Descriptive Techniques in the Odyssey

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  • Created by: ElAreAre
  • Created on: 17-02-23 15:24
Epithet
- eg. 'wily odysseus' 'noble odysseus' etc.
- sometimes they work in the situation, eg. 'quick witted odysseus' actually being 'quick-witted'
- to make it more 'rhythmic' and poetic
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Formulae
Like a long epithet.
- eg. whenever the sun rises the same phrase is repeated
- marks an event, minor or major
- often repeated
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Simile
fellow 'i-already-did-english!' kids, u know what this is!
- uses 'like' or 'as' comparing one thing to another
- eg. 'he was almost as beautiful as jimin'
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Developed Simile
- so it's like a simile but it goes on and on and on
- eg. the description of the hanging of the maids and how they are like birds
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Topos, pl. Topoi
- it's a bit like a formula in that it is repeated and comprises of certain elements
- but it's not always the same
- it's actually often in kid's books, e.g. 'a squash and a squeeze' by julia donaldson (no, like actually read it)
- adds a familiar sense
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Gory Detail
well, yk it's greece when this is a literary technique.
- what it's called, detail of violence that borders on goriness'
- eg. the death of antinous
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Dramatic Irony
you know what irony is. this is just like it but dramatic.
- eg. ppl talking abt odysseus to the 'beggar' who is odysseus
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Detailed Description
right. this is a technique but before u write abt it, read the blue box on pg. 206. ok?
- helps the reader completely picture the scene
- often slows the pace
- eg. cheese description w/the cyclops
- bow description b4 antinous' death
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Pace of the Story
- keeps the reader interested. either fast or slow, homer changes it often to keep us interested
- when it slows down it's foreshadowing an important event
eg. arrival on circe's island
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Pathos
- makes us feel sorry for the characters
- employed in ya novels too much...
- eg. dying men @ the laestrygonian harbour
- homer makes us sympathise with bad guys like polyphemus and the slaves, which shows him as a good writer
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Use of myth (or stories)
- not just greek myths! can be anecdotes
- makes us focus on the history of an object
eg. the story of how odysseus got a scar on his leg.
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Direct Speech
- makes up soooo much of the odyssey
- #DirectSpeechIsATechnique
- lets us see the real thoughts of characters
eg. the whole of book 9/10 and telemachus deciding the fate of the disloyal maids.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Like a long epithet.
- eg. whenever the sun rises the same phrase is repeated
- marks an event, minor or major
- often repeated

Back

Formulae

Card 3

Front

fellow 'i-already-did-english!' kids, u know what this is!
- uses 'like' or 'as' comparing one thing to another
- eg. 'he was almost as beautiful as jimin'

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

- so it's like a simile but it goes on and on and on
- eg. the description of the hanging of the maids and how they are like birds

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

- it's a bit like a formula in that it is repeated and comprises of certain elements
- but it's not always the same
- it's actually often in kid's books, e.g. 'a squash and a squeeze' by julia donaldson (no, like actually read it)
- adds a familiar sense

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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