Analysis of Similes in the Illiad

A detailed Summary of Analysis of Similes in the Illiad

In the Iliad, Homer finds a great tool in the simile. Just

by opening the book in a random place the reader is undoubtedly

faced with one, or within a few pages. Homer seems to use

everyday activities, at least for the audience, his fellow

Greeks, in these similes nearly exclusively. When one is

confronted with a situation that is familiar, one is more likely

to put aside contemplating the topic and simply inject those

known feelings. This would definitely be an effective tactic

when used upon the people of Homer's day. From the heroic efforts

in the Iliad itself it is clear that the populace of his time

were highly emotional creatures, and higher brain activity seems

to be in short, and in Odysseus' case, valuable, order.

It is also wise to remember that history is written by the

winners. In the Iliad, there seems to be relatively little

storyline from the Trojan's side. We are regaled with story upon

story of the Greeks, their heroes, and their exploits, while the

Trojan's are conspicuously quiet, sans Hector of course. It could

almost be assumed that throughout time most of the knowledge of

the battle from the Trojan side had been lost.

and gracefulness, but little reference to battle prowess, thus

the gall to flaunt this frivolous armor in a situation that calls

of the splendor and decadence of this armor, as wonderful as

Later in the same book Ptolemaeus is Homer's vehicle for

cranes bring to mind large, pure, graceful characteristics,

return to the Scamander: "They stood as thick upon the

line of battle he likens them to "frightened fawns who, when they

a flight of wild fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain

rain." This simile lends to the characters of the two,

using the similes that Homer used. These similes brought the

Approximate Word count = 2011
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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