Introduction
Published in April of 2018, Madeline Miller's Circe retells various events in Greek mythology through the eyes of Circe, the witch best known for turning Odysseus's men into pigs when they landed on her island. Miller explores her life and growth before, during, and after her encounter with the hero, including lesser-known myths involving Circe and referencing other tales. The book puts particularly heavy focus on familial ties and relationships, both for Circe and for other characters, such as Daedalus and Icarus or Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope.
Task
Step 1: Read over the attached links and consider their connections to the text.
Step 2: Using the text and, if needed, the sources provided, answer the following questions in no more than 1 paragraph.
- How does Circe respond to abuse from her siblings (Pasiphaë, Perses, Aeëtes) versus her parents (Perse and Helios)?
- What do Prometheus and Circe have in common? What significance does it has when she helps him (besides the obvious!)?
- Compare and contrast how Pasiphaë and Aeëtes rule their kingdoms and interact with Circe. Does their relationship have any parallel with that?
- In your opinion, which mortal Circe meets most deserves a similar retelling of their own and why?
- What sets Circe’s relationship with Odysseus apart from her relationship with Hermes?
- How does the relationship between Circe and Telegonus change over time? In what ways do they have a typical parent-child relationship?
- Why does Circe make the decision she does at the end of the book? Why do you think Miller went for such an ambiguous ending?
- How would you describe Circe’s narrative format? Does it have a typical story arc for its protagonist? A typical plot?
- Compare and contrast Circe’s themes with ancient Greek writings such as Antigone or Homer’s Odyssey. How do they reflect the societies in which they were written?
- Out of the themes that Circe explores, which are most relevant to the modern day and why? Which ones resonated the most with you?
Step 3: Using the text and the nswer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs.
- Analyze how Circe interacts with her family at the beginning of the book. How does the book portray abuse and its enablers? Who, if anyone, can Circe trust enough to get close to?
- Choose any one mortal character, explain how they relate to Circe's story, and compare and contrast the way they interact with their family with her. Does meeting them change how she interacts with her family later?
- What impact does Circe's exile have on her? What do the few interactions she has with other people tell her about the world around her, and how does this tie into her decision to have a child?
- Is Circe ultimately a good parent? Where do her successes and failings lie in her relationship with Telegonus? How have her own upbringing and experiences affected how she interacts with him?
- Does the ending bring closure to Circe's character arc? What about other characters? Analyze this referencing specific literary techniques Miller uses to close her arc.
Process
On-the-Line Research
First, look into some of the background information for these myths if you don’t know it already. Consider why Miller referenced these myths in particular while writing her story.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Circe-Greek-mythology
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/summary/
https://www.ancient.eu/article/425/jason--the-argonauts/
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Beyond-the-Line Research
Now, look at the real-life sources below and consider how they connect to the text. Remember: You can use sources other than those provided, including your own life experience, but make sure they are relevant to what the question asks!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/growing-friendships/201512/sibling-abuse-and-bullying
https://www.crisistextline.org/fast-facts/emotional-abuse
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101598/poems-about-loneliness-and-solitude
https://www.thelily.com/i-craved-being-a-mom-i-wasnt-prepared-to-hate-parenting/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-ooze/201611/the-perils-social-isolation
https://narrativefirst.com/vault/what-character-arc-really-means
Evaluation
While you are writing these paragraphs, make sure to consider the following:
- Is your response to the question meaningful and relevant to what it is asking?
- Are you demonstrating a reasonable grasp of grammatical and stylistic guidelines?
- Have you included sufficient textual evidence to demonstrate your point?
- Are you able to connect your response to at least one of the sources provided?
Conclusion
Through examining the major themes Circe explores, one can not only better understand the text but the world around them. Themes are at their most effective when they are universal - that is, applicable in any time or place - and the novel’s exploration of topics like loneliness, womanhood, and familial ties hits that mark. By reexploring and recontextualizing old stories, Miller breathes new life into them and gives them newfound power for a modern audience.
Credits
For more information about the novel, visit Madeline Miller’s website: