Essay on Symbolism, Imagery and Diction in Homer’s Odyssey

Symbolism, Imagery and Diction in Homer’s Odyssey nbsp; During the course of history, the world has seen many fine works of literature like Homer’s epic, Odyssey. This book is a standard against which to compare all literary novels. The symbolism permeates the pages drawing the reader into the intriguing plot that includes twists within the central theme. Also, the author intelligently uses imagery and diction painting dramatic images in the readers mind - building upon major the themes. nbsp; The book contains a captivating use of symbolism making the story more interesting and understandable. This magnetizes the reader into the book. At the first show of dawn, great Alcinous left his couch, as did that ravager of cities,†¦show more content†¦He knew the sheer ruin this would entail.(1). Here, the gods are discussing the crime committed by Aegisthus in courting anothers wife and then killing Agamemnon upon his return.nbsp; The central theme in this book is definitely that of suffering and misery in existence, and there is no other character that knows this better than our hero, Odysseus. Odysseus is kept away from his home for 20 years. Every day, he experiences anguish in some form or the other. nbsp; She found him sitting by the waters edge: his eyes as ever dewed with tears at this ebbing if his precious life in vain lamentations after deliverance...retching up his heart with crying and sighs and misery, his gaze fixed upon the desolate main through a blur of tears. (57) This quote is from the time Odysseus is trapped on an island by the nymph Calypso for nine years. These powerful words portray clearly the pain that Odysseus bears within him thus giving the reader a fuller understanding of the story and his character. nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Homer draws upon vocabulary cleverly throughout the book painting dramatic pictures into the readers mind, and thus revealing and enhancing major themes throughout the novel. nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; All round the cave-mouth there flourished a luxuriantShow MoreRelatedStudy Guide Literary Terms7657 Words   |  31 Pagesoverwhelming space, danger, instability; whereas earth connotes safety, fertility and stability. 28. claim-to assert or maintain as a fact: Ex. She claimed that he was telling the truth. 29. classification and division- In a classification essay, a writer organizes, or sorts, things into categories. Division separates items into categories. 30. coherence- logical interconnection; overall sense or understandability. The property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourse