Homeric Similes, Epithets and Patronoms

Homeric Similes, Epithets and Patronymics

Homework:

Pick your favourite homeric simile,

and in 4 or 5 sentences, note what is being compared, and how the simile achieves this

Example:

The homeric simile "Apollo came down like night" compares the god Apollo with the darkness of night. This illustrates how angry Apollo is as he approaches the Greek camp as a dark, fearful character. The fact that he is compared to night time suggests that he is so angry the greeks should be scared, as darkness is often associated with bad things and scary events.

Homeric Epithets

A characteristic of Homer's style is the use of epithets, as in "rosy-fingered" dawn or "swift-footed" Achilles. Epithets are used because of the constraints of the dactylic hexameter (i.e., it is convenient to have a stockpile of metrically fitting phrases to add to a name) and because of the oral transmission of the poems; they are mnemonic aids to the poet and the audience alike. Epithets alter the meaning of each noun to which they are attached. They specify the existential nature of a noun; that is to say, Achilles is not called "swift-footed" only when he runs; it is a marker of a quality that does not change

Patronymics

Modern examples:

Examples:

Harry Potter- "the boy who lived"

Romeo and Juliette - "star crossed lovers"

Lovely-haired Justin Bieber

dactylic hexameter = a form of meter in poetry or a rhythmic scheme. It has one long syllable followed by two short syllables

mnemonic aids =any learning technique that aids remembering information

Swift footed Achilles

Wide ruling Agamemnon

Laughter loving Aphrodite

Ares, curse of men

Pallas Athena

A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. It is a means of conveying lineage

Examples

modern example:

Homeric Similes

Achilles son of Pelus

Athena, daughter of Zeus

Zeus, son of Kronos

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Qatari crown prince)

Homeric simile, also called an epic simile is a detailed comparison in the form of a simile that is many lines in length. The word "Homeric" is based on the Greek author, Homer, who composed the two famous Greek epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

The typical Homeric simile makes a comparison to some kind of event, in the form "like a ____ when it ______." The object of the comparison is usually something strange or unfamiliar to something ordinary and familiar. The Iliad, for instance, contains many such similes comparing fighting warriors to lions attacking wild boars or other prey. These similes serve to take the reader away from the battlefield for a brief while, into the world of pre-war peace and plenty. Often, they occur at a moment of high action or emotion, especially during a battle. They are also important, as it is through these similes that the narrator directly talks to the audience.

Examples:

1- "They swarmed forth like wasps from a roadside nest…" (p.421, 305-308)

2- "… the massive shield flashing far and wide like a full round moon…" (p. 500, 422)

3- "…like a great bearded lion the dogs and field hands drive back…" (p.446, 126-127)

4- "As ravenous wolves come swooping down on lambs…so the Achaeans mauled the Trojans." (p. 424, 415).

5- "Hungry as wolves that rend and bolt raw flesh

Image by Tom Mooring