Students will quote the epithet, identify the lines where the epithet was found, and note the character or object the epithet describes. Students will use this chart to record the epithets they find while reading the odyssey. Figurative language in the odyssey consists of metaphors, personification, and epic or homeric similes. Oct 28, 2019 the epithets, generally compound adjectives, are picturesque, which certainly helps make the assignment of character to epithet memorable. A characteristic of homers style is the use of epithets, as in rosyfingered dawn or swiftfooted achilles. Penelopes fat hand reconsidered odyssey 21, 6 jstor. Following are examples of epic similes in the odyssey. Two examples are the iliad and the odyssey, both credited to a greek poet named homer. One notable exception is achilles, particularly in relation to how he was depicted in the iliad, the immediate predecessor to the odyssey. Usually called an epithet or a homeric epithet, but sometimes called a homeric epitaph, it is one of the most noticeable features of homers works the iliad and the odyssey. Most prominent is a contest involving a mystical weapon that only the hero can wield. In the odyssey, homer employs most of the literary and poetic devices associated with epics. An early example of this is the boar hunt that gave odysseus the scar by which eurycleia recognizes him.
So, for example, when he refers to odyssey as a man of many schemes or much. The odyssey books 46 summary the odyssey by homer books 46 summary and analysis. Sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of troy. Homeric epithets for the worlds most famous people book riot. Describe what happens later in book 21 when odysseus is asked to string the bow.
Jan 04, 2018 literary devices use in the odyssey download b26e86475f literary analysis the odyssey essay. A simple twosided handout for use with examining and understanding epithets in the odyssey. Examples most of the important people in the iliad have a special epithet that serves as an extra name. Jul 31, 2018 for a succinct discussion, see norman austin 2009, 9293 from his essay name magic in the odyssey in l. Eide, poetical and metrical value of homeric epithets. Among other things, eustathius obviously plays on odysseus notorious epithet. Penelope announces the contest and retrieves odysseus great backsprung bow from a secret storeroom deep in the palace. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. Personification in the odyssey homers the odyssey and other greek tales often use personification more than any other kind of story. The odyssey is one of two major ancient greek epic poems attributed to homer.
Students will develop vocabulary and close reading skills by working through their odyssey packets. In the story the odyssey there are a couple temptress. Epithets are a characteristic of oral poetry and epic style. The first four books of the poem trace telemachus efforts to assert control of the household, and then, at athenas advice. Which got me thinking what would other peoples epithets be. What are some of the most common examples of metaphors in. Epithets are one of the characteristics of an epic. Once the bow is strung he must shoot the arrow through a series of axe ends of which are the shape of loops. Summary and analysis book 21 odysseus strings his bow.
Start studying the odyssey book 21 vocabularyquestions. The other side provides a table of characters in book 5, asking students to fin. Holt literature textbook 9th grade unit 11 the odyssey. Odysseus succeeds where the suitors failed, attaching the bowstring to a difficult to bend bow. The odyssey books 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 flashcards quizlet. An archetype is a character type, place, or symbol, every culture shares. Hmm well the odyssey was certainly filled with many metaphors and similes that homer liked to dabble with in order to really portray emotion to his audience. Epic similesepithets in book 9 of the odyssey, odysseus. Page references are to the penguin edition of martin hammonds iliad. What are two examples of epithets from the odyssey answers.
For the firsttime reader, probably the hardest thing about homers odyssey is its language. Literary devices of the odyssey book summaries, test. The poet invokes the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. Odyssey book x continued epic conventions 112 minutes objectives. He is about to succeed on his fourth try when odysseus privately signals him to back off. Epic similes are an elaborate comparison between two unlike objects using like or as. Ithaca thrinacia scylla and charybdis sparta ogygia calypso mediterranean seaimportant characters in the odyssey in order of mentionbook 1 cyclopes sfklippcza race of book 12helios hcplcjsqthe sun god, oneeyed giants. Homer also repeats epithets, or descriptive phrases, for characters. In book 24, the suitors families attack, but odysseus and his family fight back and win. Epithets are used because of the constraints of the dactylic hexameter i. If youve read any homeric poetry, like the odyssey or the iliad, youve surely encountered epithets, brief phrases describing a person or thing. The odyssey has many different archetypes that are still relevant in literature, film art, and theater.
Homer drew on a long oral tradition of telling the greek myths, and this heritage is seen in the repetition of epithets, introductory phrases, and. The map shows just how many places and islands he visited. One of the recurrent imagery elements that unites the odyssey as a work is constant feasting, usually complete with libations and sacrifices to the relevent gods ships and seafaring. Excellent rappers are also able to land homerific similies eminem comes to mind, or perhaps nicki minaj. Given the epic nature of the poem, very little is understated. At the beginning of odyssey 21, athena inspires penelope to set the bow contest. Odysseia is the second of the two epic poems attributed to the ancient greek poet homer the first being the iliad, and usually considered the second extant work of western literature. Thickandfast as the snow comes swirling down from zeus, frozen sharp when the north wind born in heaven blasts it on so massed, so dense the glistening burnished helmets shone, streaming out of the ships and shields with jutting bosses, breastplates welded front and back and long ashen spears. In the odyssey homer uses archetypes to evoke meaning to the story. One side provides background and detail for what epithets are, how they are used, and what they can reveal about a character.
