Analysis Of Similes In The Ill
iad
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 ...
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Considering the ability to affect feelings with similes, and
the one-sided view of history, Homer could be using similes to
guide the reader in the direction of his personal views, as
happens with modern day political "spin". These views that Homer
might be trying to get across might be trying to favor Troy. It
could easily be imagined that throughout time, only great things
were heard about the Greeks mettle in war, and that Homer is
attempting to balance the scales a bit by romanticizing the
Trojan peoples, especially Hector, and bringing to light the
lesser-heard tales of Greek stupidity.
Shortly into Book Two, Agamemnon gives the speech to his
assembly about his plan to rally the troops with reverse
psychology. Agamemnon shall announce he is giving up on taking
Troy, whereupon the individual army captains will then "prevent
their doing so." When the announcement is made, King Agamemnon
is startled to see the ranks, not surprisingly, ...
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and the "tree in
a wood" cast memories of repose and relaxation, rest and peace,
which are then injected into the "delicate" elders. Another
attempt of Homer to cast the Trojans in a favorable light.
Later in the same book Ptolemaeus is Homer's vehicle for
putting down the Greeks again. Upon seeing shirkers of the front
line of battle he likens them to "frightened fawns who, when they
can no longer scud over the plain huddle together." Undoubtedly,
the men of Homer's time hunted to survive, and relished the sight
of the frightened fawns grouped together. But does not one also
feel pity for them? This is a wonderful simile that brings home
the nervous ...
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