Transcript Odyssey: Ulysses and the Sirens

By Katie Duffield
 Epic Poem by Homer
 Takes place after the
Homer’s epic poem Iliad
about the Trojan War.
 Main character, Ulysses
or Odysseus, travels
home to Ithaca after the
fall of Troy.
 He over comes a lot of
obstacles to make it back
to his homeland.
 Greek Mythology depicts
them as being winged
women.
 They would sing songs to
lure men onto the shores
and away from their due
course.
 This would usually lead to
something tragic or death.
 They symbolize
temptation.
 Homer’s poem tells how Ulysses was able to defeat the
tempting Sirens.
 He tied himself to the mast of his boat so he could stay his
course to his homeland.
 In addition, he plugged the ears of his shipmates so they
could not hear the songs and be tempted to release Ulysses.
 “With unrelaxed nerves, with morning vigor, sail by it,
looking another way, tied to the mast like Ulysses.”
(1761)
 Thoreau compares the Sirens to any outside influence
that would tear someone out of nature.
 You have to be diligent in ignoring possessions and
influences.
 Although he never says it, Thoreau is a lot like Ulysses.
 Thoreau may not be sailing on a boat but he does
picture himself embarking on a quest back to home, or
nature in his case.
 He has left behind friends to embark on what he feels
is a heroic mission.
 http://www.theearthlyparadise.com/2008/06/greek-
vase-from-british-museum.html
 http://www.threadsofrohan.com/J.W.%20Waterhouse.
html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirens
 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/section7.rhtm
l