Lombardos version is especially close to modern spoken english on shmoop, we quote from the 1950s version by. In book 18 of the odyssey penelope decides to leave her room in. It is an excellent introduction and even college students having read the epic before would enjoy it. If in truth you are odysseus distrust and persuasion. The odyssey is a heroic tale of a man on a mission with many obstacles to overcome. The most complex, arguably, is the greek polutropos poll. Oct 18, 2016 hmm well the odyssey was certainly filled with many metaphors and similes that homer liked to dabble with in order to really portray emotion to his audience. Foreshadowing in the odyssey homer uses foreshadowing to build anticipation and tension throughout the story. Odysseus, the muchenduring, is an important character in the iliad, but he is central to the odyssey, where he gets even more epithets. What must the stringer of the bow do with his shot. Homer composed the odyssey in a meter known as dactylic hexameter, which gives the epic its elevated style. Get an answer for what are the epithets in books 14 in the odyssey. If the iliad is the worlds greatest war epic, then the odyssey is liter.
In particular, the climax of the book is the slaughtering of suitors and hanging of traitorous servants by odysseus, telemachus, and athena. For sport, telemachus attempts to string the bow and fails three times. In beowulf, for example, the hero beowulf strikes down his foes grendels. Homers odyssey originally printed in california studies in classical antiquity 5 1972 119, available through jstor. In book four telemachus is greeted warmly by menelaus who feeds him and listens to his plea for information about his father. Achilles bemoans his state, saying that he would rather.
It was probably composed near the end of the 8th century bce and is, in part, a sequel to the iliad. It is widely recognized as one of the great stories of all time, and. What are some examples of epithets from books 1012. Epithets from odyssey books 1 to 12 fagles translation. This entire chapter has foreshadowing and it is very clear that the final battle is close at hand. And were not even asking you to read it in ancient greek.
Concepts, animals, and objects were thought to be the gods taking earthly form, therefore personification was used to embody the gods on earth. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 themes all themes fate, the gods, and free will piety, customs, and justice cunning, disguise, and selfrestraint memory and grief glory and honor. Get an answer for what are some examples of epithets from books 1012, 22, and 24 of the odyssey. If youre really struggling, you could check out some uptodate translations by robert fagles and stanley lombardo. Mar 22, 20 my fiance and i were joking the other day about what our homeric epithets would be. We learn that poseidon, god of the sea, holds a grudge though we dont know exactly why against odysseus and is making the guys voyage home a pretty difficult one. It is a tag or nickname that can be used on its own or together with the real name, depending on other features of the greek language.
The odyssey tells the story of a man trying to return home to his family after the battle of troy. The odyssey rap posted above is very entertaining and creative. Some examples of archetypes in the odyssey are the temptress, and the fatherson conflict. Telemachus tries it first, to set an example, but he cant even string the bow. And in the usual show of arete, he kills his suitors. Eventually, telemachus learns the rumor that odysseus was being held captive by the nymph calypso. As the journey largely consists in travel between islands, a great deal of imagery is committed to descriptions of odysseus various vessels, and how they fare on their various legs of the voyage. Some of the archetypes include the trickster, the mentor, the temptress and the underworld archetype. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Because this tale was originally told orally, homer had to keep the audience entertained and paying attention to the story by using literary devices like foreshadowing and dramatic irony. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Composed around 700 bc, the odyssey is one of the earliest epics still in existence and, in many ways, sets the pattern for the genre, neatly fitting the definition of a primary epic that is, one that grows out of oral tradition. For a succinct discussion, see norman austin 2009, 9293 from his essay name magic in the odyssey in l.
What are some examples of epithets from books 1012, 22, and 24 of the odyssey. All that is left is the final battle and perhaps the true homecoming. Asked in stereotypes what element do writers rely on the most to reveal the character mood dialogue epithets. While the odyssey is not as graphic as its predecessor, the iliad, it still has a good deal of violent imagery. The odyssey is an epic poem and epic similes in the odyssey abound. Specifically the fifty most famous people in the world, according to this list. Underlined page numbers refer to the penguin edition of e. Aug 22, 20 an archetype is a character type, place, or symbol, every culture shares. Literary devices use in the odyssey download b26e86475f literary analysis the odyssey essay. Epithet comes from the greek for putting something on something. There are 21 similes in the 909 lines of book 5, or an average of one simile in every 43 lines. Homer even gives us a metaphor for the poems tone, when he compares odysseus stringing his bow to a singer tuning his lyre book xxi, lines 404411.
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