The Odyssey: An Ancient Greek Epic
The Odyssey is regarded as one of the oldest epics still in existence today. Since it is founded on oral history, it is a fine example of a primary epic. The author uses literary and poetic devices synonymous with epics in The Odyssey. Similes, hero evaluations, catalogs, divine intervention, digressions, long speeches, journeys, and metaphors are examples. It is an ancient Greek epic poem written by Homer in a meter known as dactylic hexameter, which gives it an exalted style. Each line is six metric feet long. The first five feet may be made up of dactyls or spondees. A dactyl refers to a metrical foot that is composed of a long sound after which two short sounds follows, for instance, BEEEEAT beat-beat. A spondee comprises of two long sounds, that is, BEEEEAT BEEEEAT. A line is composed in such a way that the last metrical foot is usually a spondee. Unlike the contemporary English poetry in which the focus is often on the emphasis of sound, the main focus in Ancient Greek epical poem such as the Odyssey is the length of sound.Epic Simile
An epic simile is one of the devices used by Homer in the composition of epical poems. A simile refers to a figure in speech whereby two concepts or things that are unlike are shown to be similar with the aim of bringing a poetic effect using the words "like" or "as". For instance, a poetic effect can be brought out by portraying the hands of a man to be like a rock.An epic simile may at times extend to the comparison of expansive proportions. A good example in The Odyssey is encountered when Odysseus and his men blind the Cyclops: "as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens — that's the iron's strength — so the eye of the Cyclops sizzled round that stake!" (9.438-41).Character Traits of Odysseus
The character traits of Odysseus best define a Homeric leader who is expected to be strong, courageous, noble, thirsty for glory, and confidence in his authority. The most distinguishing trait of Odysseus is his sharp intellect. He is capable of thinking quickly. The trait helps him find his way out of very tough situations, such as when he escapes from the cave of the Cyclops in Book 9. In Book 23, he finds a solution to a tough situation by hiding his slaughter of the suitors when he made his minstrel strike up a wedding tune. He is also capable of manipulating and convincing his audience easily since he is an articulate speaker. For example, Odysseus wins the trust of Nausea when he first addresses her on the island of Cherie by his suave and comforting approach.Themes in The Odyssey
The epic poem brings out how Odysseus is longing to win glory through great deeds. He also longs for a homecoming. He lives a luxurious life to some extent together with Calypso in an exotic land. He contemplates returning home despite the fact that Calypso is incomparable to his wife. The epic has too much repetition for modern readers. Repetition is considered to be one of the features of oral tradition that assist in identifying The Odyssey as a primary epic. Literary devices like catalogs and digressions can be tedious to the modern reader but not to the ancient Greece audience. The epic poem is also defined by extensive use of epithet which is a term used to characterize the nature of an event, character, or an object.Works Cited
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. 2017.
