ipl-logo

Sirens In The Odyssey

1322 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Modern connections to the odyssey

The Odyssey, one of the oldest texts known to mankind, has made a permanent mark in the heart of Greek art and literature forever. The Odyssey is known as the story of a long forgotten king, Odysseus, exploring the seas, going on his long quest to make his way back to his homeland. One grand encounter Odysseus faces are the mythical creatures known as the sirens. The sirens are notorious for the beautiful song they sing, but this song leaves a deceiving effect on anyone who hears the words, and anyone who’s heard the song has either been killed or does not remember. The only way Odysseus could return home is if he sailed passed the sirens. To keep Odysseus’ men from falling victim to the song, he filled their ears with beeswax. He told his …show more content…

On the ship there is a group of feathery beasts surrounding a man tied to the mast of the ship. While the crewmen are sitting down in the deck rowing. The men attempt to concentrate on rowing and ignore the tunes of the deadly song the birds continue to sing, and luckily Odysseus came up with the idea of placing beeswax in the ears of the crewmen so they couldn’t be infected. One man is sitting closer to the bow of the ship covering his ears, trying to cut the sound of the song out. Perhaps he didn’t place enough earwax in his ear, or maybe none at all. This painting gives the viewer a feeling of desperation for the men …show more content…

(Source A) Waterhouse lived a quiet life, one without any evidence of major drama, and instead created beautiful works of art which illustrated tales of love and tragedy. (Source C) .John William Waterhouse was inspired by great artists before him, specifically artists from the Renaissance and Classical schools who shared Waterhouse's love of color and realist composition. (Source A) His paintings are scattered throughout the world: many are owned by public museums in the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere; others are in the hands of private collectors in the UK, USA and Russia.(Source C) Waterhouse ended up Producing over 200 paintings during his lifetime. (Source C) Waterhouse continued painting until his death from cancer in 1917. (Source B) Waterhouse was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. (Source

Show More
Related
116 Words | 1 Pages

John Singleton Copley was a painter in America. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Richard and Mary Singleton Copley. He became famous as his work consisted of portrait paintings of important figures in colonial New England. His works often depicted certain middle-class subjects. His quick climb and prolonged fame were the result of a natural skill to handle paint and be able to manufacture pictures that obscured anything created by his forerunners in America.

Read More
439 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus was compelled by the sirens’ voices, “...made me crave to listen...” (Fitzgerald

Read More
671 Words | 3 Pages

Homer lays out his tale of Odysseus’ experience with the Sirens from Odysseus’ perspective of the situation. Odysseus’ perspective of the Sirens is that they are enticing creatures who he wishes to follow as he hears their delightful chorus. Book 12 of the Odyssey, Odysseus cries out “I signaled the crew with frowns to set me free— they flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder, Perimedes and Eurylochus springing up at once to bind me faster with rope on chafing rope,”(Homer, Odyssey). In Odysseus’ eyes the Sirens seem ravishing and desirable. Atwood’s “Siren Song,” is from the position of a member of the Siren clan who does not enjoy singing in this trio.

Read More
358 Words | 2 Pages

Both "The Odyssey"and the "Siren Song" is a work of literature, however in "The Odyssey" the focus is on resolving the problem of the sirens, no different than any other obstacle. " The Odysseus" and the "Siren Song" both illustrate similar themes. Similarly, the sirens ask the victim to "help

Read More
631 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus, advised by Circe, plugged the crew's ears with wax and ordered them to tie him on the mast of the ship. Also, Odysseus told them that no matter how much he begged, they should not untie him. When they passed near their island, Odysseus started begging his shipmates to let him go, but none heard him. Instead, they tied him even more. After they passed, Odysseus told them that they were now in safe (Creatures).

Read More
255 Words | 2 Pages

In the “Odyssey”, Homer introduces the expedition Odysseus goes through to return to his native land. At one point he and his comrades must take the path that leads them to the island of the Sirens. The notorious sirens sing their sickeningly sweet tune to entice men to their eradication. Poet Atwood depicts the sirens in a calamitous facet. Both Homer and Atwood convey the idea that the Sirens pose a detrimental role through the application of imagery and diction.

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer displays vulnerability and human mortality during Odysseus’ journey back home to Ithica. Figurative language is used to do so in the story, among other reasons such as using visualization and helping the audience understand the key points of the story. In The Odyssey, Homer used figurative language to show the audience that humans are vulnerable and completely mortal. In the scene of Polythemus and his cave, figurative language is used to help the audience understand that Odysseus and his men are mortal and vulnerable to the immense cyclopes.

Read More
439 Words | 2 Pages

Given the leader he is, when Odysseus and his men encountered the sirens, his men were quick to follow his instructions with diligence. Homer writes, “Sirens weakening a haunting song over the sea we are to shun”(690-691). The sirens sing a songs to lure sailors to their death. Homer writes, “I alone should listen to their song”(693-694). Odysseus knowing what the sirens purpose and having prior knowledge of the things the sirens would say to him.

Read More
157 Words | 1 Pages

The passage from Homer’s Odyssey describes how Odysseus and his crew encounters the Sirens. The imagery of the “Helios’ burning rays” demonstrates the destructive nature of the Sirens as they seek to “bound me hand and foot in the tight ship.” As Odysseus gets trapped on the ship, it also represents the overpowering nature of the Sirens; the whole crew is apparently aware of the evils of the Sirens, but they are unable to escape, ultimately becoming the new victims of the Sirens. Furthermore, the irony of the “honeyed voices” further illuminates the presence of an irresistible force. The crew is fully conscious and they sense the dangers present; nonetheless, they are sent toward the “ravishing voices.”

Read More
583 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey and the poem "Siren Song" both portray sirens ;however, in The Odyssey, the focus is on resolving the "problem" of the sirens, no differently than any other obstacle on his journey, whereas "Siren Song" focuses on the siren as more than merely an obstacle. They share, however, the preying of the siren upon hubris and the desire to be special, as well as, by what happens, illustrating the allure of the sirens in the spite of the pain that may be suffered to get there. The Odyssey initially describes the actions of Odysseus much more than the sirens. The beginning discussion does describe the sirens at all;it merely states that they were approaching the island of the sirens, and then for the first ten lines it does not even begin to consider the sirens.

Read More
1051 Words | 5 Pages

Cole returned to the states in 1842 where he continued to paint and teach others. The mid 1840’s Cole painted many impressive American landscapes, which are well known for his light usage and his ability to replicate the natural beauties of nature. Cole’s early death in 1848 was universally mourned and a memorial of his work was organized in New York. He remains an inspiration in the art world and is idolized by many new artist when portraying landscape and nature (National Gallery of Art,

Read More
645 Words | 3 Pages

In The Odyssey, Odysseus’s journey to his home of Ithaka was abundant with challenges. These challenges were often very dangerous, both to Odysseus’s life, and his mission of returning home. The most dangerous ones being the Lotus-eaters, the Cyclops Polyphemos, and the Sirens. Out of all these challenges, the most dangerous was facing the great Cyclops Polyphemos. Some people may think that the Lotus-eaters or the Sirens were more dangerous than Polyphemos, but they were not.

Read More
850 Words | 4 Pages

The siren song written in the Odyssey transcribes temptation in the form of knowledge. Instructed by Kirkȇ, Odysseus asks his men to block their ears but let him hear and learn the rumored wisdom contained in the siren’s song. As requested, his men block their ears with beeswax and restrain Odysseus as he listens to the compelling tune. Evidence to support this is, “...

Read More
239 Words | 1 Pages

Odysseus has the chance to hear the sirens,

Read More
524 Words | 3 Pages

If Odysseus hadn’t told them told them to plug their ears they probably would have ended up like all the other sailors. Another time was when Circe turned his men into pigs Odysseus, with the help of Hermes, ended up saving his men and they were no longer pigs. To help Odysseus Hermes

Read More

More about Sirens In The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document