Examples Of Diction In The Odyssey

The Odyssey is one of two ancient Greek poems written by the famous Greek author, Homer. The story details the adventures of Odysseus and his men during their ten-year sail after the Trojan War. They must return home before their civilization falls to ruins. The men face a Cyclops, a group of Sirens, a giant whirlpool and rock monster, and many other creatures and challenges. The Odyssey was written sometime during the eighth century, so it features complex dialect and hidden meanings. Homer uses diction in The Odyssey in order to express a tone of darkness and bravery.

The Odyssey has some dark themes and plots, from Odysseus stabbing the Cyclops in the eye to Scylla devouring six of the crew members. Therefore, it is crucial that the author

In “The Cyclops” chapter of The Odyssey, Odysseus narrates, “Then he [the Cyclops] dismembered them and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion - everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones.” (lines 236-238). Homer uses great examples of diction and figurative language in these lines. The word “dismembered” is used to describe how the Cyclops prepared his meal of Odysseus’ crew members in a gruesome and terrifying way. Instead of using words that were less harsh and vicious, he decided to use visual, scary words that give the story a dark side. Using another word would make the tone of the story less vicious, keeping the readers from realizing the true peril that the characters are facing. Another example of how diction creates a tone of darkness in the story takes place in “The Cattle of the Sun God” chapter. Odysseus narrates, “Now on the shore Eurylochus made his insidious plea” (line 863). Homer wanted to create a tone of mystery and evil in this part of the story, so he decided to use diction to develop his ideas. In this chapter,

The Greeks were known to display amazing skills and morals, such as outstanding athleticism and never-lasting hope. However, one of the most common traits of almost every Greek citizen was bravery. The Greeks never backed down from a challenge and were extremely determined to accomplish their goals. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men were extremely brave. They fought countless monsters and overcame many challenges without backing down or giving up. In “The Land of the Dead” chapter of The Odyssey, Odysseus narrates, “With my drawn blade I spaded up the votive pit, and poured libations round it to the unnumbered dead” (lines 550-552). Odysseus is giving sacrifices to the dead in order to talk to them in these lines. He was given instructions, so Odysseus followed them in order to get his men home safely, no matter the ferocity. Homer uses the word “votive” in order to describe how dedicated and brave Odysseus was in completing his tasks. The task wasn’t easy; Odysseus had to talk to somebody who had died, an process that would be too alarming for most people. Consequently, the author provides extra context in order to make the characters seem more brave. Another example of how diction adds to the tone of The Odyssey occurs in “The Cyclops” chapter. Odysseus narrates, “Cyclops have no muster and no meeting, no consultation or old tribal ways”