Hero's Journey
Call to Adventure (Circe)
Banishment
Xenia
Hospitality
Who does Circe transform into pigs?
Men who visit her island
Compare Circe & Odysseus Ordeals
Internal vs.External
Call to Adventure (Odysseus)
Trojan war/end of war
Arete
Courage
How does Circe’s relationship with her father, Helios, influence her sense of isolation?
Circe feels isolated because Helios’s neglect and favoritism toward other children make her an outsider; this shapes her early insecurity and mistrust.
Explain Circe “New Life” stage
Choosing mortality/future on her terms
Mentor/Assistance (Circe)
Hermes
Hubris
Excessive Pride
Three monsters in Book 12
Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis
What motivates Circe to choose immortality?
Circe chooses mortality to gain agency over her life, to experience human connection, and to live a life of meaning on her own terms. She values choice and personal growth more than eternal life.
Trial (Circe)
Transforming men; Scylla; mortal encounters
Kleos
fame
Odysseus’ ally
Circe, Athena, Tiresias
How does Circe’s understanding of power differ from that of the gods?
She sees power as responsibility and ethical choice, whereas gods often wield it selfishly or destructively.
Ordeal (Circe)
3Faces Athena’s threat; moral/emotional transformation
Example when Odysseus uses metis
Threading the bow
How does Circe challenge traditional gender roles within Greek mythology?
Circe rejects traditional female roles by asserting independence, controlling her magic, and shaping her own destiny.
How does Circe’s “Reward” differ from traditional heroic rewards in Greek mythology?
Her reward is self-knowledge, autonomy, and moral agency—not wealth, fame, or conquest.