Preview

The Siren In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
412 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Siren In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey
To us the mythical and dangerous sea creature the siren is an evil being with the soul purpose of killing anything that passes by, but have we ever taken it under consideration that they have no choice. If we look at Odysseus we see a bold, curious, and daring man. Odysseus in book twelve was told by Athena to block his hearing with bees wax in order to avoid the deathly song. He covered his men's ears with the kneaded bees wax but he was so curious he had his men tie him to the mast of the ship so he could hear the song of death. This moment in the Odyssey was one of the most torturous moments for Odysseus to face alone.

A poem was written to side with the prospective of the sirens. A poem that spoke of death, and the boredom

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In book twelve,the picture,and the poem about thee sirens are different and alike in many ways. The sirens can be described as noisy, irritating, and unusual. While the crewmen aren't listening to the sirens sing because they have ear plugs in and Odysseus is listening to the sirens because he feels as an leader he needs to. The painting communicates the idea that the sirens are birds singing. While book twelve communicates the idea that Odysseus talks about his journey and ends it with telling king Alcinous his tales.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Homer’s Odyssey” the poem is told from Odysseus point of view. He portrays the Sirens as mysterious and luring. Circes advises Odysseus that the Sirens “spellbind any man alive, whoever comes their way.” Gaining this knowledge, Odysseus made his sailors plug their ears with beeswax so they would avoid hearing the thrilling songs of the Sirens. Odysseus was determined to hear the…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Sirens attract the sailors who sail by their island with their voices in hopes that they will crash onto their island. Before Odysseus and his crew sail by the island, he gives everyone ear wax to put into their ears so that they will not be tortured by the Sirens’ songs. His men had tied him to the ship so that he would not jump overboard to hear what these seductive women were saying. When Odysseus’s ship sails past the Siren’s island, his naked ears are tortured by the sweet song of the Sirens. This song drives Odysseus mad with the temptation and the desire of what the sirens are singing. Moreover, if it were not for his men, the Sirens would have caused Odysseus to crash his ship on the rocks and perish. “…on the island of Sirens there are bodies of men who heard the Sirens’ voice and crashed on their island” (Vernant 104). Countless men sail past the Sirens Island but when they sailed they heard the Sirens’ voice causing them to crash. “The Sirens are both the appeal of the yearning for knowledge, erotic attraction-they are the essence of seduction-and death” (Vernant 104). When men sail past their island, this is what they would sing of, driving men to go crazy to hear more of what they were saying. Although the Sirens cannot move, their seductive voices amplified all over the oceans and cause men to crash on their…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In her poem, Atwood begins her poem with a warning to inform her audience about how powerful and scheming these creatures truly are with their "...song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see the beached skull..." Here, she incorporates imagery to prove to her audience how irresistible and dangerous the sirens truly are. She also proves how manipulative the sirens are when she states, "...Help me! Only you, only you can, you are unique...it is a boring song but it works every time." This part of the poem shows the reader the sirens' strategy…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sirens Voices In Odysseus

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Through Odysseus' point of view, he senses pride and glory by listening to the sirens. Homer states, "So they sent their ravishing voices out across the air and the heart inside me throbbed to listen longer." The author portrays the Sirens as heart touching with their singing. With the imagery applied, Odysseus feels a sense of delighted emotions as he is intrigued by the Sirens. The way in which the Sirens voices are describes as "ravishing" also create a meaningful…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer utilizes plot to develop a major motif, the repercussions of succumbing to temptation. One of the most memorable instances when Odysseus gave into temptation was at the island of the cyclops. He gave into his curiosity and he entered the cyclops's home. The aggressive cyclops came home and ate multiple men. Odysseus’s lust for Kleos is also a temptation. He surrendered to it when he reveals his identity to Polyphemus, bringing the wrath of Poseidon upon him and his crew. Only Odysseus survived. Another example of Odysseus giving into temptation is the Siren ordeal, when he insisted on listening to the Siren's mesmerizing song. The crew were made to plug their ears, so that they could sail safely by the Sirens’…

    • 187 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Level 1: What do the gods decide on when Poseidon is away for the fate of Odysseus?…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    {Odysseus is a hero in The Odyssey because of his bravery throughout the story, The Odyssey. He may have made a few unintelligent decisions however one can’t blame someone for an unintelligent decision. Odysseus was only human and no one is perfect. }…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus put himself on the line to protect his men day in and day out. He knew about the Sirens and how perilous they are “ Then all at once the wind fell, and a calm came over all the sea, as though some power lulled the swell.” (Homer, The Odyssey part 2). The Sirens make men jump off their ship if they hear the beautiful breathtaking voices. Odysseus had his men tie him up to a pole on the ship and made his men put wax in their ears so they don’t hear the voices. His men would know when it was safe to take out the wax when Odysseus calms down and doesn’t move or do actions like he want’s to jump off the ship. This shows an infinite amount of leadership and bravery from Odysseus because he sacrificed himself for the good of his men. He…

    • 176 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    odysseus was a warrior that fought for his land. he built it with his own strength and sweet. every thing he did was for his village and for the future of his family. he didn't like the idea of men coming to his home and disrespecting it.all those men were going crazy while he couldn't come home because poseidon was punishing him. they eat and drank all there food and treated bad the people of the village and the servants.also he didn't like that they didn't listen to what his wife was telling them, she wasn't going to marry no one because she knew he was going to come back.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus tells the event from his point of view, so in first person. This gives the story more action because it is a closer encounter of his feelings. What he feels and experiences from the sirens is best perceived from the person who experiences it. In the “Siren Song” the tone is depressing. It sends sadness because it describes the sirens actions as a plea for help.…

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The sirens can be described as scary, strange, and unnatural. While the crewmen are focused, Odysseus is curious. The paintings communicates the idea of punishment. Meanwhile in book twelve the idea that's being communicated is Odysseus being a hero. Odysseus and the sirens can be different but at the same time it can be similar.…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus is courageous because he protects his men and never backs down from a fight. When Odysseus and his men get captured by the Sirens, he wants to protect his men from the sirens enchanting voices. To do this he, “...carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears”, effectively plugging…

    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A legend to a great many people would be somebody who has strength and has gambled or yielded his life for others. To others a man that has found or accomplished something exceptional. In antiquated Greece a legend was viewed as a man frequently of heavenly family, celebrated for his courageous achievements and favored by the divine beings. In the epic "The Odyssey" Odysseus shows every one of the characteristics of a legend, for example, his intelliegence, quality, devotion, and strength.…

    • 2079 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    An Ancient Gesture

    • 506 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In addition, the two poets use different style to write the poems. In ¡§An Ancient Gesture¡¨, the Millay wants the reader to feel sorry for Penelope. She expressed the poem in a very calm tone, just liked telling a story. Also, the rhyme of the poem was easily located. The rhyming words were linked to emphasize the tone of the poem. ¡§Night-tight¡¨, ¡§year-tear¡¨, and ¡§implied-cried¡¨ were used to stress the depressing feeling of the characters. Alternatively, in ¡§The Sirens¡¨, Finkel uses enjambment in the poem because it alludes to the sirens who sang songs. Also, Finkel emphasized the allusion by using many personifications. ¡§Sea turn in his bed¡¨ and ¡§The wind took it, and he heard¡¨. He personified sea and wind because they are related to the sirens that were sea creatures. In…

    • 506 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays