Anaphora: Journal of Language. Literary and Cultural Studies
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): JULY

Shifting Meaning of Heroism: A Comparative Study of Homer’s The Odyssey and Madeline Miller’s Circe

Daniel Wowiling (Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya)
Tri Pramesti (Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
26 Jul 2026

Abstract

Although numerous studies on Circe have concentrated on feminist reinterpretation and female agency, comparatively limited attention has been given to the structural reconstruction of Odysseus' heroism itself, a gap increasingly pressing given the growing cultural prominence of mythological retellings. This study examines how heroism, as a culturally constructed concept, shifts across The Odyssey and Circe. Using Roland Barthes’ concept of the cultural code as a structuralist framework, it analyzes how Odysseus’ heroism, grounded in kleos, aretē, and timē in the Homeric epic, is reconstructed in Circe through modern ethical and psychological perspectives. While traits such as intelligence and endurance remain consistent, the ideological foundation of heroism shifts from collective honor and public glory toward moral accountability and interior consciousness, suggesting heroism is not a universal ideal but a culturally dependent construct reshaped through literary adaptation.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ANAPHORA

Publisher

Subject

Arts Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Anaphora : Journal of Language, Literary and Cultural Studies is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal, open access, and biannual academic journal dedicated to the publications of research in the areas of language, literature, and culture studies. Anaphora: Journal of Language, Literary and Cultural ...