Odysseus on Trial (Due March 25th)

Directions: For this assignment, you will pretend that Odysseus is on trial for the many crimes he
committed throughout the course of The Odyssey. You are to first act as the prosecuting lawyer,
searching the text for evidence that proves Odysseus is guilty of various crimes. Then you will
act as the jury, citing evidence to show that, because Odysseus is an epic hero, his sentence
should be lessened or he should be acquitted altogether. These worksheets will help you with
your findings, but you will be required to turn in a formal write-up of both the charges and the
evidence proving Odysseus heroic qualities.
In the following blanks, find and write down quotations from the text that prove Odysseus is
guilty of the following charges. Note: He may not be guilty of all of these charges! Use
http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/view-all-criminal-charges.html if you need help
defining any of these charges.
1. Assault and Battery
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Breaking and Entering
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Theft
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. First-Degree Murder
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Fraud
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Prostitution
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. Drug Possession/Use
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Attempt
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
9. Child Abandonment
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
10.Any Other Charges?
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Switch roles and become the jury. Often, the jury gets to make suggestions to lessen
the sentence of the offender. Find evidence in the text that proves that Odysseus is an
honorable, hospitable, epic hero. Write the quotations you find underneath each category of the
epic hero.
1. Arete (Physical Strength)
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Clever/cunning/strategic
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Brave Leadership
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Possesses the help of the gods

a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Honors the gods

a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Loyal to Ithaca/son/wife
a. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Final Directions: Write an opening statement, an argument that accuses Odysseus of his crimes
and cites textual evidence, and a conclusion as if you were a prosecuting lawyer putting
Odysseus on trial. Then, write a statement (with an introduction, body paragraphs with textual
evidence, and a conclusion) as if you were a jury to lessen Odysseus sentence due to his
qualities as an epic hero.