Elpenor Character Analysis in Circe

Elpenor is one of Odysseus’s men. He likes to sleep on top of Circe’s roof. The evening before Odysseus and his men go to the gates of the underworld, Elpenor falls from the roof and dies. Odysseus has to return to Aiaia to bury Elpenor, which is when he gives her the vial that she requests be filled with the sacrificial blood used to summon the dead.

Elpenor Character Timeline in Circe

The timeline below shows where the character Elpenor appears in Circe. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Mortality, Fragility, and Fulfillment Theme Icon

...sleep. At sunrise, Circe walks outside with him, only to find the dead body of Elpenor, one of Odysseus’s men. He has fallen from the roof, where he liked to sleep.... (full context)

Circe spends the day preparing Elpenor’s body for his funeral and then harvesting herbs. As she works, she wonders how she... (full context)

Circe, Odysseus, his men, and the island nymphs give Elpenor his proper funeral, after which Odysseus and his men pack their ship. As they prepare... (full context)