99,000 Essays & Term Papers: Where You Buy Essays and Papers Online
Direct Essays, Where You Can Buy Essays and Papers Online

Instant Access to Buy Essays and Papers Online!
Acceptable Use Policy
Customer Service
Site Search


Login to View Essays and Papers Online

Join Now - Instant Access to Essays and Research Papers!

  Essay and Research Paper Topics
Acceptance Essays
Arts Essays
Custom Essays
English Literature Essays
Foreign
History Essays
Miscellaneous Research Papers and Essays
Movie Essays and Papers
Music Term Papers
Novels
People and Biography Research Papers
Politics Research Papers
Religion Research Papers
Science Essay Topics
Sports Research Papers
Technology Research Papers
 
  FAQ
Technical Support
Site Map
Direct Essays
 

 



Welcome to Direct Essays

This is a short summary of this paper!

Already a member? Go here to log in and view the entire paper!


Join Now!
by: Credit Card
Join Now!
by: Online Check
Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900
Special! View this paper for FREE!
  

Homers Odyssey

One of the most famous works from the early Greek era is Homer's The Odyssey. It details the journey home of a war hero, Odysseus. His homecoming entails many adventures, many of them carrying reflective themes. The Sirens are one episode that he must overcome. This episode contains many prevalent themes that are repeated throughout the work. Though the varied episodes differ in terms of characters and settings, most are based on similar patterns of plot and theme. The themes that are most emphasized are forgetfulness, a willingness to risk pain for pleasure, and female temptation. When comparing the Sirens episode with much of Odysseus' other adventures, one can observe an emergence and repetition of these themes.

The most obvious comparison that can be drawn between the Sirens episode and most other adventures is the theme of forgetfulness. The same idea is repeated in Odysseus' adventures with Calypso, Circe, and most importantly the Lotus-eaters. The Sirens are all knowing, and draw men in with their songs about all that has happened in the world, but all those who stop to listen can never leave. Fortunately, the Sirens are unable to draw Odysseus in because he has been forewarned by Circe and knows how to resi


Three themes are derived from the Sirens episode, those of forgetfulness, risk of pain for pleasure and the deceptive female. Each theme is repeated throughout the adventures, and all tie in with one another. Many of the episodes have entwined within them the theme most prevalent in the sirens, that of forgetfulness. From Lotus-eaters to Calypso, each has within it the idea of memory loss. Even so, Odysseus manages to overcome these obstacles, sometimes with help, and stay focused on his homecoming. Yet much of the episodes are purely his fault, for if he had not tried to glean as much pleasure from life and taken so many risks, then they would not have occurred. These are episodes best represented by Polyphemos the Cyclops. The final theme that ties in the Siren episode with that of all others is the deceptive nature of women. Each woman in the work uses craft and trickery to get her way. The Sirens episode has many comparisons to episodes preceding and following it, and contains within it the most prevalent themes of the play, changing only the setting and character descriptions.

Though the preoccupation of the Siren scene leans to forgetfulness, another thematic point can be explored, that of Odysseus' willingness to endure unneeded pain for pleasure. The song of the Sirens is extremely beautiful and satisfies Odysseus' thirst for knowledge. Unfortunately, that fleeting moment wherein he can listen to their songs also makes him endure much pain. "they sang in sweet utterance, and the heart within me desired to listen." (12. 192-193) Not only does his thirst go unsated, for he cannot listen to all they know, but also has to deal with being physically unable to follow his instincts. He begs his men to let him go yet knows that they will not. "I signaled my companions to set me free...fastened me with even more lashings and squeezed me tighter." (12.193-196) Odysseus chooses this pain, for to him the pleasure of hearing the sirens is worth the pain of having their song snatched from him. A similar choice is made when he decides to wait for the Cyclops and see if he will lavish them with gifts. Though he realizes that this is a huge risk, his greed makes him go for it. "I would encounter a man who was endowed with great strength... with no true knowl

Some common words found in the essay are:
Circe Sirens, Odysseus Cyclops, Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus Penelope, Fortunately Sirens, Circe Circe, Similarly Circe, Polyphemos Cyclops, Lotus-eaters Calypso, Sirens Lotus-eaters, sirens episode, pain pleasure, risk pain pleasure, theme forgetfulness, odysseus' adventures, female characters, draw odysseus, calypso circe, risk pain, repeated throughout, contains prevalent themes, lashings squeezed tighter, deceptive female,
Approximate Word count = 1536
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

More Essays on Homers Odyssey

Homers Odyssey and itamp39s relation to todays Society252 words
odyssey426 words
Homers Penelope3023 words
Homers Odessey495 words
Analysis on The Odyssey690 words

Look at even more essays on Homers Odyssey
More English Essays

Special! View this paper for FREE!
Click here to JoinNow!
by: Credit Card
Click here to Join Now!
by: Online Check
Click here to Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900

 

All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009 Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA
Webmasters make $$$$
Saved Papers