Examples Of Archetypes In The Iliad

Odysseus fits the epic hero archetype because he is a great leader. In The Odysseus, Odysseus and his crew landed on the Lotus-Eaters island and met the people there, his crew was oblivious to the lotus’s effects that made his crew forget about returning home. When Odysseus realized this he yelled to his men, “All hands aboard;/ come, clear the beach and no one taste/ the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home” (Homer 103-105). One of the traits of an epic hero is being a great leader. In this quote, Odysseus shows his leadership by getting his men back on board the ships and leaving.

In Homer’s The Odyssey numerous characters demonstrate multiple archetypes throughout the narrative, including Odysseus who acts as both a hero and a trickster. Odysseus’s heroic qualities can be seen when he and his crew reach the island of the Cyclopes. Here he proclaims, “...I’ll make the crossing / in my own ship, with my own company, / and find out what the mainland natives are” (Odyssey 9.71-73). He acts on behalf of his crew to help them survive along their journey.

Archetypes Ethan Sodikromo The Journey - The Odyssey (Homer) Background- Odysseus is a great Greek hero who was glorified in the Trojan War. However, on his return trip to his kingdom(of which he is king), he incurs the wrath of Poseidon, who leads his ship astray. He then spends 10 years trying to return home, fighting of many mythical beasts and incurring the wrath of a few more gods.

In the epic poem, the Odyssey, our hero Odysseus goes on an incredible journey enriched with power, monsters, storms and various other drama and adventure. One popular archetype, the journey, is commonly used to symbolize the trials we tend to all face in life. The name of the book fits it justly because "The Odyssey" translates to "the journey". The challenges he faces throughout the story appear to represent life lessons anyone can take to heart. Patience is a virtue that has to be learned, typically through suffering.

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).

Even though the Odyssey is one of the most significant pieces of literature left from Greece, it works against most Greek values. Unlike other epics such as the Iliad, also written by Homer, the Odyssey depicts the image that strategic thinking can overpower physical strength. This story's influence was most likely unwanted in Greek society by authority figures, as it demolished everything they stood for, which was making sure men always aspired to be the strongest warrior. Odysseus, the protagonist, does not fit this Greek-warrior archetype, because he is as wise as he is strong, if not even more so. Odysseus, 'his great mind teeming', embodies the concept of will-power, and demonstrates the superiority of the mind over physical strength, time and time again.

An Odyssey in modern definition is a “long series of wanderings and adventures”; so unsurprisingly Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey is exactly that: a string of adventures that centers on Odysseus as he travels back to his home, Ithaca, after the Trojan War. Aside from the long journey, the much more can be inferred from just than the places and persons visited; The character of Odysseus can be explored to show what makes him a hero, what his qualities and flaws are, and how he is an archetype. In my opinion, Odysseus is an epic hero because he is only human. In being human his feats of outsmarting the Cyclops Polyphemus seems much grander.

Characteristics of an Epic Poem in The Odyssey The Odyssey is about a man named Odysseus who has a long and dangerous journey home from fighting for ten years in the Trojan War. After fighting for ten years, he takes another ten years to get home. Homer uses many characteristics of an epic poem that are common in literature. In The Odyssey, Homer includes characteristics of an epic by portraying archetypes, epic themes, and an epic hero.

Athena was involved in many myths, but perhaps her two most famous myths were the naming of Athens and the weaving contest against Arachne. In the myth of the naming of Athens, both Athena and Poseidon both wanted to be the patron for the area of Attica in Greece. To decide who would be named patron, a contest was held: each god would create something, and a panel of judges would pick a winner.

The Trojan War was led up to the fact that Paris took Helen from her husband, Menelaus. He wanted revenge on Paris, so the Greek gods and warriors of Sparta battled and fought each other for 10 straight years. Eris rode into battle, one of the days, and was intrigued by the bloodshed and slaughter of the Trojan War. The Trojans became victorious in the end and Helen was brought back to Menelaus. Although difficulties arose, the Trojans were determined to win the

Rage is clearly a rather extensive theme in the Iliad. Rage is defined as either a violent and uncontrolled anger or as a fit of violent wrath. In terms of the Iliad overall, rage would best be defined as a fit of violent wrath. After all the first line of the Iliad, “Rage:/sing; Goddess, Achilles’ rage,” (1. 1-2) describes the human emotion that leads to doom and destruction in this epic. Achilles ' rage is a major inhibitor to the action in the Iliad.

They allow for a better understanding of the characters. Now, what are some of the archetypes in The Odyssey? While these two characters are both strategically minded, Circe in The Odyssey exhibits the characteristics of a temptress archetype, and Odysseus displays the characteristics of a warrior archetype.

My own fame is for wisdom among the gods --deceptions too.” (The Odyssey 13.379-384.) She acts as his advisor and protector, aiding him constantly through his journey to return to Ithaca. She even addresses the other gods about Odysseus’s situation, and “if it... pleases the

The epic poem The Odyssey has ensnared the minds of many people with its riveting storyline, ancient beliefs, and fascinating characters. In The Odyssey the main character, Odysseus, has to face gods, monsters and other forms of the supernatural to complete his journey home to Ithaca from the war torn city of Troy. The Odyssey is full of all of the familiar tropes and characters that people witness in modern day literature, just under different titles with different trials for them to face. A supernatural guide is defined as a being with powers who helps the hero.

Athena is known as the goddess of war. Odysseus was aided by her ideas on how to regain power through her tactical skills. The fact that the goddess warrior was on his side through the journey home, reclaiming his land, and killing the suitors was a huge advantage. Athena is very intelligent in how she strategizes and won wars in the past. Some may argue that Odysseus is the real hero but there were many times throughout The Odyssey where he needed Athena’s protection and input of logical ideas.