Archetypes In The Odyssey Essay

Ancient Greeks’ history consisted of monsters, creatures, gods, goddesses, fights, and battles. It shows that Ancient Greeks were very imaginative and creative. There were three main archetypes that were used in Homer’s epic ,The Odyssey, which show different aspects of Ancient Greek culture. Those three archetypes were: the hero/father figure archetype, the monster archetypes, and the search for love. The hero archetype explained the Ancient Greeks’ love for thrill and adventure; Odysseus went on many thrilling adventures while on his journey. The monster archetypes represented the Greeks’ love of horror; Odysseus’ men have died due to the monsters and creatures. There were also love stories that show the Greeks’ passionate and emotional

Archetypes are evident in all kinds of classic literature, but Homer’s The Odyssey reveals archetypes in heroes, villains, and a journey. Odysseus, the Cyclops, and Penelope are specific examples of archetypes in this epic poem.

In mythological epics, the narrative often depicts imageries of masculinity; they follow a journey of prophecy; fulfilment of destiny and/or a journey of honour (reference) in male characters thus securing their masculine status among their peers. Women however are often binary opposite of the reward, obstacle, or the love interest/desire in these epics (reference); another interpretation is that, in their own right, these women displayed honour and strength, demonstrating both androgynous traits during the Trojan War. In my research, I found it difficult to find literature that publicized female heroes and epic journeys from the point of view of a woman. However, the two that I have found come from Homer’s Odyssey (Leeming, 2005. 297) and

Hero stories like The Odyssey have been around for millions of years. Joseph Campbell says, “all heroes go through basic stages.” Campbell looks at these varieties of heroes as one hero “with a thousand faces.” The heroes will go through the three stages, the departure, initiation, and the return. In The Odyssey, Odysseys starts from his departure leaving Troy to go back home, he then goes through the initiation where Odysseys’ true character emerges, and then returning home as his new self.

Archetypes in Ancient Greek Culture     Archetypes are found in several genres of literature. From adventurous heroes who save the world to terrifying monsters who bash out brains, common patterns are found in many stories. Archetypes are a broad range of subjects used to compare patterns of behavior. Readers can compare their everyday lives to archetypes they encounter in literature. The use of archetypes in The Odyssey help modern readers understand Ancient Greek culture.

Character of Odysseus Odysseus, the archetype of manliness, is the main protagonist and hero of the epic known as the “Odyssey” written by Homer. Odysseus is the embodiment of manliness because he portrays qualities of strength, intelligence, courage and leadership. Odysseus is a man that was well known throughout Ithaca and the surrounding islands because he was the face of Greece during the Trojan war. Though Odysseus is the archetype of all men, there were mistakes and flaws that surfaced throughout the Odyssey.

Character archetypes play a part in the epic by moving the story along. They all help to assist Odysseus by giving him guidance, never leaving him, and by providing a reason to come home.

In "The Odyssey" by Homer, main character Odysseus is the typical Greek archetype of hero. He won the genetic lottery, has an attractive wife and kid, and is now a strapping war victor with all the ladies fawning over him -- his only problem is that the gods are literally conspiring against him to make it harder to return home. In reality, it is Odysseus' ego and selfish mindset that create the problems he's facing. Although his wife and child are at home, presumably suffering in grief and without income, he maintains a "woe-is-me" attitude, demonstrated by his musing that "the sweet days of his lifetime were running out in anguish over his exile... " (Homer 653), with not a word spared for his dearest beloved, all while he frolics about with

Odysseus is the main character of the narrative poem “The Odyssey.” Odysseus is a brave character that goes on a journey to head back home to Ithaca after the war. On his way, he and his companions endure many trials and tribulations. But he always thinks up a way to get out of these situations. Throughout this essay, I’m going to discuss what makes Odysseus and epic hero, what are some of his qualities and flaws, and why Odysseus is considered an archetype.

It has been 15 years since my husband Odysseus son of Laërtes, left Ithaka to go fight in the Trojan war. 15 years of tears, struggle, and thoughts, thoughts of never seeing my husband ever again. Telémakhos is now 15, he is a strong young man, Odysseus would have been proud. But now, I don’t know how I will deal with the Suitors. They barged in my home, killed our beeves, sheep and fatted goats. They run around soaking up my good dark wine, they don’t care what they do. The suitors came in my home like a pack of wolves thinking they could do whatever they wanted. Well, I will not give them what they ask for, I am not ready and probably never will be eager to marry or be with someone who is not Odysseus.

The character of Penelope in Homer's Odyssey has served as an archetype of femininity proper. Her physical attributes, while comely by even the most demanding standards, are veiled. Her intellectual attributes are veiled too. She seems more often than not to wear a veil of tears (for her man) or a veil of silence (for her own wishes), or ineptitude (in her dealings with her son). She is certainly no Helen. She is not flaunting or whore-ish. She is not unconcerned with the needs of others, nor flippant about marital bonds, nor the loyalty of her heart. She does not steal the show, as Helen does time and again when she upstages her husband (who, by the way, may be a bumbler in the presence of his

Homer’s epic poem is one of the most prolific, intriguing adventure stories ever written. His exceptional use of archetypes adds anticipation and excitement throughout the entire poem. This story has a mix of adventure, suspense, love, and loss. All of these features are archetypes that are shown in Homer’s epic poem. Greek culture is a big part of the archetypes in this poem as well. The three archetypes that I chose are some of the most frequently seen archetypes in adventurous stories or poems. This epic poem was written approximately around 800 B.C. Additionally, the time period took place in 1230 B.C. ~ during the Trojan War.

Ancient Greeks’ work consists of monsters, creatures, gods, goddesses, fights, and battles. It shows that Ancient Greeks are very imaginative and creative. Three main archetypes that are used in Homer’s epic ,The Odyssey, each show a different aspect of Ancient Greek culture. The three archetypes are: the hero archetype, the monster archetypes, and the search for love. The hero archetype shows the Ancient Greeks’ love for thrill and adventure; Odysseus goes on many thrilling adventures while on his journey. The monster archetypes represents the Greeks’ love for horror; Odysseus’ men die horrible deaths due to the monsters and creatures. The search for love shows the Greeks’ passionate and emotional side; Odysseus travels through odd lands

Homer’s Odyssey provides a detailed account of the Greek hero Odysseus’ return home after the end of the Trojan War and the many obstacles and adventures he encounters along his journey. Depicting a non-traditional heroic character, this epic poem gives an insight into the intricate relationships between mortals and gods, commenting as well on societal norms and expectations in ancient Greece. Odysseus, though not developing as a character in Homer’s Odyssey, experiences dynamic shifts in his character throughout the poem. This constant shifting between two contrasting versions of his character allows Odysseus to be situated as a representation of mankind, a fusion of both civilization and barbarism.

Archetypes are repeating patterns in all types of literature throughout all of human history. The time and place does not matter, archetypes show up everywhere. They can be characters or situations, and are still found in our modern everyday life. Archetypes often reflect a culture or society's values and how they view the world. The Odyssey, composed by Homer, is an epic filled with thrilling, gruesome, bloody, chilling, heart-touching, and tear-jerking scenes. It is one of the oldest pieces of literature from Ancient Greece that we still have today, dating back somewhere between 850 and 750 b.c. Being this old, relatable archetypes still show up everywhere in the Odyssey. However, there are three specific archetypes used that stand out and give interesting insight about the Ancient Greek culture to today's audience. These are the hero, the temptress, and the monster.