A truly talented storyteller must be able to craft his or her tale in various ways. A proficient writer can present the same literary tool in differing forms, and thereby entertain his audience despite the fact that he may be telling repetitive ideas. Yet, such a writer will connect these ideas in subtle ways, so as to create a unity in his tale. Homer was a writer who performed this feat throughout the entirety of the Iliad and showed his unique ability to weave a tale full of similes that both enhanced and unified his story. Although Homer used a variety of subjects in his similes, and many of them had a common thread. Homer’s unique ability was to create a tale so descriptive that the listener was able to fully immerse him or …show more content…
This descriptive simile allowed the listener or reader to truly see Diomedes as a flaming star, which is free falling to the earth, uncontrollably. Although this simile is rather vague and does not explain the rage of Diomedes during his day of excellence, Homer let this idea grow.
Soon after, another simile more aptly showed the violent person that Diomedes was on the battlefield that day. This was done by utilizing a more familiar relationship between the vehicle and the tenor. Homer mentioned the lion in his description of Diomedes: “Now, long ablaze as he was to fight the Trojans, triple the fury seized him – claw-mad as a lion” (5.150). Lions are commonly related to a certain untamable ferociousness. Although Homer went on to elaborate on this comparison for several more lines, the initial impression is enough to depict the ferocity of Diomedes. In Homer’s tradition of over description during his similes, the idea continued up until the line, “piling corpse on corpse and in one furious bound clears the fenced yard – so raging Diomedes mauled the Trojans” (5.158). His continuation of the simile, allowed for a more graphic description of Diomedes’ rage. This finale to his simile reinforced the idea of Diomedes fury. Later in book five, the idea of a warrior taking on the ferocity of a lion was used again in reference to Diomedes. “As a lion charges cattle, calves and
Homeric or epic similes can be found all throughout The Odyssey written by Homer. A simile is the comparison of two unlike objects using like or as. Homer’s similes are considered to be “epic” because of how elaborate they are to help the audience “feel” and picture a scene. One of the most glorified scenes in The Odyssey, full of epic similes, is when Odysseus stabs the eye of Cyclops Polyphemus. As soon as Polyphemus fell asleep from the over-consumption of wine, Odysseus put his plan into motion to escape the Cyclops’ cave. Courage took over Odysseus and Homer writes:
Throughout the epic Homeric poem, The Odyssey of Homer, Odysseus is a hero known for his cunningness, vigilance, and overall attainment of homecoming. Odysseus’ journey home is one of many mental and physical tests that which involve numerous encounters with others whose characters are in opposition with his. It is important to understand that through his encounters with certain opposing characters, Odysseus’ qualities of possessing heroism and cleverness are vividly portrayed. In this instance, the characterization of Odysseus will be discussed in terms of how Agamemnon’s, Odysseus’ companions’, and the suitors’ characters reinforce Odysseus’ cleverness, prudence and heroism, as well as his avoidance of self-destruction and attainment of homecoming.
“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns ... start from where you will—sing for our time too” (I, 1, 12). From the very beginning, Homer shows his intention for themes of The Odyssey to be applicable in the modern age and essentially “sing for our time” (I, 12). Homer’s epic provides the ideal reflection upon the very definition of heroism because it details the strenuous journey of Odysseus, a crafty hero whose key priority is to return home to his family. As one of the most prominent themes, The Odyssey carries forth the idea of heroism through the portrayal of Odysseus, and establishes a connection with the real world through the expression of life lessons. Consequently, Odysseus is characterized to serve as a role model for the successful hero because, after all, the poem is essentially centered on his very name. However, The Odyssey simultaneously conveys that an entirely perfect hero may be impossible, but a means for improvement is always present. The attributes for success that are revealed in The Odyssey can be examined under interconnected ideas of passion, perseverance, and prowess. Thus, heroism is the most compelling theme of The Odyssey because it exemplifies the attributes for success while also demonstrating that heroes are not without mortal flaws.
One of the 4 epic hero traits that Odysseus has, is that he has a plethora of exemplary attributes. For instance, Odysseus is able to “bored (bore) that great eye socket” with an olive tree, suggesting the extent of Odysseus’ formidable might. In addition, Odysseus is also able to “strike and strike again” at the suitors while they “moaned at death”. This emphasizes the power and strength that Odysseus held. Moreover, when Eurykleia tells Penelope that if she had seen Odysseus it would have made “your (her) heart grow hot”, because Odysseus was like “a lion splashed with mire and blood”, it emphasizes Ancient Greek values of strength. Another exemplary attribute that Odysseus possesses is his contemplative and strategic mind. This can be illustrated when Odysseus cleverly uses the Kyklopes’ rams and “slung (slings) a man under… to ride there safely” (IX
Illustrating Odysseus’ hubris and quest for fame, Homer’s depiction of the episode with the Sirens highlights not only the appealing
In the Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus is traveling to his home from the Trojan war and faces many tough situations. These situations are described vividly with many epic similes. Each epic simile proves different character traits of the epic hero Odysseus. Within the Odyssey Homer uses these epic similes to show perseverance and strength, just a few of the many qualities Odysseus shows.
