Similes

• Book 1: The rage of Achilles

  Achilles wrath is likened to a lion that has been wounded by a spear but continues to fight fiercely
• Book 3: The dual of Paris and Menelaus

  The Trojans are compared to wildfowl when they charge into battle, and the Achaeans are likened to hounds that chase a wounded boar.
• Book 4: The truce broken

  The breaking of the truce is compared to a storm that suddenly arises, disrupting the calm.​
• Book 6: The visit of Glaucus to Diomedes

  Glaucus and Diomedes are compared to lions that have been wounded but continue to fight.
• Book 9: The Embassy to Achilles

  Achilles is compared to a lion that is enraged and unwilling to be pacified.​
• Book 16: The death of Patroclus

  Patroclus is likened to a lion that has been wounded but continues to fight.​
• Book 17: The battle over Patroclus’ Body

  The Achaeans and Trojans are compared to dogs and hunters, respectively, as they fight over the body of Patroclus.​
• Book 18: The Shield Of Achilles

  The shield of Achilles is described as depicting various scenes, including a city at peace and a city at war, illustrating the contrasts of life.​
• Book 19: The reconciliation of Achilles and Agamemnon

  • The reconciliation between Achilles and Agamemnon is compared to the calming of a storm.​
• Book 22: The death of Hector

  Hector is compared to a star that shines brightly but is destined to set.​
• How do similes elevate the narative?

  extended similes known as Homeric similes give the epic a larger-than-life, mythic quality. When a warrior is compared to a lion, a storm, or a wildfire, it heightens the drama and intensity of battle scenes
• How do similes offer a psychological insight?

  • similes reflect a characters state of mind, often describing inner emotion with vivid external imagery
  • Eg Achilles grief being compared to a dark cloud or storm which illustrates his turmoil and rage in physical terms
• How do similes slow the pace?

  • In high-speed battle scenes, Homer often inserts a simile to give the listener or reader a moment to breathe, reflect, or build anticipation.
  • This technique also gives oral performers time to recollect and structure their delivery.
• How do similes connect the epic to everyday life?

  • Many similes draw from agriculture, animal behavior, or weather—things the audience would recognize.
  • This grounds the fantastical aspects of the epic in real, human experience, making the gods and heroes more relatable.
• How do similes highlight tenses of fate and nature?

  • Nature-based similes suggest that human life is subject to forces beyond control, echoing themes of fate, mortality, and divine will.
  • A warrior’s death might be described like a tree falling in the forest—beautiful, tragic, inevitable.