Literary Concept of Simile Applied to the Iliad 'Iliad. This technique breaks the tedious rhythm of war and allows us to better understand the often volatile emotions of the characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay the Myrmidons as they head into battle. It is clear that the battalion is eager to fight ("With heart and fury", the Myrmidons "spring from their ships" (XVI, 268)), and Patroklus asks them to "remember your furious valor" (XVI , 270). Homer, however, offers the reader more than just names, as he translates the feeling of the Myrmidons into an elaborate visual simile. The basic principle of the comparison is to assimilate the fury of the exasperated wasps to the fury of the Myrmidons eager for combat. This comparison, however, goes much deeper than this superficial association; as in many of Homer's similes, when studied more carefully, strangely familiar characters emerge. The wasps in the passage, as explicitly relayed to the reader, are the Myrmidons, a faction of the Greek army. Discovering the identity of the “little boys” (XVI, 260) proves more trying. Homer lays the foundation for the character when he describes the boys as thoughtless, ignorant, and carelessly hedonistic. It is line 262, however, that presents the boys as expressions of Paris himself: “stupid boys, they do something that hurts a lot of people [emphasis added].” Thus, the parallels quickly begin to appear in the reader's mind: Paris's provocation of the enemy, its infuriating and cavalier indulgence, and its total ignorance of the disastrous consequences of its action. It then follows that the man, presented as an innocent passerby who “moves [the wasps] involuntarily” (XVI, 264) represents the Trojan army. Troy, unlike the Greek nations, is truly forced into war. In the same way, man must face the painful result of boys' play. The effect of this comparison on the story is rather remarkable. Throughout the Iliad, Homer relentlessly challenges the reader's allegiance to each army, and one inevitably wonders where justice lies among his perpetual juggling of sympathies. In the comparison presented, Homer takes the surprising position of declaring both parties innocent and places all the blame on the shoulders of one man: Paris. Although readers now understand the Greeks' motivation (since lashing effectively translates into the theft of a woman), their pity is with the innocent Trojans, an attitude which will be accentuated with the impending death of Sarpedon, and which will then end abruptly. declines, in typically Homeric fashion, with the death of Hektor. This comparison can, however, be seen from another angle. The comparison with wasps – especially in a poem full of associations between men and lions, wild boars and wolves – is interesting. Myrmidons, as presented, are just simple wasps. They do not represent a great asset for the Greek army. What is most important, as this comparison makes clear, is their enthusiastic spirit: they are eager to fight, and their will to fight is contagious. The reader is soon presented with the lucid visual of the cloud of wasps “emerging” (XVI, 259) from their nests, which matches so perfectly with the crowd of Myrmidons emerging from their tents. Homer thus communicates the spirit.

Essay / Literary Concept of Simile Applied to the Iliad 'Iliad. This technique breaks the tedious rhythm of war and allows us to better understand the often volatile emotions of the characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay the Myrmidons as they head into battle. It is clear that the battalion is eager to fight ("With heart and fury", the Myrmidons "spring from their ships" (XVI, 268)), and Patroklus asks them to "remember your furious valor" (XVI , 270). Homer, however, offers the reader more than just names, as he translates the feeling of the Myrmidons into an elaborate visual simile. The basic principle of the comparison is to assimilate the fury of the exasperated wasps to the fury of the Myrmidons eager for combat. This comparison, however, goes much deeper than this superficial association; as in many of Homer's similes, when studied more carefully, strangely familiar characters emerge. The wasps in the passage, as explicitly relayed to the reader, are the Myrmidons, a faction of the Greek army. Discovering the identity of the “little boys” (XVI, 260) proves more trying. Homer lays the foundation for the character when he describes the boys as thoughtless, ignorant, and carelessly hedonistic. It is line 262, however, that presents the boys as expressions of Paris himself: “stupid boys, they do something that hurts a lot of people [emphasis added].” Thus, the parallels quickly begin to appear in the reader's mind: Paris's provocation of the enemy, its infuriating and cavalier indulgence, and its total ignorance of the disastrous consequences of its action. It then follows that the man, presented as an innocent passerby who “moves [the wasps] involuntarily” (XVI, 264) represents the Trojan army. Troy, unlike the Greek nations, is truly forced into war. In the same way, man must face the painful result of boys' play. The effect of this comparison on the story is rather remarkable. Throughout the Iliad, Homer relentlessly challenges the reader's allegiance to each army, and one inevitably wonders where justice lies among his perpetual juggling of sympathies. In the comparison presented, Homer takes the surprising position of declaring both parties innocent and places all the blame on the shoulders of one man: Paris. Although readers now understand the Greeks' motivation (since lashing effectively translates into the theft of a woman), their pity is with the innocent Trojans, an attitude which will be accentuated with the impending death of Sarpedon, and which will then end abruptly. declines, in typically Homeric fashion, with the death of Hektor. This comparison can, however, be seen from another angle. The comparison with wasps – especially in a poem full of associations between men and lions, wild boars and wolves – is interesting. Myrmidons, as presented, are just simple wasps. They do not represent a great asset for the Greek army. What is most important, as this comparison makes clear, is their enthusiastic spirit: they are eager to fight, and their will to fight is contagious. The reader is soon presented with the lucid visual of the cloud of wasps “emerging” (XVI, 259) from their nests, which matches so perfectly with the crowd of Myrmidons emerging from their tents. Homer thus communicates the spirit.

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