Model Annotations
“This way and that he paced around the bed, he tore out his hair and strewed it around. He dragged off his
splendid robes and flung them down as though they were abominations” (Epic of Gilgamesh, 95).
At the death of Enkidu, Gilgameh is anguished and sad. The author uses imagery to describe Gilgamesh’s
intense reaction to Enkidu’s death and how he “paced round the bed, he tore out his hair and strewed it
around. He dragged off his splendid robes and flung them down as though they were abominations” (95). The
phrases “paced round the bed” and “tore out his hair and strewed it” appeal to the sense of sight and reveal
how restless and anxious Gilgamesh feels after losing his friend. The phrases “dragged off his splendid robes”
and “flung them down” also appeal to the sense of sight. These violent actions show how frustrated and
hopeless Gilgamesh feels—he hurls his kingly robes forcefully on the ground. The author characterizes
Gilgamesh as caring through this imagery. Gilgamesh’s intense reaction to Enkidu’s death emphasizes how
much Gilgamesh cared for Enkidu.
“He found two olive trees there, one wild, one planted, their growth intertwined, proof against blasts of wild,
wet wind, the sun unable to needle light through, impervious to rain, so thickly they grew into one tangle of
shadows. Odysseus burrowed under their branches and scraped out a bed. He found a mass of leaves there,
enough to keep warm two or three men on the worst winter day. The sight of these leaves was a joy to
Odysseus, and the godlike survivor lay down in their midst and covered himself up (5.482-493).”
The text includes the epithet “godlike survivor” to describe Odysseus. To be like a god is to have features that
make this clear—beauty, power, morality. This is a reflection of how he is perceived: despite what is
happening at this point in the story, he is covered in leaves and grime from being at sea and in the wilderness
for so long, Odysseus is still said to be godlike. This shows that his appearance, although rumpled, is still
somewhat respectable, that he still has the beauty and behavior of a god despite all that he has endured.
Additionally, the label “godlike” contrasts with “survivor.” A god is perceived as mighty and infallible; a
conqueror not a survivor. The word “survivor” has the connotation of weakness, somebody who has scraped
by. These words contrast because they indicate the trials that Odysseus has faced and show both sides of his
character: the refined beauty of a noble as well as the simple, primal part of him that allowed him to claw his
way to land. –Yuliya L.
“He broke off a leafy branch from the undergrowth and held it before him to cover himself. A weathered
mountain lion steps into a clearing, confident in his strength, eyes glowing. The wind and rain have let up, and
he’s hunting cattle, sheep, or wild deer, but is hungry enough to jump the stone walls of the animal pens. So
Odysseus advanced upon these ringleted girls” (6.128-132).
Homer uses an extended metaphor to compare Odysseus to a “mountain lion” and the girls he advances upon
to “cattle, sheep, or wild deer.” This comparison enhances the reader’s understanding of Odysseus’ character,
revealing that he is strong and potentially threatening. Comparing Odysseus to “a weathered mountain lion”
shows his strength—he is similar to this strong animal. That he is weathered, which means worn by longexposure to the air, shows how run-down and ragged Odysseus appears. Yet, despite his ordeal, he is
“confident in his strength,” as a lion is. That he remains sure of himself despite his suffering shows how strong
Odysseus is. The author goes on to describe how hungry the lion is, “hungry enough to jump the stone walls of
the animal pens.” This describes how Odysseus approaches these girls—with a hunger, which figuratively
could represent his desire for help. This also characterizes the girls as helpless, trapped as animals are in
pens. That the author characterizes Odysseus as strong while simultaneously suggesting the girls are helpless
shows how Odysseus may be perceived as threatening in this situation.