Examples Of Archetype In The Odyssey

Odysseus displays multiple examples of an archetype in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. His archetype helps develops the theme that bravery is an essential trait in people, by providing examples of the great skills of a warrior and the superhuman courage to face his enemies and return home. The first example of great skills as a warrior is when Odysseus and his men must attack a mythical foe, the Cyclops, to escape from the cave. They are in grave danger because the Cyclops has already eaten a few of Odysseus’s crewmates. So, they “[use a] pike of olive…sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye, and [Odysseus] leaned on it turning it…” so they could blind the Cyclops to escape (Homer 380). Odysseus must battle this dangerous cyclops to return to his home. His bravery and skill

This is very daunting since there were many people of the dead, “...torn by brazen lanceheads,/battle-slain, bearing still their bloody gear./…they came and sought the pit/with rustling cries; and [Odysseus] grew sick will fear” (Homer 388). The Land of the Dead is an example of one of the fearful places Odysseus must travel through on his journey home. Although it was a very frightening and ominous place, he had the grit to reach Tireas. Another example of courage is when Odysseus and his men must travel past the Sirens to get home. Odysseus offers to listen to the Sirens’ song to indicate when they have passed by. This is very dangerous since the Sirens “...bewitch men coasting by;/…[they] will sing his mind away/on their sweet meadow lolling. There are bones/of dead men rotting in a pile beside [the Sirens]” (Homer 395). Odysseus was very courageous to offer to listen to a deadly song to benefit his crew. Normally, someone would have been fearful to offer this, but Odysseus possesses the superhuman courage to listen to the