ipl-logo

Odysseus And Circe In The Odyssey

887 Words4 Pages

Many of the crew members were invited in the palace for some food and drinks. However, this food was drugged and turned the men into swine. One of Odysseus’ men decided to stay outside of the palace while the others went in. This man went back to tell Odysseus of what had happened. On the way to the palace, Odysseus met Hermes, the messenger god, who gave the hero a gift: “Hermes gave Odysseus an herb to counteract the effects of Circe’s drug. Odysseus overpowered Circe, and she agreed to restore his men to human form” (Mabey). After restoring the men, they all stayed with Circe for a year before continuing their journey. Within this time, Odysseus was enticed and became the father of Telegonus. Circe advised Odysseus to go to the underworld and seek the counsel of Tiresias, a blind prophet, on how to get back to Ithaca. Before sending Odysseus on his way, Circe warned him about some of the dangers that he will face on the way such as the Sirens and the island of Helios. Soon Odysseus and his men were on their way to the land of the dead.
After arriving here, Odysseus was told by the seer Tiresias if a sacrifice was made to Poseidon for blinding Polyphemus, the men would eventually return to Ithaca (Wright 40). Before letting Odysseus leave, Tiresias warned the men of …show more content…

Both Circe and Tiresias had warned Odysseus about these creatures, so Odysseus knew the effects of their singing. Odysseus told his men to plug their ears with beeswax in order to block out the sound. However, Odysseus wanted to be able to hear the sound that these creatures made, so he told his men to tie him to the mast of the boat to help him resist the temptation of the Sirens’ singing. As the boat passed the island, Odysseus struggled to break free and join the Sirens, but he resisted the desire and was able to continue on with his

Show More
Related

  • The Pride Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    626 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, he does not seem to consider the potential consequences of his actions, such as the possibility that Circe could turn on him or that his crew might become restless and mutinous. Finally, Odysseus's pride is perhaps best exemplified in his encounter with the Sirens. Despite being warned of the danger of their song, Odysseus insists on hearing it for himself. He orders his crew to tie him to the mast of the ship so that he can listen without being lured to his death. While this may seem like a clever solution to the problem, it is important to remember that Odysseus's prideful desire to experience everything for himself almost cost him

    Read More

  • Similarities Between A New Hope And Circe

    1730 Words  | 7 Pages

    Odysseus goes to Circe to free his men the only difference is when Odysseus goes into the trap by drinking the drink he doesn’t become an animal. This is because Hermes gave him a special herb that mitigated the effects of the potion. This intrigues Circe and causes her to fall

    Read More

  • Odysseus As A Good Leader In The Odyssey By Homer

    574 Words  | 3 Pages

    When they land on the island his men are held captive and are turned into animals. This is Odysseus’s response to the situation. “After Circe releases his men from the spell, Odysseus spends a year with her” (pg 506). In this situation,

    Read More

  • Odysseus View Of The Sirens In Homer's Odyssey

    313 Words  | 2 Pages

    Odysseus point of view he thinks the sirens are just people trying to kill men. In book 12, he tells his men to put beeswax in there ears so they can 't try to make then kill the whole crew. Odysseus was the only one who didn 't put beeswax in his ear because, he wanted to hear the sirens amazing song. So as they row closer he sirens appear and start to sing. Therefor, Odysseus is tied to a pole and is trying to get loose so he can get

    Read More

  • Examples Of Suffering In The Odyssey

    1364 Words  | 6 Pages

    In The Odyssey, Odysseus is faced with a lot of things that tempt him to fall off track. One of the temptations Odysseus faces are the sirens. “No one ever sailed past us without staying to hear the enchanting sweetness of our song – and he who listens will go on his way not only charmed, but wiser, for we know all the ills that the gods laid upon the archives and Trojans before Troy…” (Homer 137). In this quote the sirens are trying to lure Odysseus and his men off trail. The sirens’ beauty and voices tempt Odysseus and his men to go to them.

    Read More

  • Importance Of Trust In The Odyssey

    1451 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Odyssey explains one of the many trials Odysseus faced on his journey home, “Odysseus returns to Circe’s Island. The goddess reveals his course to him and gives advice on how to avoid the dangers he will face: the Sirens, who lure sailors to their destruction,” (Homer 580). Circe tells Odysseus he must sail through the siren’s land and listen to them sing; however, he cannot give in to their cunning devices. First Odysseus has to trust Circe and use discernment to decide whether he should trust the goddess or not. Odysseus and Circe both respected each other and eventually, trust came.

