Odyssey Archetype Essay

Archetypes in The Odyssey and Ancient Greek Culture

All humans have ideas and patterns in common. Humans from a thousand years ago and humans in modern times have archetypes. Archetypes are characters, actions, or situations that are repeated in all human life. Archetypes are found in myths, legends, dreams, films, music, literature and several other forms of entertainment. In fact, The Odyssey, a prominent piece of writing, contains many archetypes. The Odyssey is a 3,000-year-old epic written by Homer in Ancient Greece. It describes the adventures of Odysseus. As well as being found in The Odyssey, archetypes are evident throughout Greek culture. These archetypes depict the ideals and beliefs of the Ancient Greeks. Through Homer’s use of archetypes in The Odyssey, the reader gains insights into Ancient Greek culture. Three major archetypes shown in The Odyssey include the archetypal characters the hero, the guide, and the monster. Of course, these characters are not just found in The Odyssey; they are found throughout all literature. That is why they are considered archetypes. A strong example of the hero archetype is found in The Odyssey.

The archetypal character the hero is displayed in The Odyssey. The character that fits into this role is Odysseus. A hero is one of the main characters of any story. Although each

By understanding archetypes, readers gain knowledge about The Odyssey and, thus, Ancient Greek culture. Archetypes allow readers to relate to the situations and values of the past. Archetypal characters in The Odyssey include the hero, the guide, and the monsters. Each archetype gives readers a vision of the morals, fears, and beliefs of Ancient Greek people. Archetypes are repeated constantly over time. Human beings interact with them in every aspect of their lives. If one can understand archetypes, one can understand music, art, and literature, literature like The Odyssey. Archetypes