What is the theme of Book 12 of the Odyssey?

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One theme in this chapter is temptation. Odysseus is tempted by the Sirens' song to leap to his death and the crew is forced by temptation to slaughter one of Helios's cattle. Another theme is sacrifice. Odysseus must give up the six best crew members on his ship in order to get past Scylla and Charybdis.



Considering this, what is Book 12 of The Odyssey about?

Summary: Book 12 They approach the island of the lovely Sirens, and Odysseus, as instructed by Circe, plugs his men's ears with beeswax and has them bind him to the mast of the ship. Once they have passed the Sirens' island, Odysseus and his men must navigate the straits between Scylla and Charybdis.

Furthermore, what is the theme of the cattle of the sun god? Revenge-The readers learn the theme of revenge through Helios, who wanted revenge against Odysseus' men for eating his cattle, so he asked Zeus to kill the crew who wronged him.

Keeping this in consideration, what are some themes in the Odyssey?

Themes in Odyssey

  • Theme #1. Hubris. Hubris is one of the major themes of the epic, The Odyssey and is a Greek term for excessive pride.
  • Theme #2. Homecoming.
  • Theme #3. Hospitality.
  • Theme #4. Temptation.
  • Theme #5. Heroism.
  • Theme #6. Trickery and Deception.
  • Theme #7. Fate and Free Will.
  • Theme #8. Justice and Punishment.

What happens to Odysseus at the end of Book 12?

As soon as land is out of sight, Zeus sends a monstrous storm that destroys the vessel and kills all the men, sparing only Odysseus. Quickly making a raft of the mast and keel, Odysseus survives the vortex of Charybdis and struggles ashore ten days later at Ogygia, the island of Calypso.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What three things does Circe warn Odysseus about?

Circe warns Odysseus that the Sirens, which are crying beauties who bewitch men, are in his ship's path. Circe warns Odysseus that he will not see Penelope or Telemachus ever again if he listens to the sound of the Sirens. In order to make it past the Sirens, Odysseus must plug the ears of his men.

How does Odysseus die?

Having come to Ithaca, he drove away some of the cattle, and when Odysseus defended them, Telegonus 3 wounded him with the spear he had in his hands, which was barbed with the spine of a stingray, and Odysseus died of the wound. But others say that Odysseus died of Old Age, as Tiresias predicted.

What happened in Book 13 of the Odyssey?

The Odyssey Books 13-15 Summary. Book thirteen starts with the Phaecians giving Odysseus many gifts and returning him home safely to Ithaca. She tells him about the suitors who eat Odysseus's food and drink his wine while insisting that Penelope choose a new husband because Odysseus is most likely dead.

Did Odysseus choose Scylla or Charybdis?

Odysseus chooses the latter, but then must make a second choice. He can either ride his ship on the side of Scylla, which means he will lose six men, one for each terrifying head, or he can choose to ride on the side of Charybdis and pray she does not suck the entire ship down into her abyss and spit it back out again.

Did Odysseus eat the cattle?


One day Odysseus fell asleep, and Eurylochus convinced the men to eat the Cattle of the Sun: it's better to die at sea from the wrath of the gods, he said, than to die of hunger. Odysseus woke up to find that the men had broken their oaths and killed some cattle.

How was Charybdis created?

Charybdis. Charybdis was a sea monster in Greek mythology, which dwelt in the Strait of Messina. It was later rationalised as a whirlpool. Zeus became angry that Charybdis had flooded large areas of land with water, so he turned her into a monster that would eternally swallow sea water, creating whirlpools.

Who is Ulysses warned by in Book 12?

In Book 12, Ulysses is warned by Circe about the impending dangers of Scylla and Charybdis. She tells him not to harm the cattle of the sun god, Sol.

How does Odysseus survive Charybdis?

As seen when Odysseus was being advised on how to survive the two sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Their ship was wrecked by Charybdis and all but Odysseus survived by hanging on to a fig tree along Scylla as he waited for pieces of the wreckage to be brought back up again from the depths of Charybdis.

What is the moral lesson of Odyssey?

The moral values in the story include loyalty, compassion, self-control and perseverance. Each one has a tale or two associated with it. Loyalty is an important moral value in The Odyssey because Odysseus is devoted to his family. He is determined to return home to his wife despite all of the obstacles in his way.

What is the main point of the Odyssey?


The Odyssey is Homer's epic of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off suitors vying for Penelope's hand and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return.

What is an example of an odyssey?

noun. Odyssey is a Greek epic poem written by Homer about the long journey of a man named Odysseus, or a long and eventual journey or experience. A spiritual quest is an example of an odyssey. YourDictionary definition and usage example.

What is the theme of Book 1 in the Odyssey?

Homer also introduces several themes that will recur throughout the epic. These include hospitality, reputation, revenge, and power. Throughout, people are responsible for their choices but always susceptible to intervention by the gods. In the world of Odysseus, one's most treasured possession is his good reputation.

What is the conflict in the Odyssey?

major conflict · Odysseus must return home and vanquish the suitors who threaten his estate; Telemachus must mature and secure his own reputation in Greek society. falling action · Odysseus and Telemachus fight and kill the suitors; they put to death the suitors' allies among the palace servants.

What is an epic theme?

An epic is normally defined as a long narrative poem about the exploits of a national hero. Epics carry a culture's history, values, myths, legends, and traditions from one generation to the next. 1) They take the form of a long narrative poem about a quest, told in formal, elevated language.

What is a thematic statement?


A thematic statement is a complete sentence (or two) that express a theme. A thematic statement could serve as a thesis in a thematic essay. A theme is not ONE WORD. That is a topic. Bad example 1: The theme was love.

What is an important theme in Part 2 of the Odyssey?

Which is an important theme in the Odyssey, Part 2? Good triumphs over evil. lied about why it took him so long to get home.

Who is the sun god?

The true Sun God was Helios, who was one of three children to the ever-watchful Titan, Hyperion. Helios's siblings were the Moon Goddess Selene, and Goddess of the Dawn, Eos. You likely know the Dawn Goddess by her Roman name, Aurora. Helios had an island with sacred cattle.