Figurative Language In Homer's The Odyssey

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.

Though it may seem strange, a poem that is almost 3,000 years old symbolizes the obstacles I will soon face in my life. This epic poem is The Odyssey by Homer. Many believe that the obstacles in this story are not to be taken literally, but that they provide deeper messages or morals. The Odyssey is a perfect allegory for life. When a reader looks at the story at the surface, it seems that it is simply about a Greek man, Odysseus, trying to return home land of Ithaca while he must fight monsters and avoid magical dangers.

The pathos and ethos of cultures is often discernable in literary narratives as expressions of the sentiment of approval or disapproval. Thus, the impact of literary narratives on cultures cannot be understated; the arts do impact and influence culture in both positive and negative ways. This is not a new phenomenon and can be observed in cultures as early as 6 Century B.C. and can be traced throughout human history. An example of this can be seen in Homer’s Odyssey, in which there are certain characters within the narrative that portray what is known as “arete.” Arete is viewed as a desirable character trait which some define as the display of perseverance, quick-wittedness, prowess, valor, etc.

In the scenes “The Cyclops”, similes help the audience to understand Odysseus and how much danger he is in. The example of Odysseus losing his crew proves that he is encouraged so he still continues to search for Ithaca. “There as a whirlpool drank the

Summary: Cyclops In the story, Odysseus is still speaking to the Phaeacians, but is now telling them of his encounter with Polyphemus, the cyclops. Strong winds blew Odysseus and his men to Polyphemus’ island, where they unloaded and entered a cave that Polyphemus happened to live in. When he entered the cave, he closed the entrance with a large boulder that only he could move, trapping himself, his sheep, and Odysseus inside. After he ate some of Odysseus’ men, Odysseus devised a plan to get the cyclops to move the boulder so that the men could escape.

This book in The Odyssey mainly highlights the absolute massacre of the suitors in the hall performed by Odysseus. In my group, I had been assigned the category of effectiveness. Similar to most if not all books in The Odyssey, book 22 contains several instances of figurative language to spice the story up. Not only that, but the book can detail many events in-depth, giving it a more drawn-out and emphasized feel. For example, before Antinous is killed by Odysseus, the book is quoted, “the cup was in his finger; the wine was even at his lips; did he dream of death?”(Homer 22, 8-10).

Finally, he develops the character our hero of this epic, Odysseus. Homer illustrates using character, symbolism and irony to reiterate that legerdemain or trickery isn’t always used for bad. The Odyssey illustrates the necessity to use deception to get out of life threatening situations. Polyphemus, is eating Odysseus’s companions. Odysseus quickly devises a trick, to escape Polyphemus.

I will be comparing the two translations of Homer’s “Odyssey Book Twenty-One”the first translation by Robert Fitzgerald(1961) and the other by Emil V. Rieu and D.C.H Rieu(1946).Throughout this paper i will compare passages of the two text and address area where Fitzgerald and Rieu exsale and areas where there translations are sub par compared to the other. Robert Fitzgerald(1961) Rieu(1946) Upon Penélopê, most worn in love and thought, Athena cast a glance like a grey sea lifting her. Now to bring the tough bow out and bring the iron blades.

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the blind, illiterate poet Homer. It takes place in ancient Greece and tells of a man’s journey home from war. The topic, intervention of the gods, is seen throughout the book numerous times as the gods who are in favor of Odysseus lend a helping hand. It is well-known that the gods are very important to the Greeks. In this epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates the importance of the positive and encouraging intervention of the gods in Greek culture; the brave actions, encouraging words, and cunning strategies of Athena as she assists and guides Odysseus on his journey back home.

We can depict this through a quote found in chapter 9, “A wind from seaward served him, drove us there. We are survivors, these good men and I.” Being the heartless creature the cyclops is, he still goes on to eat Odysseus’ men, shocking them as they believed they should have gotten better treatment and a gracious greeting from the Cyclops as if they were noble heroes. However, soon Odysseus learns that

Odysseus illustrates, “he knocked them dead like pups - their brains gushed out all over, soaked the floor - and ripping them limb from limb to fix his meal he bolted them down like a mountain-lion” (9.327-329) A “mountain-lion” is a predator which has no regard for the lives of species it sees as lesser than itself. The Cyclops sees humans as less than itself, “ripping them limb from limb.” At this point in the tale, the crew had not done anything to provoke the Cyclops. The brute kills them with no reason, meaning he enjoys killing, rather than doing it for revenge.

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.

“The Odyssey.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Norton, 2001, pp. 225–530. Lawall, Sarah N., and Maynard Mack. “The Aeneid.”

In spite of the fact that Homer’s Odyssey is an epic story of a man’s gallant journey, women play a huge part throughout. Their unique yet controversial personalities, intentions, and relationships are vital to the development of this epic and adventurous journey of Odysseus. The poem by Homer was written at a time when women had an inferior position in society, yet that didn’t stop them from being any less influential. All of the women throughout the Odyssey possess different qualities, but all of them help to define the role of the ideal woman.

Siegel, J. "The Coens’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Homer’s Odyssey. " Mouseion: Journal of the Classical Association of Canada, vol. 7 no. 3, 2007, pp. 213-245. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/mou.0.0029