Analysis Of Homer s The Iliad - 1310 Words

A truly talented storyteller must be able to craft his or her tale in various ways. A proficient writer can present the same literary tool in differing forms, and thereby entertain his audience despite the fact that he may be telling repetitive ideas. Yet, such a writer will connect these ideas in subtle ways, so as to create a unity in his tale. Homer was a writer who performed this feat throughout the entirety of the Iliad and showed his unique ability to weave a tale full of similes that both enhanced and unified his story. Although Homer used a variety of subjects in his similes, and many of them had a common thread. Homer’s unique ability was to create a tale so descriptive that the listener was able to fully immerse him or†¦show more content†¦This descriptive simile allowed the listener or reader to truly see Diomedes as a flaming star, which is free falling to the earth, uncontrollably. Although this simile is rather vague and does not explain the rage o f Diomedes during his day of excellence, Homer let this idea grow. Soon after, another simile more aptly showed the violent person that Diomedes was on the battlefield that day. This was done by utilizing a more familiar relationship between the vehicle and the tenor. Homer mentioned the lion in his description of Diomedes: â€Å"Now, long ablaze as he was to fight the Trojans, triple the fury seized him – claw-mad as a lion† (5.150). Lions are commonly related to a certain untamable ferociousness. Although Homer went on to elaborate on this comparison for several more lines, the initial impression is enough to depict the ferocity of Diomedes. In Homer’s tradition of over description during his similes, the idea continued up until the line, â€Å"piling corpse on corpse and in one furious bound clears the fenced yard – so raging Diomedes mauled the Trojans† (5.158). His continuation of the simile, allowed for a more graphic description of Diomedes’ rage. This finale to his simile reinforced the idea o f Diomedes fury. Later in book five, the idea of a warrior taking on the ferocity of a lion was used again in reference to Diomedes. â€Å"As a lion charges cattle, calves and