Similes In The Iliad

Provide significant details about the author (120-1): Homer Style5 conventions (121) - Homer used invocation, this is when someone, most likely the hero, asks for help, in medias res, this is when there is something in the middle of a story without any preamble, epic similes, this is a very detailed simile and it can be multiple lines long, metrical similes, this is the rhythm of the poem, and stock epithets, this is a descriptive phrase. Philosophies (Women)- Homer portrays women as strong characters. (Sparknotes.com→ paraphrased) Criticism- There are some who have said that Homer never even lived.

“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 Odyssey by Homer is an epic tale about the Greek hero Odysseus and his adventures back home to Ithaca. With the assumption that he had died, Odysseus’ wife Penelope and son Telemachus face off a group of suitors looking to court Penelope. A major theme found in The Odyssey is the notion of revenge. Additionally, a recurrent literary device—the epic simile—appears throughout the story, wherein comparisons are made in the form of similes, except on a grander scale. Homer utilizes a couple of epic similes in Book XXII to fully substantiate the formidability of Odysseus’ thirst for revenge against the suitors and his traitorous servants through the use of violent imagery.

For example, in the episode “The Land of the Dead”, Odysseus reported, “Then I addressed the blurred and breathless dead.” (Homer 1065). This represents bravery because Odysseus went to the Underworld to see Tiresias, the Underworld is an extremely fiery, spine-chilling place. It takes a truly brave person to go there. The author uses imagery in the quote, by saying “the blurred and breathless dead”, it helps the reader visualize the dreary people Odysseus is seeing.

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.

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.

In the Iliad, hospitality is a reoccurring theme that can change situations, inspire character development, and link itself with other themes to make concrete points. Throughout the Iliad, situations are dramatically shifted when hospitality is used. In many cases, when things are going awry, hospitality allows the characters to, instead of acting like animals, find the humanity inside themselves. For example, in book nine, Nestor proposes a feast for Achilles to try and get him to rejoin the Greek force. Hospitality is especially important in this example, because Achilles was angry but also hospitable.

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.

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.

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 depictions of human beings in classical Greek works, like Homers Iliad is comparable to how Job is treated during his trial. In the Iliad during the Trojan War, the gods including Zeus and his wife Hera gather at Olympus to feast. The feast has its course during heavy human’s battles, the pawns are fighting one another for their lives. The gods are unmoved by the mortal’s pain and agony who face the sword. Instead, they indulge laughter and talk about who would be victorious, they viewed it as a sport.

A man 's duty in the Iliad is on the battlefield, this plays into E.R. Dodd 's ' theory of the "shame culture"17 which he considers to be an integral part of the society of the Iliad. Hector, for example, "like a good soldier"18 has been trained to "take his place on the front line."19 However, when Andromache begs Hector to retreat and not fight she, again, is herself "going against the grain"20 as Hector told her because she is not playing into this culture of shame where "shame is a motivating force." 21 Helen, though, in this instance, arguably is not acting transgressive. We can understand this through Paris, who, is saved by Aphrodite during his duel where he is taken back to safety in his palace.

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! /

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.