does, and a clear final judgement, distinguish Level 4 from a list of good and bad actions.

Mark scheme

8 marks
Levels of response (8 marks). AO1 (4) and AO2 (4) are equally weighted.
Level 4 (7-8 marks): consistently accurate and detailed knowledge of Odysseus' decisions and actions as a leader throughout Book 10, using both Source A and own wider knowledge; very good understanding of the cultural context (a Homeric leader's duty to his men) and of possible interpretations; a well-argued response with a clear, substantiated judgement on how good a leader he is, supported by a range of well-selected evidence, including critical analysis.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): accurate knowledge, using both the source and own knowledge; a focused response with relevant analysis of evidence and a judgement on his leadership.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): sound, mostly accurate knowledge; engages with the general topic, with a limited range of evidence and some analysis; any judgement is undeveloped.
Level 1 (1-2 marks): limited knowledge, may only use the source given; isolated analysis.
0 marks: no response or no response worthy of credit.
A mainly descriptive or narrative answer with little analysis or judgement cannot go above Level 2.
Indicative content (not a checklist; credit other valid points): AO1: Source A: Odysseus goes alone to rescue his men when Eurylochus is too afraid; he does not force Eurylochus but lets him stay by the ship; 'a strong necessity is upon me' - duty to his men. Own knowledge: he steers the ship himself for nine days to get home sooner but falls asleep, and has not told the crew what is in the bag; he moors his own ship outside the Laestrygonians' harbour, cuts the cables and urges the men to row, saving one ship; on Aeaea he climbs to a lookout, kills the stag and encourages his grieving men with gentle words; he divides the crew fairly and chooses by lot; he follows Hermes' advice, faces Circe with his sword and makes her swear an oath; he refuses to eat until his men are freed; he fetches the rest of the crew; he nearly kills Eurylochus in anger and has to be restrained; he stays a whole year on Aeaea until the crew remind him of home; Elpenor's death as they leave. AO2: he is brave, caring and resourceful - he risks his life for his men and restores their morale; but his failure to share the secret of the bag and his exhaustion cost them their homecoming; the other captains, not he, moored inside the harbour; his temper with Eurylochus and the year's delay show weaknesses; his men's doubts (Eurylochus) suggest he has lost some of their trust after the Cyclops; a convincing judgement weighs his courage and care against these failings.

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