Hyperbole In The Odyssey

The Odyssey Commentary

The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, on his long journey home after fighting in the Trojan war. As Odysseus is trying to return home he encounters many obstacles that present to be extremely difficult and challenging. However, these challenges help Odysseus grow as a character and teach him many valuable lessons. A particular trial he and his men faced was getting trapped in the Cyclops, Polyphemus' cave. In order to save himself and his crew, Odysseus devises a plan to trick the Cyclops and escape. As Homer develops Odysseus' character as the hero of the Odyssey, he employs epic conventions such as extended similes, epic hero characteristics, as well as the stylistic technique of hyperbole to further develop

At the beginning of the passage, the Cyclops seals the door shut with a boulder that only he can move to ensure Odysseus and his men won't escape. As part of his grand plan to escape, Odysseus then offers Polyphemus wine after he brutally eats six of Odysseus' men. The Cyclops exaggerates the quality and potency of the wine saying, “this is nectar, ambrosia-this flows from heaven,” and that the, “full-bodied wine and the rains from Zeus build its strength” (Homer, 222). The hyperbole states the wine was raining from heaven; however, previously in the passage, it was revealed that Odysseus offered Polyphemus wine from his ship. Homer also expresses Polyphemus’ want for more wine as “he demanded a second bowl” (Homer, 222). The use of this hyperbole emphasizes the temptation and strength of the wine as the Cyclops continues to ask for more before he passes out. In addition, the exaggeration of the wine also reveals how the Cyclops is easily

Homer uses an extended simile to compare Odysseus' actions to those of a blacksmith submerging an ax in frigid water to help readers better understand what is happening. Homer describes the scene by saying “so we seized our stake…in the giant’s eye till blood came boiling up around that smoking shaft…its crackling roots blazed and hissed— as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens…the eye of the Cyclops sizzled round that stake”(Homer 223). The purpose of the simile is to provide the readers with a more concrete image of the scene, and to demonstrate Odysseus' smart thinking. If he had simply killed the Cyclops, there would have been no way for him and his crew mates to escape the cave. By using the simile, Homer is able to show the reader both the violence of the act and develop Odysseus' cunning