Summary
Ulysses and his men must sail past the islands where the sirens live and he has his crew tie him to the mast and plug their ears with beeswax so they won't hear the songs. They pass through, but not before Ulysses breaks free and almost jumps overboard.
Notable Quotations
"Tie me tightly as though I were a dangerous captive. And no matter how I struggle. No matter what signals I make to you, do not release me, lest I follow their voices to distruction, taking you with me. (p.87)
"'Men,' He said. 'Listen well, for your lives today hang upon what I am about to tell you,'" ~Ulysses, Page 86
Ulysses suddenly becomes very grave, cautioning his men (for once) of the terrible danger and temptation they are to face.
"'Tie me tightly, as though I were a dangerous captive. And no matter how I struggle, no matter what signals give to you, do not release me, lest I follow their voices to destruction, taking you with me.'" ~Ulysses, Page 87
Ulysses admits that he is not strong enough to resist the voices of the Sirens, and puts his life (for the first time) in the hands of his crew.
"For in those voices were the sounds that men love:
Happy sounds like bird railing, sleet hailing, milk pailing...
Sad sounds like rain leaking, tree creaking, wind seeking...
Autumn sounds like leaf tapping, fire snapping, river lapping...
Quiet sounds like snow flaking, spider waking, heart breaking..." ~Narrator, Page 88
The beautifully written verse-like quote describes (to the best ability of the author) the voices of the Sirens, attempting to portray them as every pleasant sound imaginable.
"When Ulysses saw them he was able to forget the sweetness o their voices because their look was so fearsome. He closed his eyes against the terrible sight of these terrible bird women perched on their heap of bones." ~Narrator, Page 90
Even the Sirens' voices can be deceiving, and luckily for Ulysses, their hideous complexion kept him at bay.
"For now he had heard the whistling gurgle of the whirlpool, and he knew that they were approaching the narrowest part of the strait, and must pass between Scylla and Charybdis." ~Narrator, Page 90
Yet another of the many "Out of the frying pan, into the fire" moments often seen in the story, building suspensefor the chapter to come.
Ulysses suddenly becomes very grave, cautioning his men (for once) of the terrible danger and temptation they are to face.
"'Tie me tightly, as though I were a dangerous captive. And no matter how I struggle, no matter what signals give to you, do not release me, lest I follow their voices to destruction, taking you with me.'" ~Ulysses, Page 87
Ulysses admits that he is not strong enough to resist the voices of the Sirens, and puts his life (for the first time) in the hands of his crew.
"For in those voices were the sounds that men love:
Happy sounds like bird railing, sleet hailing, milk pailing...
Sad sounds like rain leaking, tree creaking, wind seeking...
Autumn sounds like leaf tapping, fire snapping, river lapping...
Quiet sounds like snow flaking, spider waking, heart breaking..." ~Narrator, Page 88
The beautifully written verse-like quote describes (to the best ability of the author) the voices of the Sirens, attempting to portray them as every pleasant sound imaginable.
"When Ulysses saw them he was able to forget the sweetness o their voices because their look was so fearsome. He closed his eyes against the terrible sight of these terrible bird women perched on their heap of bones." ~Narrator, Page 90
Even the Sirens' voices can be deceiving, and luckily for Ulysses, their hideous complexion kept him at bay.
"For now he had heard the whistling gurgle of the whirlpool, and he knew that they were approaching the narrowest part of the strait, and must pass between Scylla and Charybdis." ~Narrator, Page 90
Yet another of the many "Out of the frying pan, into the fire" moments often seen in the story, building suspensefor the chapter to come.