The Odyssey Group

Question:

dumbbrunette
dumbbrunette
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "The Odyssey", why does Homer use the similes of the fly and the cows, then the vulture, in his description of the battle?

Book 22

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Posted by dumbbrunette on Saturday August 30, 2008 at 12:06 PM and tagged with battle, cow, description, fly, simile, the odyssey.

Answers:


  1. michael336 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In Book XXII, Odysseus and Telemachus begin to slaughter the suitors of Penelope.  The goddess Athene causes the suitors to become fearful and confused, running to the other end of the court "like a herd of cattle maddened by the gadfly in the early summer when the days are at their longest." 

    Odysseus and his men attack the sutors as vultures do the smaller birds.  The sens here is of helplessness to do anything to protect themselves.  They are at Odysseus' mercy as a slaughters them in his righteous rage.  Though some beg for mercy, