The Importance Of Archetypes In The Odyssey

According to the dictionary, an archetype is “the original pattern or model from which all things are the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.” Archetypes are the basic building blocks of any story that is told whether it’s an epic fantasy novel or an intense autobiography about some white guy from 100 years ago. An archetype can be any type of character such as a jester, hero, or a princess. However, archetypes can also be experiences like coming of age. Feelings are also a type of archetype like fear or joy. In the books The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Odyssey by Homer some of these archetypes are shown through Fatima, the Princess (damsel in distress), Calypso, the Temptress, the Alchemist, the Sage, and Odysseus and Santiago, the Flawed Heroes.

In Homers epic poem “The Odyssey” there are many archetypes, many of which were the origin of the archetype. An archetype is a character type, place, or symbol, every culture shares. In “The Odyssey” Homer uses archetypes to evoke meaning to the story. Some examples of archetypes in “The Odyssey” are the temptress, and the father-son conflict.

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

One strong archetype in the Odyssey is the hero archetype. “The archetype of heroism allows an individual to serve as the primary example of what society deems as valuable and moral.”(Harris 2) Ancient Greek civilizations valued strength, loyalty, wisdom, and ingenuity. This is made known to the reader because the hero Odysseus has all of these traits. Odysseus used his knowledge, strength, and ingenuity to his advantage in everything he did.Another example of the hero archetype in the Odyssey is “nine days I drifted in open sea.”(Homer 989) Odysseus was able to survive nine days with no food,most humans can survive for five to seven days without food or water. He was also able to hang from a tree for a full

    Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.

Circe is a prime example of the seductress archetype. When the men arrive onto her island they are drawn to her house not only because of the smoke from the fire, but her allure. She is described as having a “Beguiling voice, while on her loom she wove ambrosial fabric sheer and bright,” (Book X, line 244). Her allure and witchcraft allows her to draw in men and turn them to animals to keep. Women are often seen as witches in Greek society. The only way they are able to get anything is through manipulation and trickery.

In the book the Odyssey, Odysseus is an archetypal hero for several reasons. An archetype hero is “a person, generally a man, of tremendous physical strength who loves his family and country equally.”(handout).

Archetypes are found in every story and movie that we read or watch today, there are many found in The Odyssey. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, an ancient Greek poet, in 750 BC. This is a story about a man named Odysseus trying to get home after the 10 year Trojan War, but he faces many troubles and challenges along the way. Many archetypes are found in The Odyssey, some of these are: The Trickster, The Supernatural Guide, and The Temptress. They both help and interfere with his journey home.

Gregg Easterbrook once said, “heroic people take risks to themselves to help others. There's nothing heroic about accepting five million dollars to go out and run around chasing a ball, although you may show fortitude or those other qualities while you do it.” Being a hero is about displaying valued qualities of a role model and making a difference that has a lasting outcome upon others. In Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” the theme of the heroic quest is shown as Odysseus makes his way back to Ithaca facing the endless struggles presented to him. The myth utilizes character archetypes to highlight a hero’s journey. The character archetypes outline a model for all other pieces afterward; defining the patterns in the quest these characters

There are many types of characters in literature, but especially in epic poems like The Odyssey. The Odyssey is an epic story in poem form by Homer about a man named Odysseus and his adventures when trying to return home after a long perilous journey. Odysseus faces many different creatures, characters, and situations that often times have supernatural elements. The story is riddled with many different archetypes that are typical of epic poetry, such as the temptress, supernatural guide, and the damsel in distress The temptress is always a very memorable character, and Circe is no exception.

The archetype (in Jungian psychology) is a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and is supposed to be present in the collective unconscious; basically this means that human beings have subconsciously passed down human stereotypes from generation to generation. This can be used to explain the striking resemblance between many stories all through time; it can be based on plot, characters, or even passing symbols. The resemblance between characters can be seen in the three Greek plays The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone, which share the archetypal characteristics of a hero, sage, and villain.

There was a man who was willing to risk his whole life through many difficult obstacles just to return to his family and home. Odysseus is his name and he is indeed a hard working man. During this long heroic journey, Odysseus traveled for a long time and has faced many common archetypes. This novel was during the Greek era where they idolized Xenia. The Greeks admired Xenia is where people have to respect and treat their house guests respectfully.

Archetypes are characteristics or characters that can define a hero. They can be villains, scapegoats, damsels in distress, and the hero themself . The Odyssey is the perfect story for examples of archetypes seeing as it has so many of them.

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

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.