In the epic poem The Iliad, armies and individuals on both sides of the Trojan War are compared to animals through a figure of speech called, simile. The similes reveal qualities about the nature of honor and leadership. Through out the epic, both Gods and mortals have made decisions in battle that are considered honorable or dishonorable. While the narrator does not directly say an action is honorable or dishonorable, it is implied through simile that an action is to be viewed a certain way. For example, when Agamemnon attacks a group of Trojan soldiers he is compared to a lion and, the Trojans are compared to cattle stampeding in fear of the lion. “…others still in the middle plain stampeded like cattle when a lion…has terrified the whole …show more content…
292-293). This simile is particularly interesting because of its multi-faceted nature. Hector is compared to a huntsman, unlike Agamemnon who is frequently called “shepherd of the people”. A huntsman has a very clear position, as a leader of a pack, where as a shepherd guides the sheep instead of commanding them. This simile implies that there is a difference in the style of leadership between Agamemnon and Hector. Just before they are attacked by the Trojans, in Book Ten the Acihaians army is compared to a flock of sheep that sheepdogs are watching over. This concept of the leaders being compared to sheepdogs further emphasizes the more personal relationship that the Greek leaders have with their men. These similes help clarify to the reader or listener the relationship between leader and subordinate. Also, the Trojan soldiers are compared to hounds hunting after a lion. In the Iliad, referring to a person to a dog is used as an insult, for example when Diomedes is wounded by Paris, he calls Paris “…dog…”( XI. 362). But by comparing the Trojans to hunter’s hounds instead of cattle, it shows the fluctuation of the Trojans between predator and
“Father Zeus, doesn’t it infuriate you to see this violence? We gods get the worst of it from each other whenever we try to help out men. Why did you have to give birth to that madwoman, your marauding daughter who is always breaking the rules? All the rest of us gods, everyone on Olympus, listens to you. But she can say or do whatever she wants.”
The Song of Achilles tells the story of a Greek hero, Achilles, whose name can easily be recognized as one of the great heroes of the mythical and legendary Trojan War. Yet a completely different picture is painted in Madeline Miller’s version of the story. While Achilles started out as the same familiar hero, Miller’s version was eventually overcome by the allure of fame and glory which were so important to the Greeks. Every action Achilles took was for to protect his own honor and glory, regardless of those being slaughtered around him as the war continued onwards. After the leader of the army made a foolish decision that leads to a disagreement with Achilles, Achilles and his army left the battle, and did not return even after the men beg, or after a women was raped, or even after the scales were tipped away from their favor through a deal Achilles’ goddess mother made with Zeus, king of the gods.
Through “The Iliad”, Homer builds his ideal society as Arete, meaning excellence of all kind. He emphasizes that in order to have a good life, one needs to own as many virtues as one could and avoid all the vices. Shalom is the Biblical ideal society that simply means “what it is supposed to be”. According to the bible, it should be sinless and peaceful just like times before the Fall. In both texts, wise characters can be found.
Hubris is one of the many themes that were brought up in the Iliad. Its definition is extreme pride and arrogance shown by a person that will bring downfall to that person or to others. The first time this theme is brought up is when Helen leaves with Paris. Agamemnon uses Helen as an excuse to rile up all the Greek kings. Agamemnon knew that if they beat Troy, then he would control a major passage of trade which would make him the undisputed ruler of all of Greece.
In Effie Lee Newsome’s poem, “The Bronze Legacy,” it explains about being brown and its importance. There are similes that she uses to describe the power of being brown. Being brown is “Like the strongest things that make up this earth, / Like the mountains grace and grand, / Even like the very land” (Newsome). She is comparing being brown as a part of earth and how beautiful the scenery it is. She also compared “brown like thrush and lark! /
The Odyssey, Homer, takes the reader on a man's journey back home after being faced with many struggles for 15 years. Throughout the epic poem, The Odyssey, several examples of epic concepts are shown, such as; epithets, epic similes, and archetypes. Epithets are most commonly seen throughout this epic poem. This is evident because there are many examples of epithets in each book of The Odyssey. For example when the gods and goddesses were discussing Odysseus' fate they used a epithet.
In the second scene of the same act, Lodovico says, "O spartan dog." (V.ii.424). He is once again calling Iago a dog to let the audience know that he is mad at Iago in case they couldn't tell by his tone (if you are reading the play, you cannot). These are solely in the fifth and final act for Iago but as shown previously they can be used to reference any characters to reflect any tone or mood that Shakespeare wanted
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.
The epic poem, The Iliad written by Homer shows the conflicts and events that occurred between the Greeks and Trojans during the Trojan War. Among both sides there are warriors who follow a distinct code, known as the heroic code. This Heroic code helps portray the characteristics of the warriors and their perspective on war. This distinct code is composed of many elements such as arete, acceptance of fate, honour, excellence in war, leadership, courage and power. These traits are shown within the main warriors, Hector and Achilles throughout the epic war poem and helps to guide their decisions.
Honor is one of the major themes in The Iliad. However the concept of honor in The Iliad is not the same as our current understanding of honor. Honor plays a key role in how the characters in the Iliad act, why they make certain decisions, and why the events in the Iliad occur the way they do. Nowadays, we refer to honor as an idea or concept which is closely related to fame, respect, reputation etc.
Revenge lies within us all, Revenge is an instinctive human characteristic. These emotions and actions associated are neither preventable nor controllable. Everybody has felt and taken action on the emotion of revenge, whether it 's your sibling, friend, or enemy. Revenge can bring justice but as well bring pain to someone else. Vengeance is an extremely popular emotion in today 's life whether it is terrorism or a dispute between family and friends.
The Ancient Greeks value specific qualities in a person, however they did not value other. Ancient Greeks valued these qualities based on certain achievements or on a performances in war or even inside the city walls making substantial decisions. The Iliad is an epic novel by the Greek poet Homer. The Iliad is based off of the Trojan war between the Achaeans led by King Agamemnon and the Trojans led by King Priam of Troy. This novel focuses on the actions of several characters and how the disparate gods interfered with the war to help one or the other side have a chance to win.
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.
When Hector refuses to leave Patroclus’ corpse, the Greeks cannot scare him off anymore than “shepherds out in the field can scare a tawny lion off his kill when the hunger drives the beast claw-mad” (472). Lions are often seen as “kings of the jungle” and strong, fearsome predators. Hector is perceived as the leader to the Trojan side as well as one of their strongest fighters. Lions are social creatures and have families of their own to protect, which we get to see a glimpse of Hector’s wife and child and him as a father, instead of just a
There is Goddess, Ishtar, who represents human emotions, she wanted to kill a whole city just because Gilgamesh told her the truth of what she has done to men. Achilles thrashes Hector’s dead body and refuses to allow the body to have a proper burial. Hector even asks Achilles whoever wins will give the other one a proper burial. This is honorable request, but Achilles wants none of it, he wants to let the dogs tear into Hector’s dead body. These acts showcase how cruel humans can become, and show the reader how humans can throw out all rational thoughts and become wild animals that want nothing but to harm another.