Book 9 Example answers and commentary
The epic simile in this passage is when Odysseus stabbed the eye. “As a shipwright
turns a drill” is Odysseus turning the sword as it enters the Cyclopes eyeball. This
shows how he turned the sword like a screw to make sure it blinded the beast
completely and painfully. Then, the sound imagery in this passage is the noise the
eyeball makes when burned. The sound of cooking flesh, “hissing” is onomatopoeia.
The imagery from this passage strongly illustrates how Odysseus was talking up the
men making them fearless while running top speed to assure the sword went deep into
the Cyclopes. The detail of the descriptions, epic similes and onomatopoeia show a
clear story. Not only does it illustrate what’s happening, but it brings you deeper in
realizing how Odysseus had to calm and inspire the men. Making him a better leader
who truly cared for his men and how they fought. He taught them to be brave and
courageous and to put trust in their noble leader, Lord Odysseus.
Very clear on identification and analysis of how it tells plot. Lacks a more thoughtful final inference. It is logical,
but not a deeper look at details of language.
27/30
Category
Below Standard
10-13
Ideas &
Content
20 points
 Identifies few
literary techniques,
or has basic errors
in identification
 Shows little
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes few or
unsupported
inferences that do
not show adequate
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Unclear
organization
 Correctly identifies
some literary
techniques
 Correctly identifies
most literary
techniques
 Shows some analysis
of connection
between language and
meaning
 Shows good analysis
of connection
between language
and meaning
 Makes inferences
with some support by
text that show
adequate
understanding of plot,
character & themes
 Makes logical
inferences supported
by text that show
good understanding
of plot, character &
themes
 Somewhat confusing
organization
 Many basic
sentence or
convention errors
make this hard to
understand
 Sentence or
convention errors
distract from meaning
sometimes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with
some errors to
communicate clearly
Organization
&
Conventions
10 points
Near Standard
14-15
Standard
16-17
Above Standard
18-20
 Correctly identifies
literary techniques of
imagery, figurative
language & sound
 Shows detailed
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes thoughtful
inferences supported
by details in text that
show complex
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with few
errors to
communicate clearly
This passage has many literary techniques. One of them is a simple simile. In the passage,
Odysseus compares shoving the stick into the Cyclops’ eye to a shipwright using a drill. This
means that Odysseus viewed using the stick to blind the Cyclops eye as a necessary evil. A
shipwright must drill to keep his job, Odysseus must gouge the Cyclops to keep his life.
Additionally, this scene has some intense imagery. This means that the scene of blinding the
Cyclops stuck with Odysseus. To be able to recall a scene in such detail, it must have really
affected Odysseus. The last literary element supports the second one, the onomatopoeia proves
that Odysseus has had an intense reason to remember even more of this event. This shows that in
this section, Odysseus must have been scared witless. By being forced to gouge the Cyclops and
witness the bloody scene, it showed Odysseus that even though his action was a necessary evil, it
still wasn’t a good choice.
It’s not a simple simile; it’s an epic simile. Excellent analysis that goes beyond the obvious. Excellent inference.
This shows thought, and it is very clearly written. 29/30
Category
Below Standard
10-13
Ideas &
Content
20 points
 Identifies few
literary techniques,
or has basic errors
in identification
 Shows little
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes few or
unsupported
inferences that do
not show adequate
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Unclear
organization
 Correctly identifies
some literary
techniques
 Correctly identifies
most literary
techniques
 Shows some analysis
of connection
between language and
meaning
 Shows good analysis
of connection
between language
and meaning
 Makes inferences
with some support by
text that show
adequate
understanding of plot,
character & themes
 Makes logical
inferences supported
by text that show
good understanding
of plot, character &
themes
 Somewhat confusing
organization
 Many basic
sentence or
convention errors
make this hard to
understand
 Sentence or
convention errors
distract from meaning
sometimes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with
some errors to
communicate clearly
Organization
&
Conventions
10 points
Near Standard
14-15
Standard
16-17
Above Standard
18-20
 Correctly identifies
literary techniques of
imagery, figurative
language & sound
 Shows detailed
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes thoughtful
inferences supported
by details in text that
show complex
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with few
errors to
communicate clearly
An epic simile is used to describe the motion of a huge spike stabbing the eye of a
Cyclops. The brand that was used to impale the eye is being compared to a shipwright
turning a drill in planking. This shows how Odysseus and his men ram it into the eye,
turning it to make the injury worse. This language shows how cunning and courageous
Odysseus and his men are. Odysseus got himself and his men into a very dangerous
situation, but he used his wits, and came up with a plan to damage the Cyclops in a
unrepairable way. This shows he can be depended on in a sticky situation even if he
was the one who got them into it in the first place.
This only identifies one language technique and there are several more. The conclusions are logical and
well supported, but lack more thoughtful or detailed analysis of the text. 26/30
Category
Below Standard
10-13
Ideas &
Content
20 points
 Identifies few
literary techniques,
or has basic errors
in identification
 Shows little
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes few or
unsupported
inferences that do
not show adequate
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Unclear
organization
 Correctly identifies
some literary
techniques
 Correctly identifies
most literary
techniques
 Shows some analysis
of connection
between language and
meaning
 Shows good analysis
of connection
between language
and meaning
 Makes inferences
with some support by
text that show
adequate
understanding of plot,
character & themes
 Makes logical
inferences supported
by text that show
good understanding
of plot, character &
themes
 Somewhat confusing
organization
 Many basic
sentence or
convention errors
make this hard to
understand
 Sentence or
convention errors
distract from meaning
sometimes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with
some errors to
communicate clearly
Organization
&
Conventions
10 points
Near Standard
14-15
Standard
16-17
Above Standard
18-20
 Correctly identifies
literary techniques of
imagery, figurative
language & sound
 Shows detailed
analysis of
connection between
language and
meaning
 Makes thoughtful
inferences supported
by details in text that
show complex
understanding of
plot, character &
themes
 Clearly organizes
answer into
sentences and
paragraph
 Uses correct
sentences and
conventions with few
errors to
communicate clearly