Epic Similes in The Odyssey
Line &
Book
Book
XII
Identify the two items or ideas being compared and
explain the purpose of the comparison.
Simile: “A man surfcasting on a point of rock
for bass or mackerel, whipping his long rod
to drop the sinker and the bait far out,
will hook a fish and rip it from the surface
to dangle wriggling through the air:
so these were borne aloft in spasms toward the cliff.:
Items Being Compared: Scylla is to fisherman as men are to fish
Purpose of the Comparison: simile demonstrates man is not as powerful as Scylla, not as
powerful as many things in nature
“Image” and (Denotation)
Interpretation/Connotation
Commentary
“A man surfcasting on a
point of rock”
(rock is above the water;
fishing)
Seeking food
Rock is more powerful position
Sylla shows that men are less
powerful than she
“bass or mackerel”
(food fish)
Men are food for Sylla
“rod”
(long fishing pole)
Far reaching
Men are not top of food chain
Like powerful Scylla’s tentacles
Simile: “Now from his breast into his eyes the ache/of longing mounted, and he
wept at last,/ his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms, longed for/as the sunwarmed earth is longed for by a swimmer/ spent in as rough water where his ship
went down/ under Poseidon’s blows, gale winds and tons of sea. / Few men can
keep alive through a big surf/to crawl on kindly beaches/in joy, in joy,/knowing the
abyss behind:/and so she too rejoiced, her gaze upon her husband,/her white arms
round him pressed as though forever.”
Items Being Compared:
Purpose of the Comparison:
“Image” and Denotation
Interpretation
(Connotation)
Commentary
Book IX
Simile: “As a shipwright turns a drill in planking,/having men below swing
the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove,/ so with our band we bored
that great eye socket/while blood ran our around the red hot bar.”
Items Being Compared:
Purpose of the Comparison:
“Image” and
Denotation
Interpretation (Connotation)
Commentary
Book XXI
Simile: “…like a musician, like a harper, when/ with quiet hand upon his
instrument/ he draws between his thumb and forefinger/ a sweet new strong upon
a peg:/ so effortlessly Odysseus in one motion strung the bow./ Then slide his
right hand down the cord and plucked it, so that the taut gut vibrating hummed
and sang/ a swallow’s note.”
Items Being Compared:
Purpose of the Comparison:
“Image” and Denotation
Interpretation (Connotation)
Commentary
Book
X
Simile: “Sometimes in farmyards when the cows return/well-fed form pasture to the
barn,/one sees the pens give way before the calves in tumult,/ breaking through to
cluster about their mothers,/ bumping together, bawling./ Just that way my crew poured
round me when they saw me come—/their faces wet with tears as if they saw/their
homeland, and the crags of Ithaca,/ event the very town where they were born.”
Items Being Compared (actually two distinct comparisons):
Purpose of the Comparison:
“Image” and Denotation
Interpretation (Connotation)
Commentary