DoE Curriculum Unit: The Gods and the Heroes of the Odyssey
Hercules and Odysseus Words
Words Derived From Hercules
- herculean
- hydra-headed
- hydra
- augean
- (a modern) antaeus
- the shirt of Nessus
- one cannot snatch the club of Hercules
- atlas
Words Derived from Odysseus - Ulysses
- odyssey
- an Ulysses
- one cannot bend Ulysses' bow
- lotus-eater
- mentor
- Scylla and Charybdis
- siren
- circe
- aeolean
- cyclopean
Exercise I: Hercules and Odysseus
Give a synonym or a brief definition of each underlined word.
- Moving the entire mountain of mud and debris thrown up by the hurricane was an augean task.
- Despite his best efforts, he could not equal and power and brilliance of his opponent; he couldn't snatch the club of Hercules.
- Communism has often been referred to as a hydra-headed monster.
- When she won a million dollars in the Irish Sweepstakes, she didn't realize that the publicity would make her child the target of kidnapping attempts; the money was her shirt of Nessus.
- Although he made a herculean effort, the engineer could not stop the train before it hit the bus stuck across the tracks.
- Please bring me the atlas so that I can plan the route for our trip to California next summer.
- World War II moved the United States out of a depression, promoted economic growth, and modernized industry. During that time the United States was a modern day antaeus.
- When he returned from his trip across the Atlantic in a one-man sailboat, Allan told us of his odyssey.
- Strangely enough, after a generation full of social and political activism, many of today's young people seem to be lotus-eaters.
- He heard the sirens and knew that soon the emergency room would be full.
- The breeze blowing across the lush field of grass produced aeolean melodies.
- We tilted our heads back and strained to see the cyclopean monument of Hercules.
- Like a circe she gathered men around her only to reject them when she grew tired of them; the more enchanted they were, the more quickly she tired of them.
- On the one hand, he had to work tonight or lose his job; on the other, he would lose his girlfriend if he didn't take her to the dance. He was between Scylla and Charybdis.
- Mr. Clayton was his mentor all through highschool. His advice was always excellent.
- "Oh, him," she exclaimed incredulously, "a candidate against Kennedy? He can't bend Ulysses bow!"
- Luke Skywalker is a Ulysses in his battle against The Dark Side.
Exercise II: Hercules and Odysseus
Match the synonums and definitions in the right hand column with the vocabulary words in the left hand column.
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A
|
B
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1. herculean
|
a) breaking out everywhere
|
| 2. augean |
b) book of maps |
| 3. hydra-headed |
c) mighty |
| 4. shirt of Nessus |
d) luring to doom |
| 5. hydra |
e) a noise-making instrument |
| 6. atlas |
f) the devil and the deep-blue sea |
| 7. mentor |
g) filthy |
| 8. circe-like |
h) huge |
| 9. siren |
i) gift which causes misfortune |
| 10. Scylla and Charybdis |
j) one who lives in indolent enjoyment |
| 11. aeolean |
k) a poisonous sea snake |
| 12. cyclopean |
l) a trusted advisor |
| 13. lotus-eater |
m) caused by the wind |
| 14. can't bend Ulysses' bow |
n) a clever strategist |
| 15. a Ulysses |
o) can't steal another's fame |
| 16. can't snatch the club of Hercules |
p) one whom adversity makes stronger |
| 17. antaeus |
q) can't fill someone's shoes |
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