Examples Of Figurative Language In The Odyssey

In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus transitions into manhood after enduring a grueling journey back to Ithaka. One observes his valor and courageousness being put to the test and sees how he gains a new understanding of what it means to be a man after tragically losing what he values most. To illustrate this, Homer offers the following simile: “[…] as when a man, who well understands the lyre and singing, easily, holding it on either side, pulls the strongly twisted cord of sheep’s gut, so as to slip it over a new peg, so without any strain, Odysseus strung the great bow,” (21.406-9). Homer contradicts the graceful precision of the lyre with the barbaric twisting of the cord of a sheep’s gut in order to allude to Odysseus’s triumph over the

The Odyssey has many stylistic choices that change the story in many different ways to improve it and make the reader better understand the text they are reading.

“A man who has been through bitter experiences and traveled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time”- Homer. Why do people go on journeys? What is the benefit, if anything? The Odyssey, written by Homer, describes the life of a man, Odysseus, who undertakes a journey to reach a destination. Leaving his home town of Ithaca, he arrives at Troy for the Trojan War.

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:

In the epic The Odyssey, Homer incorporates the use of rhetorical strategies and literary devices to develop Calypso. Through the use of imagery and symbolism, Calypso and her island seem beautiful and perfect at first, but the imagery revealed that Calypso had a “hidden” intention and the symbols foreshadowed her true selfish nature. Although Calypso is caring for Odysseus she is self-centered and not letting him return to Ithaca so she can keep him for her own. Also, Homer uses rhetorical strategies during a persuasive argument between Hermes and Calypso. Calypso utilizes ethos, pathos, and logos to convince Hermes that Odysseus should stay on the island with her which reiterates her selfish character. Through language and literary devices,

This quote is from the time Odysseus is trapped on an island by the nymph Calypso for nine years. These powerful words portray clearly the pain that Odysseus bears within him thus giving the reader a fuller understanding of the story and his character.

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

Odysseus tells many lies in the Odysseus, but of those lies, the most interesting one is the one he tells to Penelope. However, this lie is strategically created so that Odysseus can get his revenge on the suitors. The lie that Odysseus tells Penelope about who he is serves to exemplify the endurance that Odysseus has, even though he has suffered much. One interesting persona about Odysseus’s character is that he chooses to hide his identity even when he returns home to Ithaca. In one sense, this is understandable because when Odysseus was in the land of the dead, he learned of how Agamemnon was ambushed and killed in his homeland of Mycenae by a usurper.

In The Odyssey, Homer, the author, uses diction throughout the story to convey various tones while also enhancing the inner meaning of the story. The Odyssey is about Odysseus, a persevering warrior, who must endure ten years of hardship and struggle in order to return back home to Ithaca after battling in the Trojan War. Homer utilizes diction in order to add insight and express his thoughts and emotions regarding the stories of The Odyssey. In the stories, Homer uses very detailed and specific diction to reveal deeper meaning in timely events, as he also demonstrates numerous connections with readers through his word choice. Homer, in his writing of The Odyssey, develops a threatening and sorrowful tone through his use of diction throughout

The Odyssey is a folk epic poem that picks up at the end of another folk epic poem titled The Iliad. Homer, who is said to be a blind poet, has been credited with writing both of these works, however it is believed that the stories of The Iliad and The Odyssey were told verbally for many centuries and Homer happened to be the one who took the opportunity to write them down. Due to it being written centuries ago, The Odyssey uses classical diction that seems odd in modern-day language. The diction used in The Odyssey presents a laudatory tone throughout the poem.

If you were married, would you still be in love with your spouse if they were gone for 20 years? Try reading an ancient and epic poem, told and written by Homer, titled the Odyssey. The odyssey is a well known tale relating to a man named Odysseus on a very treacherous journey home, for about 20 years, from the Trojan war. Poseidon, god of the seas was the main cause of the length of time it took Odysseus to get home, because of one sinful act. Odysseus has blinded one of Poseidon's sons, which caused Poseidon to punish Odysseus by keeping him from home as long as possible.

In the Odyssey the author Homer uses different literary devices to engage the reader and to make the story more detailed. The purpose of imagery in the Odyssey is to help the reader imagine what is going on in the story by using their senses. The purpose of homeric similes in the Odyssey is to compare something unknown to the reader using a simile to better understand what is going on in the story. The purpose of dramatic irony in the Odyssey is to create suspense by having the reader know something that the characters do not know. Homer uses imagery in the Odyssey to help the audience imagine what is going on in the story in a descriptive way that has reader use their senses.

All four sources that incorporate sirens deliver the message of temptation, but each convey the idea in a different manner(SoW #2, Compound Sentence). The separate elements of each work uses figurative language, visual imagery, and word choices. Although they all differ, all four pieces of literature share several commonalities(SoW #3, Introductory subordinate clause). The epic poem, The Odyssey, and painting, “Ulysses and the Sirens”, convey their messages very differently, as the epic uses visual imagery and figurative language, yet the painting uses its colors and subject placement. Additionally, the poem and song share the use of word choice and tone, but the uses of imagery and tempo differ.

Odysseus’s will to go home is diminished by distracting beautiful women. During his journey he comes across many beautiful women. Odysseus spends years with a nymph named Calypso only leaving the comfort of the island because Hermes tells that Calypso must let Odysseus go home. “Son of Laerte; versatile Odysseus after these years with me you still desire your old home?” (lines 101-104) Odysseus said yes, even with her beauty Odysseus’s mind was still set on getting home to his family. Even though his mind was set to go home his some of his men’s weren’t; some ate lotus flowers and lost all desire to go home. Once Odysseus got home he was not discouraged by Penelopes doubt that an old beggar is Odysseus. He let Penelope test him. “Peace; let your mother test me at her leisure before long she will see and know me best.”(lines 1331-1332) Odysseus is not just going to give up at the end of his journey. Odysseus is confident that he will pass any test Penelope throws his way. No matter the challenge or distraction Odysseus’s will to go home is strong and eventually

In Edwin Muir’s, “The Return of Odysseus,” Muir lays out the chaos and destruction that is occurring in the home of Odysseus while he is still trying to return home after the war. The suitors have trashed palace of Odysseus while Penelope´s chamber is filled sorrow. Penelope sits alone and weaves a shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes with tears of sorrow for her husband while the anarchy surrounds her. Muir uses juxtaposition, imagery, metaphors, anaphora, and personification to describe Penelope as a depressed and loyal person create the melancholy and chaotic tone of the poem.