How Does Homer Use Epic Similes In The Iliad

    Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.

Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey translated by Robert Fagles completely illustrate Odysseus’s journey home after The Trojan War. Separated into twenty-four different books, the poem describes the hardships Odysseus faces and how he overcomes obstacles. Though this poem is composed for listeners and may seem incomprehensible, Homer includes a plethora of literary devices to help audiences better understand, follow, and enjoy the context of The Odyssey. Throughout this poem instances of epic simile, foreshadowing, epithet, and xenia are included to help the poem flow.

Homer's epic simile in Book V of The Odyssey, comparing Odysseus hiding himself in a pile of leaves to the way a burning coal is buried in the embers of a fire, reveals his determination to survive and will power despite his feeble condition. Odysseus has survived a shipwreck, struggled at sea, and countless other near-death experiences until he finally washes up on a shore where he finds refuge for the night between two bushes with a pile of leaves on top of interweaving plants. Homer compares Odysseus to a “bed of embers [fueled by]... a fresh brand” (Homer V. 514). Near-death, scarcely breathing, crawling face down with exhaustion, Odysseus experiences the same fate as what a fire experiences every night; a fire is kept alive all night with

Themes, in literature, give purpose to a story, and that is why figurative language is the best way to convey them; not only can it help the author get their idea across, but it also allows the reader to interpret the meaning in their own perspective. Homer, when he wants to highlight an idea, he utilizes figurative language to exaggerate and uncover the theme, in this case it’s obedience.

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 Book 21, lines 406-9 of his Odyssey, 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. Here, Odysseus, disguised as the stranger, reunites with his bow for the first time since returning to Ithaka. He admires it and analyzes it to ensure it is truly his, and he then proceeds to string it effortlessly. On the surface, one observes how Odysseus’ effortless ability, alongside his awareness of his ability to do so will lead the suitors to a sorrowful fate.

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.

The building of the Transcontinental Railroad caused many complications for the Natives lifestyle. The railroad was the main cause of the loss of the Native’s traditional hunting grounds, and buffaloes (bison), which are the animal that plain tribes depended on when it came to meat for nourishment, fur for blankets or for trade, and clothing.

In The Odyssey by Homer, figurative language is used to describe the challenges Odysseus faces while trying to achieve his ultimate objective. The use of similes, symbolism, and metaphors in the text are to show and describe the obstacles that Odysseus had to endure during and after his journey to get home and his battle to get it back. First, Homer uses symbolism to explain that Odysseus and his men were near the grasp of death, meaning they were gonna die if they didn’t do anything against Polyphemus, the cyclops. After Odysseus and his men got into the cyclops house and got caught, they had made Polyphemus intoxicated. They tricked him into believing that Odysseus’s name was nobody and after he fell asleep stabbed him with a giant stick

I will argue that we may view the woman as representative of Odysseus’ grief in his moment of pity and pain, the simile in its entirety may be regarded as analogous to a potential future for his own oikos. Should he fail to return home or succeed to return only to deceit and demise, Odysseus will initiate the splintering of his home into the rabid hands of the suitors. The simile shifts from referring solely to Odysseus to encompass the possible fate of his entire household. This promotes the idea that this hero reaps what he sows for, as the perpetrator of like monstrosity, he faces the tragedy of a future akin to that of his own surviving victims.

In the Odyssey, the Gods play a big role as well as the figurative language in the story. Figurative language is one of the best way to solve one out of the many themes in any story. In the Odyssey, the theme that was picked out was in relation to the Gods, and was also do not put your faith in something you cannot see. In other words, Odysseus should have not put his faith in the Gods.

housands of years that the epic story the Iliad has survived, which is credited to the famous Greek poet, Homer. In the 2004 film Troy, directed by Wolfgang Peterson, the plot resembles and is based from the epic poem, the Iliad. When the movie Troy was released, there was criticism on how even though the movie was based off of the Iliad, there were numerous differences from the Iliad itself. Even with its differences, the movie, Troy, does have many similarities to the Iliad. Even though there are numerous similarities and differences between the epic poem and the movie, this essay will focus on the major differences and similarities to compare the two.

The Homeric simile is a trademark of the epic poem. It describes an extended simile, which continues for lines on end, and the extended simile’s vehicle often describes multiple characteristics of its tenor (Cite Sharon Hamilton!). Homer uses the Homeric simile throughout The Iliad to describe the Trojan or Achaean people and/or army as a group. Yet, the Homeric simile also applies to an individual many times throughout the text, specifically, The Iliad’s protagonist: Achilles. Achilles is a complex and dynamic character. Despite his almost superhuman strength defining his identity, he rejects the heroic code, and his fated downfall in The Iliad’s Book 24 ultimately defines him. The Homeric simile symbolizes Achilles’ strength in battle,

The Ancient Greeks idealized and worshiped their heroes, this is portrayed in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. To become a hero in ancient Greece, one would have to live and die in pursuit of glory and honor. Both Achilles and Hector seek victory in battle to become the “true hero.” Although both characters possess many hero-like qualities, Hector proved to be the genuine hero.

Nowhere in the Iliad is Hector's superiority more obvious than when he is contrasted with his brother Paris, the man who bears the sole responsibility for the chaos and terror that engulfs Troy. Hector finds Paris "polishing (and) fondling his splendid battle-gear, his shield and breastplate, turning over and over his long curved bow" (VI, 243-245).