Epic or Homeric SimilesEpic or Homeric Similes

• A detailed comparison in simile form A detailed comparison in simile form that is many lines in lengththat is many lines in length

• Homer uses an object of comparison Homer uses an object of comparison that was familiar to his audiencethat was familiar to his audience

• An epic simile is used each time An epic simile is used each time Agamemnon enters battle in Agamemnon enters battle in The IliadThe Iliad. .

• Homer’s similes glorify his characters, Homer’s similes glorify his characters, enrich his text, and deepen his enrich his text, and deepen his readers’ understanding. readers’ understanding.

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos.

As when the son of crooked-As when the son of crooked-minded Kronos casts downminded Kronos casts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the and plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

portent = something that foreshadows a coming event. portent = something that foreshadows a coming event. hosts = armieshosts = armies

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olymposand she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. .

As when the son of crooked-As when the son of crooked-minded Kronos casts downminded Kronos casts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the and plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

Athena Athena

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos.

As when the son of crooked-As when the son of crooked-minded Kronosminded Kronos casts down casts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the and plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

AtheneAtheneZeusZeus

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos.

As when the son of crooked-As when the son of crooked-minded Kronos minded Kronos casts downcasts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from itglittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, , in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the and plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

AtheneAtheneZeusZeus

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,Speaking so he stirred up Athene, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos.

As when the son of crooked-As when the son of crooked-minded Kronos casts downminded Kronos casts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hostsand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the ; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

AtheneAtheneZeusZeus

Homeric Simile from Homeric Simile from The The IliadIliad::

Speaking so he stirred up Speaking so he stirred up AtheneAthene, who was eager before this,, who was eager before this,and she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olymposand she went in a flash of speed down the pinnacles of Olympos. .

As whenAs when the son of crooked- the son of crooked-minded Kronos casts downminded Kronos casts downa star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples a star, portent to sailors to widespread armies of peoples glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it,glittering, and thickly the sparks of fire break from it, in such likenessin such likeness Pallas Athene swept flashing earthward Pallas Athene swept flashing earthwardand plunged between the two hostsand plunged between the two hosts; and amazement seized the ; and amazement seized the

beholders,beholders,Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians Trojans, breaks of horses, and strong-greaved Achiaians

-from -from The IliadThe Iliad, book 4, lines 72-80, book 4, lines 72-80

Athene descending from Mt. Olympus and entering the battle on the fields Athene descending from Mt. Olympus and entering the battle on the fields of Troy is compared to blazing falling star.of Troy is compared to blazing falling star.

Book 9 from The OdysseyBook 9 from The Odyssey. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itturning it as a shipwright turns a drillturning it as a shipwright turns a drillin planking, having men below to swing in planking, having men below to swing the two-handled strap that spins it in the the two-handled strap that spins it in the

groove.groove.So with our So with our brandbrand we we boredbored that great eye that great eye

socket socket while blood ran out around the red hot barwhile blood ran out around the red hot bar

brand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbrand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbored = drillbored = drill

Book 9 from The OdysseyBook 9 from The Odyssey. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itturning it as a shipwright turns a drillturning it as a shipwright turns a drillin planking, having men below to swing in planking, having men below to swing the two-handled strap that spins it in the the two-handled strap that spins it in the

groove.groove.So with our So with our brandbrand we we boredbored that great eye that great eye

socket socket while blood ran out around the red hot barwhile blood ran out around the red hot bar

brand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbrand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbored = drillbored = drill

1) subject = spike

Book 9 from The OdysseyBook 9 from The Odyssey. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itturning it as a shipwright turns a drillturning it as a shipwright turns a drillin planking, having men below to swing in planking, having men below to swing the two-handled strap that spins it in the the two-handled strap that spins it in the

groove.groove.So with our So with our brandbrand we we boredbored that great eye that great eye

socket socket while blood ran out around the red hot barwhile blood ran out around the red hot bar

brand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbrand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbored = drillbored = drill

1) subject = spike

2) comparison= ship builder using a drill

Book 9 from The OdysseyBook 9 from The Odyssey. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it. . . they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itdeep in his crater eye, and I leaned on itturning it as a shipwright turns a drillturning it as a shipwright turns a drillin planking, having men below to swing in planking, having men below to swing the two-handled strap that spins it in the the two-handled strap that spins it in the

groove.groove.So with our So with our brandbrand we we boredbored that great eye that great eye

socket socket while blood ran out around the red hot barwhile blood ran out around the red hot bar

brand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbrand = tool used to brand, or mark, animalsbored = drillbored = drill

1) subject = spike

2) comparison= ship builder using a drill

3) return to subject to complete comparison

Extra CreditExtra Credit

• Create your own Homeric simileCreate your own Homeric simile– Establish a character, real or imaginaryEstablish a character, real or imaginary– Create a detailed comparison with Create a detailed comparison with

something your audience would be something your audience would be familiarfamiliar

– Word process. You may increase and Word process. You may increase and change font stylechange font style

– Due Monday, November 16Due Monday, November 16– 15 possible points - Homework15 possible points - Homework