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Imagery In The Odyssey

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In the epic poem The Iliad by Homer, The Iliad’s premise surrounds Achilles anger, the Trojan war, and the god’s influence on it all. Homer uses literary devices to convey the glory and/or horror of war. Through the use of graphic imagery and sympathetic backstory Homer exemplifies the theme of the horror of war.
Homer writes about the horror and gore and battle using graphic imagery, bringing out the worst in every man. While Hector is in a duel with Patroclus, he decides to make a move towards Hectors driver: Kebriones. He strikes the driver down and Kebriones graphically dies, his eyes bursting from their sockets, plummeting to the ground. Homer describes the scene:
“Not for long in awe of the other man. he aimed and braced himself and threw the stone and scored a direct hit on Hector’s driver, …show more content…

Both brows were hit at once, the frontal bone gave way. And both his eyes burst from their sockets dropping into the dust before his feet.” (XVI, 844-853)
As Patroclus throws the stone he casts a deadly blow, killing Hector’s driver. He smashes his forehead and his eyes drop to the ground below. Homer conveys this act to violence through bright imagery to convey the horrors of war. The repeated use of graphic imagery effectively communicates the destructive forces of man and the horror that comes with it. Furthering the horrors, Homer uses sympathetic backstory to show the consequences of war. In Hector’s wife’s case, Achilles killed all 7 of her brothers and her parents, leaving her alone in the world. Homer writes:
“Then seven brothers that I has at home in one day entered Death’s dark place. Akhilleus. prince and powerful runner, killed all seven amid their shambling cattle and silvery sheep.” (VI,

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