Great Books Reading Partnership:  Discussion Question

The Iliad  is famous for its extended similes. What effect does this and other similes have?

Similes and metaphors add colorful imagery to writing.  Homer's brilliant use of these writing techniques add life and vibrancy to the story.  The epic poem,  The Iliad,  provides a stand-alone  literary study for students investigating the ingenious use of similes and metaphors.

In Book II, Homer writes describing the Achaean army's urgency and obedience to Nestor's cry to follow him into war, "Rank and file streamed behind and rushed like swarms of bees pouring out of a rocky hollow, burst on endless burst, bunched in clusters seething over the first spring blooms, dark hordes swirling into the air, this way, that way....."   The reader immediately visualizes the frenzy, speed, and mass throng of soldiers charging boldly behind their leader, without thought of personal peril.

Opening the war scene of Book III, Homer artistically portrays the moment  two arch enemies meet in battle.  Here he describes the Atride's first sighting of Paris (a Trojan prince who abducted Helen and thus caused the Trojan war):  "....thrilled like a lion lighting on some handsome carcass, lucky to find an antlered stag or wild goat just as hunger strikes - he rips it, bolts it down....."  This is a gripping description comparing the hunger in one's heart  to destroy another. 

Later in Book III, Homer describes the 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 the reader may also easily feel pity for them.  This is a wonderful simile that brings home the nervous twitchiness of a person scared to death in the midst of war.

Homer effectively uses the nature of animals in many of his similes.  These images can be clearly understood across the ages thus marking Homer's literary writings as timeless.   Many students may not be up to the challenge of reading The Iliad until later high school or college years.  But if you are teaching literary devices and need excerpts as examples,  Homer's writings are filled with highly descriptive and vibrant imagery.

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