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 reader’s mind – building upon major the themes.
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, Odysseus, kinsman of Zeus.” (Homer, 79) In this quote, Odysseus is referred to as the kinsman of Zeus who is the supreme god. Here, the word kinsman is used as a symbol to portray Odysseus’s strength and bravery. He is so brawny that he has the honour of being called the kinsman of Zeus. Apart from Zeus, there are many other gods mentioned in the book. One can associate each god with some or the other symbol. Zeus announces, “It is Poseidon the world-girdler who is so headily bitter against him…”(6). This quote shows that Poseidon, the god of the sea and earthquakes, is referred to as the world-girdler, which literally means world shaker. Poseidon is given other aliases including earth-shaker, which suit him not only because of his position, but also because of his nature, which is very hot-tempered.
The riveting plot includes deception and unexpected twists within the central theme thus adding interest. After the Trojan War, the veterans returned home to their own land to a hero’s …
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…rils. (214)
As seen by this quote, the words Homer uses, such as spurted, create vividly graphic images in the mind of the reader. The details of how Antinous is killed here help enhance this theme that is exhibited throughout the novel.
As displayed above, there is a good use of symbolism in The Odyssey to add to the interest of the reader. Also there are unexpected twists and turns around the central theme to keep the reader in suspense. Finally, Homer ingeniously uses the words to create stunning pictures that help relate to the text, and disclose and heighten key themes depicted in the book. The Odyssey is clearly an exceptional piece of writing that will forever remain a classic. This epic is undoubtedly part of the elite group of books published over the course of time.
To His Coy Mistress Essay: Imagery, Symbolism, and Descriptions
Imagery, Symbolism, and Descriptions in To His Coy Mistress
Andrew Marvell in his poem describes a young man convincing his fair mistress to release herself to living in the here and now. He does this by splitting the poem up into three radically different stanzas. The first takes ample time to describe great feelings of love for a young lady, and how he wishes he could show it. The idea of time is developed early but not fully. The second stanza is then used to show how time is rapidly progressing in ways such as the fading of beauty and death. The third stanza presses the question to the young mistress; will she give herself to the young man and to life? Although each stanza uses different images, they all convey the same theme of living life to the fullest and not letting time pass is seen throughout. Marvell uses imagery, symbolism, and wonderful descriptions throughout the poem. Each stanza is effective and flows easily. Rhyming couplets are seen at the ends of every line, which helps the poem read smoothly.
Marvell uses many images that work as tools to express how he wishes to love his mistress in the first stanza of the poem. From line 1 to 20 Marvell tells his mistress how he wishes he had all the time in the world to love her. In the very first line Marvell brings up the focus of time, “Had we but world enough and time/This coyness, lady, were no crime”. The second line shows the conflict that the author is facing in the poem, her coyness. Marvell continues from these initial lines to tell his mistress what he would do if he had enough time. In lines, three and four Marvell talks of “sitting down” to “think” where they will walk on their “long love’s day”. All of these word…
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… before their “quaint honor turns to dust”.
Andrew Marvell successfully writes about a delicate subject without coming off as dirty or disrespectful to the subject of sexuality. Each stanza carries a different way of looking at the same subject. The way Marvell speaks in the first stanza shows that he is not being impetuous, that he does love his mistress. He creates a sense of timelessness and then in the second stanza he sweeps that away and introduces death as frightening but unavoidable. He realizes how precious time is and is very effective in convincing his mistress of this fact as well. The last lines leave the reader with the image of this couple conquering and taking advantage of time by making the sun run. This poem would not be what it is without the detailed imagery, symbolism, and metaphors that Marvell applied to each stanza.