Literary devices in book 23 of the odyssey

Course heros video study guide provides indepth summary and analysis of book 23 of homers epic poem the odyssey. Homer applied organization, structure, patterns, and language that enhance, illuminate, and embellish the text. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. A majority of the odyssey is told in third person from the perspective of the epic poet, what literary element does odysseus use when he tells his part of the story. In books xix and xx of the odyssey, homers use of literary devices help readers to understand that with a dream, patience, and a little luck, hopes will come true. The odyssey is a heroic tale of a man on a mission with many obstacles to overcome. Literary devices use in the odyssey download b26e86475f literary analysis the odyssey essay. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Odysseus lays low for a while, and then finally gets reacquainted with. Eurycleia tells penelope that odysseus has finally come home and killed the suitors. Consider a representative example, from when odysseus praises alcinous bard. Proteus, the old man of the sea whom menelaus describes in book 4, can. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. The king kicks the table and scatters the food on the floor, and the food mingles with antinouss blood.

While the odyssey is not as graphic as its predecessor, the iliad, it still has a good deal of violent imagery. We learn that poseidon, god of the sea, holds a grudge though we dont know exactly why against odysseus and is making the guys voyage home a pretty difficult one. Oct 23, 2011 the fighting of book 22 is the only pitched battle in the odyssey, and while it cannot help but recall the iliad, which abounds in bloodshed, the description remains thoroughly odyssean. Odysseus shoots antinous through the throat just as the suitor is about to take a sip of wine. Homer even gives us a metaphor for the poems tone, when he compares odysseus stringing his bow to a singer tuning his lyre book xxi, lines 404411. In an oral literary culture, mnemonic devices become important shortcuts to aid the poets memory. Pylos when ithaca character analysis telemachus he helps his father in battling the suitors and obeys his orders, expressing the similarities between the father and son. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. Suddenly athena appears and assures him of vengeful victory. The odyssey, homers epic poem about the decadeslong journey of trojan war hero odysseus, includes themes such as cunning vs.

What are literary devices in the odyssey books 21, 22 and 23. Homer, odyssey, book 2, line 129 perseus digital library. As much as penelope would like to believe that her husband has returned and vanquished the suitors, she is cautious and goes to the great. The basic form of narrative in the odyssey is very strongly oriented towards imagery. Athena cloaks odysseus and telemachus in darkness so that no one will see them as they walk through the town. The odyssey study guide contains a biography of homer, literature. Learn odyssey literary terms books 11 with free interactive flashcards. The poet invokes the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. The allusion of borges poem odysseus, book twenty three to the odyssey points to odysseuss perseverance and struggle despite the numerous odds against him, leading to his moment of glory revenge against the suitors who plagued him but also to the end of his journey. The nurse mentions the telltale boar tusk scar on odysseuss knee, but penelope refuses to believe the story. It relates historical stories with fantastical elements of myth, legend, and divine intervention. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.

Jan 04, 2018 homer also makes use of this device in the. Literary device diction the writers word choice expresses the clearness and effectiveness of what is currently happening. Get an answer for what literary devices are used in the odyssey. During the assembly in ithaca, zeus sends an omen of two eagles fighting in the sky. The odyssey book 19 epic characteristics and literary devices. In this lesson, we will begin with a brief recap of book 22 of the odyssey. Literary devices in the odyssey the odyssey is an epic poem that served an educational purpose for those who heard it. To his audience in ancient greece, however, homers various lists of heroes or villains were familiar. In both the iliad and odyssey, homer repeatedly uses some mnemonic devices, words and phrases designed to be easier to remember, and this line is one of the most often repeated.

Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Tone the authors attitude towards his subject calypso p. Penelope doesnt believe anything that eurycleia says, and she remains in disbelief even when she comes downstairs and sees her husband with her own eyes. Composed around 700 bc, the odyssey is one of the earliest epics still in existence and, in many ways, sets the pattern for the genre, neatly fitting the definition of a primary epic that is, one that grows out of oral tradition. Summary and analysis book 23 the great rooted bed summary now that the battle has ended and the house has been cleaned, good nurse eurycleia scurries up to penelopes quarters to tell her all that has happened. The original cliffsnotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. Theres nothing better than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks, enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine. In the very first line, an epithet is used to describe odysseus as stormtossed great odysseus. Homer composed the odyssey in a meter known as dactylic hexameter, which gives the epic its elevated style.

Elevated language and meter composed around 700 bc, the odyssey is one of the. The odyssey literary analysis is a good leader classified as one who personally gains a lot or one who benefits his or her community at large. Choose from 500 different sets of odyssey literary terms books 11 flashcards on quizlet. He angrily notices the maidservants as they sneak out to meet their lovers among the suitors. For one thing, it maintains the comic and domestic flavor that many critics find characteristic of the odyssey. In the odyssey, homer employs most of the literary and poetic devices associated with epics. To assure herself of odysseus identity, penelope tests him. Literary devices in homers odyssey in homers odyssey many literary devices are used which make the epic more interesting to the reader. In book 22, odysseus kills penelopes suitors and in book 23 eurycleia, penelopes maidservant, awakens penelope, who has been sound asleep. Now that the battle has ended and the house has been cleaned, good nurse eurycleia scurries up to penelopes quarters to tell her all that has happened. A list of literary terms and their definition used in the poem the odyssey learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Transcript of the odyssey book 19 epic characteristics and literary devices. After fighting in the brutal trojan war, odysseus travels the sea in hopes of returning to ithaca, his homeland, and his wife and son, penelope and telemachus.

Book 23 of the odyssey begins after odysseus has cleaned the palace of the foulness of battle and fumigated it. Summary and analysis book 20 portents gather the odyssey. Book 23 is the next to last book of homers odyssey. Book 22 book 23 book 24 character analysis odysseus penelope telemachus. Literary devices of the odyssey book summaries, test. About his shoulder he slung his sharp sword, and beneath his shining feet bound his fair sandals, and went forth from his chamber like a god to look upon. Summary odysseus spends a restless night worrying about the impending battle. A gorgon was a female monster from ancient greek mythology, typically depicted as one of three sisters with hair made of snakes. Book 23 starts when eurycleia notifies penelope about the good news that odysseus is back. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to. Its unclear to which gorgon odysseus is referring here, but most likely he means medusa, the most famous gorgon, who could turn men to stone with a single glance. The odyssey literary analysis and reflection english 9 honors. Book 23 eurycleia goes upstairs to call penelope, who has slept through the entire fight.

Evidence you make my stiff heart know that i am yours, 23. Some other literary devices, such as catalogs and digressions, may seem tedious to the modern reader. In particular, the climax of the book is the slaughtering of suitors and hanging of traitorous servants by odysseus, telemachus, and athena. Athena pallas polyphemus the cyclops and king alcinous.