Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the oldest works of Western literature, second only to Homer’s Iliad. It’s influence on Western culture ranges from the characters and story, to his innovative writing style, characterized by his use of literary devices. Though Homer uses many literary devices in his telling of The Odyssey, epic similes are one of the most vital part of the storytelling. They allow the reader to envision the scene in a different way, comparing it to descriptions that can be vividly imagined in the head.
Clever, heroic and cocky. these are the words that come to my mind when I think of Odysseus from the Odyssey. Although some people think Odysseus is not a hero nevertheless he is because he always did his best to save, help and was loyal to his men he also never gave up on returning back home to Ithaca to be with his wife Penelope and his son
Homers use of similes help the reader understand how he is comparing a certain thing, like a specific character, to something else. His Homeric similes go into depth when comparing two different objects, and continues to help the reader view what is happening in the book. Homers unsuspected similes draw the readers attention in humorous, strange ways, and his similes give more understanding. In the end of Book 5, Odysseus is being compared to an ember that has not burn out yet, and is still glowing or barely burning.
Without these peculiar, but precious traits, Odysseus would never had made it home. Odysseus’s quality of craftiness and quick thinking contributes to his intelligence. When he fought the cyclopes in “Book 9,” he had to think quick on his feet to help save him and the
“… 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.
There are a lot of leaders in Greek mythology that use deceit and dishonesty to accomplish their own goals. One example of this is the Greek hero Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer. Throughout the story Odysseus uses a lot of clever and deceitful tactics to get his men and himself out trouble. Odysseus’s deceit and dishonesty may help Odysseus, but it causes in the end causes for Odysseus to lose his leadership, loyalty skills and a less desirable outcome.
In this passage from The Odyssey, Homer uses an epic simile comparing Odysseus’ crew to calves and Odysseus to a cow and a second simile comparing Odysseus to Ithaca in order to portray the sense of reliance and loyalty the men have for their leader. In the book, Odysseus has just returned from Circe’s palace where some of the crew had disappeared. Since the men chosen to venture into Circe’s home did not return, the rest of the crew thought Odysseus would also not make it back to the ship. When Homer writes that the men are, “bucking out of their pens, lowing nonstop, jostling, rushing round their mothers (455-456),” he conveys the men’s desparation to get to Odysseus. The phrase, “bucking out of their pens (455),” refers to the fact that Odysseus’ crew is trapped and helpless without him.
Odysseus and his men had gotten stuck in Polyphemus’s cave with no way out and unluckily for them, this cyclops liked to snack on men. Odysseus needed to think of a way to get them out of there and fast before they all became lunch to Polyphemus. Odysseus’s plan was to offer him wine and to get on his good side before he had gotten drowsy and went to bed. After the cyclops had fallen asleep, Odysseus started putting his plan into action. He had taken the trunk of an olive tree and started carving away at the edges to make a spear shape.
When most people think of a hero they think of a tall muscular man, but have you ever thought of their personalities? In the epic poem, Odyssey by Homer Odysseus and his men go on a long gruelling journey. At every turn they are battling some type of evil, but that doesn't stop him from getting home to his wife and and family. Odysseus is loyal and clever. Odysseus is loyal.
During The Odyssey, the hero and king of Ithaca, Odysseus, shows restraint which I think is the most important trait for a hero to exhibit. A very good example of this would be when he and his men were with Polyphemus. His men wanted to leave but he said to stay and see what Polyphemus looked like. Eventually when they had gotten trapped in and Polyphemus’s cave and Polyphemus has fallen asleep, Odysseus had the chance to drive a large stick into him and kill him.
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 Homer’s Odyssey Odysseus demonstrates a wise character trait which shows that he is heroic. For example in the Odyssey it states, “ Odyssey: I have a plan” ( Homer 19) When Homer states this it gave the character a smart but heroic feeling to Odysseus because he knew what to do to save his been from getting killed by they were trapped by from And instead of saving himself and risking his men lives he thought of a clever to get them out of the cave and getting them out to safety. This wise plan that he made was the way he showed wiseness in a smart life saving way which a heroic trait. In addition to this Homer also used wise character trait in a different way to show another heroic trait.
A successful leader, according to Homer, must be able to make wise choices and lead their men to victory. In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates his cunning in a variety of ways, each time giving more and more proof of his intelligence. He is well-known for being one of the most cunning epic heroes ever in Greek mythology. The epic scene when Odysseus introduces himself as Noman to attack Polyphemus, "Cyclops … you wish to know the name I bear. I will tell you then, but in return I should like to have the gift you promised me.
The Odyssey The Odyssey is an ancient story with many smaller stories within it. Although the entire story is a a good and fascinating one, there is one section of the story that is particularly interesting. When Odysseus and his men are trying to get home from Aiaia, they encounter the Scylla.
The story of the great artists of literature is glorified by history tells their tale. Homer is such one great poet. He is the author of the epic-tale of the Greek-Troy war entitled the Iliad. Homer immortalized it and its epic heroes .In this essay, I will examine the similes, that immortalize Homer as a poet, consider the canonization of his work, and end up offering a short poem as an example of how a literary work can become canonical.
