In Homer's Odyssey, there are a multitude of epic conventions, motifs, and/or archetypes. These are things the author uses to establish a recurring pattern. Three examples of this would be supernaturalism, Disguise and Deception, and Hubris. Recurring patterns like this are common in Greek Mythology.
First is supernaturalism, this usually comes in the form of fantasy, gods, and monsters. An example of a monster would be Scylla, a six-headed beast with an ear-bleeding shriek. Scylla would snatch, and eat a minimum of six men from each ship’s crew. Odysseus neared Scylla’s cave in book 12, “…hoping to catch the first glimpse of Scylla, ghoul of the cliffs, swooping to kill...” (Fagles 278). Another monster is Charybdis, a swirling whirlpool that sucks down salt water, exposing her interior vortex, then vomited it up seething over like a cauldron over a blazing fire. Gods are also an example of …show more content…
Odysseus demonstrates Hubris in multiple ways including but not limited to being; overly curious, non-faithful, and a rash decision maker. Odysseus’ curiosity becomes a danger to him and his crew, especially in Book 9 when he brings his men into Polyphemus’ cave and begins conversing with a large Cyclops. Polyphemus lives on the island of the Laestrygonians, these are giants that lure people to their island and feed them lotus’, “any crewman who at the lotus, the honey-sweet fruit, lost all desire to send a message back… (Fagles 214)”. Circe and Calypso are excellent examples of Odysseus being unfaithful to his wife Penelope, he stayed with Calypso for seven years,, and with Circe for a year. He had sexual relations with both women. Rash decision-making is something Odysseus frequently does. One of the worst decisions he made was to go completely against Circe’s advice not to suit up with armor when he passed between Scylla and Charybdis, due to this, he lost six of his
First is supernaturalism, this usually comes in the form of fantasy, gods, and monsters. An example of a monster would be Scylla, a six-headed beast with an ear-bleeding shriek. Scylla would snatch, and eat a minimum of six men from each ship’s crew. Odysseus neared Scylla’s cave in book 12, “…hoping to catch the first glimpse of Scylla, ghoul of the cliffs, swooping to kill...” (Fagles 278). Another monster is Charybdis, a swirling whirlpool that sucks down salt water, exposing her interior vortex, then vomited it up seething over like a cauldron over a blazing fire. Gods are also an example of …show more content…
Odysseus demonstrates Hubris in multiple ways including but not limited to being; overly curious, non-faithful, and a rash decision maker. Odysseus’ curiosity becomes a danger to him and his crew, especially in Book 9 when he brings his men into Polyphemus’ cave and begins conversing with a large Cyclops. Polyphemus lives on the island of the Laestrygonians, these are giants that lure people to their island and feed them lotus’, “any crewman who at the lotus, the honey-sweet fruit, lost all desire to send a message back… (Fagles 214)”. Circe and Calypso are excellent examples of Odysseus being unfaithful to his wife Penelope, he stayed with Calypso for seven years,, and with Circe for a year. He had sexual relations with both women. Rash decision-making is something Odysseus frequently does. One of the worst decisions he made was to go completely against Circe’s advice not to suit up with armor when he passed between Scylla and Charybdis, due to this, he lost six of his