    Read More

  • Sirens In The Odyssey

    1322 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Odyssey, one of the oldest texts known to mankind, has made a permanent mark in the heart of Greek art and literature forever. The Odyssey is known as the story of a long forgotten king, Odysseus, exploring the seas, going on his long quest to make his way back to his homeland. One grand encounter Odysseus faces are the mythical creatures known as the sirens. The sirens are notorious for the beautiful song they sing, but this song leaves a deceiving effect on anyone who hears the words, and anyone who’s heard the song has either been killed or does not remember. The only way Odysseus could return home is if he sailed passed the sirens.

    Read More

  • The Sirens In The Odyssey

    237 Words  | 1 Pages

    Odysseus decides that he wants to listen to the Sirens, but he's tied up. His men do this so Odysseus is not tempted by the Sirens. “The lovely voices in ardor appealing over the water made me crave to listen, and I tried to say ‘Unite me!’ to the crew…” (123-125). The Sirens were attempting to tempt Odysseus into coming with them.

    Read More

  • Quotes That Show Courage In Odysseus

    529 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the story, Odysseus demonstrates his courage that ultimately allows him to survive. One of these moments was during his journey back to Ithaca, where he faces a race of man eating giants called the Cyclops. Odysseus originally stops his ship there to relish a feast while on his journey back to Ithaca, but while doing so, out of curiosity explores the island. Soon, he finds a deserted house and decides to wait of the owner. The owner was unknowingly one the Cyclops, named Polyphemus.

    Read More

  • Brief Summary Of The Cyclops In Homer's Odyssey

    922 Words  | 4 Pages

    Summary: Cyclops In the story, Odysseus is still speaking to the Phaeacians, but is now telling them of his encounter with Polyphemus, the cyclops. Strong winds blew Odysseus and his men to Polyphemus’ island, where they unloaded and entered a cave that Polyphemus happened to live in. When he entered the cave, he closed the entrance with a large boulder that only he could move, trapping himself, his sheep, and Odysseus inside. After he ate some of Odysseus’ men, Odysseus devised a plan to get the cyclops to move the boulder so that the men could escape.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Assistance In The Odyssey

    1651 Words  | 7 Pages

    Take it to Circe’s halls— its power alone will shield you from the fatal day. Let me tell you of all the witch’s subtle craft … She’ll mix you a potion, lace the brew with drugs but she’ll be powerless to bewitch you .” (164) In this episode we see Hermes giving Odysseus assistance in one of many difficult hard challenges. Circe is a powerful witch, who has been expecting Odysseus for a while. She wants to keep him by using a potion that will make him powerless and submit to what she wants.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Arrogance In The Odyssey

    439 Words  | 2 Pages

    Given the leader he is, when Odysseus and his men encountered the sirens, his men were quick to follow his instructions with diligence. Homer writes, “Sirens weakening a haunting song over the sea we are to shun”(690-691). The sirens sing a songs to lure sailors to their death. Homer writes, “I alone should listen to their song”(693-694). Odysseus knowing what the sirens purpose and having prior knowledge of the things the sirens would say to him.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Dishonesty In The Odyssey

    1122 Words  | 5 Pages

    Before leaving The Land of the Dead, Teiresias told Odysseus that they will face destruction and only he will survive to return home. After the prophecy, Odysseus and his men encountered Charybdis and Scylla. To avoid destruction, Odysseus demanded his men to sail the ship quickly through Scylla and hug onto the cliff. Odysseus did not want his men to lose hope and turn against him if they knew that only Odysseus would return home. To avoid his men going against him, “Odysseus does not tell his men of Circe’s last prophecy-that he will be the only survivor of their long journey,” (Homer 716-719).

    Read More

  • Epic Similes In The Odyssey

    406 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this passage from The Odyssey, Homer uses an epic simile comparing Odysseus’ crew to calves and Odysseus to a cow and a second simile comparing Odysseus to Ithaca in order to portray the sense of reliance and loyalty the men have for their leader. In the book, Odysseus has just returned from Circe’s palace where some of the crew had disappeared. Since the men chosen to venture into Circe’s home did not return, the rest of the crew thought Odysseus would also not make it back to the ship. When Homer writes that the men are, “bucking out of their pens, lowing nonstop, jostling, rushing round their mothers (455-456),” he conveys the men’s desparation to get to Odysseus. The phrase, “bucking out of their pens (455),” refers to the fact that Odysseus’ crew is trapped and helpless without him.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Reciprocity In The Odyssey

    1190 Words  | 5 Pages

    Odysseus suffered the consequence of being away from his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope for 20 years. Odysseus was told by Athena and other gods, what to do during his journey. All of them told Odysseus that he couldn’t tell his men because they’d suffer a consequence. Odysseus listened to Athena and the gods because he only thought about himself and didn 't think about what his crew would say or do. When Odysseus and his crew passed by the mainland where the Cyclops lived, they were only going to stay for two days, but then out of curiosity, Odysseus wanted to see what kind of beast the Cyclops was which made them almost die.

    Read More

More about Odysseus And Circe In The Odyssey

Open Document