Metamorphoses · Chapter
Adventures of Macareus explained
Macareus recounts the voyage of Ulysses and his crew, including the opening of Aeolus's bag of winds, the encounter with the Laestrygonians, and their arrival at Circe's island.
What happens
Macareus recounts the voyage of Ulysses and his crew, including the opening of Aeolus's bag of winds, the encounter with the Laestrygonians, and their arrival at Circe's island. He describes how Circe transforms his companions into swine, but Ulysses, protected by the herb moly, forces her to reverse the spell. They remain on the island for twelve months, and Macareus recalls seeing a statue of a youth with a woodpecker's head, whose story a nymph begins to explain.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Telethusa’s de…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Transformation and Metamorphosis
Circe's magic transforms Ulysses's men into swine, a literal metamorphosis that underscores the theme of physical change as a consequence of human folly.
- Divine Power and Human Folly
The sailors' greed in opening Aeolus's bag and their reckless trust in Circe's hospitality illustrate human folly in the face of divine or supernatural forces.
Characters to notice
- Ulysses
The wise leader who navigates his crew through perilous encounters, uses the moly to resist Circe's magic, and secures the release of his transformed companions.
- Circe
The enchantress who transforms Ulysses's men into swine, later becomes his host and lover for twelve months after being overpowered.
- Macareus
The narrator and one of Ulysses's companions who recounts the adventures, including his own transformation and restoration.
- Eurylochus
The cautious companion who refuses to taste Circe's potion and remains human, later alerting Ulysses to the danger.
- Polites
A true and loyal companion of Ulysses, chosen by lot to explore Circe's palace.
- Elpenor
A companion given to wine, chosen by lot to accompany the group to Circe's palace.
Key passages
“A largess to Ulysses he consign'd, And in a steer's tough hide enclosed a wind; Nine days before the swelling gale we ran, The tenth to make the meeting land began, When now the merry mariners, to find Imagined wealth within, the bag unbind.”
Aeolus gave Ulysses a bag containing all the winds, tied in oxhide. For nine days they sailed with a favorable wind, but on the tenth, as land neared, the greedy sailors opened the bag, thinking it held treasure.
This illustrates the sailors' greed and impatience, leading to their disastrous setback.
“Soon, in a length of face, our head extends, Our chine stiff bristles bears, and forward bends, A breadth of brawn new burnishes our neck; Anon we grunt, as we begin to speak.”
Our faces elongated, our backs grew stiff with bristles and hunched forward, our necks thickened with muscle, and we began to grunt instead of speak.
Vividly describes the physical transformation of the men into swine under Circe's spell.
“The incantation backward she repeats, Inverts her rod, and what she did defeats.”
Circe reversed her spell by reciting the incantation backwards and turning her wand upside down, undoing the transformation.
Highlights the magical mechanics of Circe's power and her ability to reverse metamorphosis.
