Imagery In The Odyssey

Achilles vs Hektor The Iliad, an epic poem by Homer, takes place in the tenth year of the Trojan War. Recalling important events that take place bringing the war to an end the poem uses figurative language and literary devices to enhance its characters, presenting similarities and differences between how the characters handle specific situations and how they deal with the concept of masculinity. For example Homer uses the method of literary foils. A foil is a character that depicts traits that differ with the traits of another character. In The Iliad, Achilles and Hektor are foil characters.

The grief and depression that is caused by the loss of loved ones in war greatly affects family members in Homer’s epic. Menelaos is one person who suffers loss caused by war. After fighting in the arduous Trojan war and achieving victory, the violent sea shipwrecks him and his companions on their way home. As a result of the loss of all of his friends, Menelaos feels “...nothing but grief...for

One of the founding principles in the Iliad is the Homeric code. The hero’s belief that honor is more important than anything, even death. They strive for this allusive concept of immortality through the deeds they accomplish and the honor that they are able to attach to their name and lineage. It is a theme that helps to carry the story line along and gives a viable reason for his characters to act on certain ways. A Homeric character does not fear death in its entirety; instead he fears the shame of a dishonorable death and not achieving that allusive perfection that they seek to define themselves as.

The Odyssey would be less memorable without Homer’s masterful use of figurative language. This poem can only stand the test of time when the figurative language is used to help readers relate to the text no matter what time period they come from. Figurative language in the text has made the story as a whole more interesting and has made countless readers engaged by this tale of, in Homer’s own words, “that man skilled in all ways of contending.” (p. 813,

Through Patroclus, Homer presents to the readers how each individual in the Homeric world would perceive oneself being denied proper funeral rituals. He also presents the perceived importance of proper funeral rituals in the eyes of the Homeric society at large, as at the conclusion of the duel between the great Aiax and the Hector in Book VII, Nestor, whose “plans and tactics always seemed the best” (Iliad 7.373), makes the following suggestion to stop all battle on the next day to pay proper respect to their

“The Odyssey” There is a man named Odysseus also referred to as King of Ithica. One day he had to be the leader he was and flee off to war, leaving his wife Penelope and newborn son Telemachus on their own as they waited for his arrival back home patiently. This story can be known as a story of a veteran because the main character, Odysseus, underwent various challenges that no normal mortal could ever survive, and he never gave up because his loyalty to his land and family was so strong. The Odyssey has figurative language in the text to help associate with the feelings of characters and that helps us understand their emotions and also helps us get more of an understanding of the text. The Odyssey uses figurative language to effectively share the message with

Sean Ugarte Dr. Guendel RH 103 February 21, 2023 Homer's effectiveness in relating to the audience in the Illiad The Iliad is a classical narrative that dates back to the 8th century BCE and is one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature that is still commonly read in modern times. The Iliad is an epic composed of 24 books that narrate the final years of the trojan war; in which they were against Greece due to the abduction of Queen Helen of Sparta. Greece was considered an oral culture when The Iliad was recited around the country. This raised questions on the differences between oral and written cultural characteristics on how the story is executed and what effect it has on the audience.

“… he gripped up two of my men at once and dashed them down upon the ground as though they had been puppies.” (21) This was the first Homeric simile that caught my eye. This Homeric simile gave me the impression that a giant was throwing humans brutally against the ground. With that small clip of a scene many people may predict that the giant kills everyone.

In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer displays vulnerability and human mortality during Odysseus’ journey back home to Ithica. Figurative language is used to do so in the story, among other reasons such as using visualization and helping the audience understand the key points of the story. In The Odyssey, Homer used figurative language to show the audience that humans are vulnerable and completely mortal. In the scene of Polythemus and his cave, figurative language is used to help the audience understand that Odysseus and his men are mortal and vulnerable to the immense cyclopes.

In Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, Homer describes nine days of the Trojan War, focusing on Achille’s anger. Achilles, the best Greek warrior, becomes furious at the Greek commander Agamemnon due to a power struggle. Achilles decides not to fight, with the Greeks fighting the Trojans without their best warrior. Both sides battle gruesomely, with Homer often using literary devices to develop the brutality of war.

We can depict this conclusion through the quote found in Chapter 9 ”Now, by the gods, as I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men along with battle talk to keep their courage up: no quitting now.” Odysseus and his men were very adamant about escaping and strategically injuring the cyclops, instead of crying aloud and yelling to the gods, courage rained down on them. The encouraging words that Homer uses instantly lifts the mood to triumphant environs. In retrospect, Homer uses diction and imagery to display distinct shifts in tone stimulating the reader's senses and evoking strong emotion in the reader. In this excerpt from “The Odyssey,” Homer’s brilliant diction shows the reader a valuable lesson, that things do not always go as you planned them to, making unintellegent assumptions will often hurt you in situations, but you can always turn a negative situation around by stabbing a cyclops in the eye

In the epic poem, the Iliad written by Homer, several characters taking part in the warfare between the Achaeans and the Trojans are portrayed as embodying the heroic code of courage, physical strength, leadership, arete of value of honour, and the acceptance of fate. The heroic code is illustrated by the actions of the Trojan prince, Hector and the Achaeans strongest warrior, Achilles. Both of these characters display the Greek’s image of a hero, and can also let the reader discern what the society admires, looks up to and aspires to in its heroes. There are also characters who fail to be heroic, such as the Trojan “vivid and beautiful” prince, Paris. These characters in the Iliad illustrate the qualities that Ancient Greek society values.

(Homer 257) “Either I shall kill him and return in triumph, or I shall die with honour

The dramatically different ways in which Homer and Virgil depict defining moments within their epics, perfectly sheds light upon the different intentions of between their epics. Even in spite of Homer’s work serving as a clear influence to Vergil’s work, the varying intent of the two epics lead to a completely different story. In essence, the purpose for Homer’s epic is primarily to entertain the audience, while the other is to serve as a piece of political propaganda and affirm the greatness of Rome. Furthermore, the different depictions of the underworld, along with the imagery adorned on the shields also communicate another key difference,which is the author’s perspective on the purpose of life. Overall, regardless of Homer’s influence

Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.