Homeric similes can be used throughout an epic to compare two unlike things in a way that will redirect the reader’s attention or intensify heroic stature of a subject. In three main places in The Odyssey, Homer uses this type of elaborate simile to engage the reader on a deeper level. These three points of the epic in which the Homeric similes create depth are the reunion of Odysseus and his son, the stringing of a bow, and the battle against the suitors. The reunion of Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, is a poignant moment in the epic.
In Ancient Greece, gods were believed to have the power to do harm to whomever they wanted and were believed to be far more superior than the rest of the population. In a book from this time period, called “The Odyssey,” Odysseus and his crew have to overcome many obstacles in order to succeed. Throughout his journey, gods punish and bring wrath upon his crew members. However, despite these obstacles, Odysseus returns back home safely after many years away. In The Odyssey, Homer uses figurative language in order to convey a deep tone of maliciousness.
As he is singing, Odysseus is in the corner silently weeping. “There, he [Demodocus] sang,” Homer writes, “Odysseus fought the grimmest fight he had ever braved, but he won through at last... That was the song the famous harper sang,” Homer continues, “but great Odysseus melted into tears, running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks.” The juxtaposition of the two events shows two different sides of Odysseus; the bard sings of a valiant man, but then Homer shows Odysseus in a weaker form- breaking down, crying. Thus, the contrast of the two events shows Odysseus’ two sides.
Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, is a story of a famous Greek hero destined to win the battle against the Trojans. He schedules to journey back home after the Trojan War, but the gods were dissatisfied that they had won. The gods lengthen the time of his travels at sea as a result of their displeasure. His overall journey took several years to complete due to his complications returning home. He faced esoteric creatures and dealt with the gods outrage. For the sake of the reader’s entertainment, Homer includes several literary devices throughout The Odyssey. Although he uses several examples of literary devices, dramatic irony, Homeric Similes, and imagery are most frequently used. Dramatic irony is only one of the examples
One's inner strength is tested time and time again for the wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca. In the epic poetry “The Odyssey”, shows Odysseus’s travel home after the fall of Troy. Homer, the author, demands the reader’s attention to look deeper into the text to see the different meanings instead of just seeing what’s right in front of you. For instance, instead of seeing Odysseus as a man trying to get home you see all his layers like his loyalty to his men when Circe turned them into pigs and how wily he is when he escapes the Cyclops Polyphemus by tying himself to the underside of the sheep. Although for every reader “The Odyssey” can be interpreted different ways, some might see Odysseus as a man whore who is easily tricked by the goddesses while others might see him as a trickster who gets out of multiple sticky situations.
This instance is one where hubris and arete can be shown as Odysseus’ motivators. Arete is very important to greek heroes, and sometimes hubris comes right along with it. This being when Odysseus yells back to the blinded cyclops, telling him that Odysseus, the king of Ithaca is the one who blinded Polyphemus. “Cyclops, if any one of mortal men shall ask thee about the shameful blinding of thine eye, say that Odysseus, the sacker of cities, blinded it, even the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca” (Homer, Odyssey, 9:502-505). This here explains that Odysseus just created a major issue for him and the other ships with him. This greatly angered Poseidon, and so Poseidon made is he could never get home. This myth here shows us again that if Odysseus would have never yelled out his name, his fleet would have made it safe home. Instead they all suffered and roamed the seas for many years. This example lets the reader know that you should win your battles without expressing too much
In The Iliad, Homer uses extensive figurative language to enhance the storytelling experience. While he uses intense imagery, multiple metaphors, and several similes, his most effective storytelling technique is his use of epic similes. Homer uses epic similes multiple times throughout the text—such as when he compares the Greeks to bees, the Trojans to sheep, and Paris to a stallion. Through these, he shows his support for the Greeks, and his belief that they are physically superior; his belief in the frailty of the Trojans; and his characterization of Paris as he races off towards the battle.
Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is a tale about the epic hero Odysseus returning home and his conquering of the trials and tribulations that are thrown his way during his long journey. In his epic, Homer effectively employs various literary devices in order to argue that pure brute strength disadvantage can be overcome. In the passage about Odysseus’s encounter with Polyphemus, the Cyclops (pg. 155, lines 402-441), he demonstrates the Greek core beliefs in the gods’ power and that the mind prevails over the muscles. He advocates these beliefs by first painting a vivid picture of Polyphemus’s persona as a big threat through direct characterization, than by emphasizing the power of the gods that aided Odysseus through elevated speech, and finally by poking fun at the fact that Odysseus’s guile and wit led to Polyphemus’s ignominious downfall.
Throughout The Iliad, Homer paints several poetically visceral scenes of violence that keep the reader engaged on a primal level and simultaneously appeals to our emotional side by recounting the dramatic triumphs in addition to the harrowing failures of its heroes. Identifying the traits that render these characters heroic allows the reader to internalize and understand the values that were most important to Homer, a member of Greek society between the eighth and seventh centuries BCE. In book ten, the author uses the night-raid undertaken by Diomedes and Odysseus as a way to develop two distinct types of heroic behaviour by contrasting the two heroes and their individual approaches taken when faced with a variety of situations that test their character. The epithets used to describe the characters, compounded with the techniques they utilize to deal with the enemy scout Dolon, and the different roles they fall into when raiding the Thracian camp all effectively contribute to the categorization of these two distinct types of heroes.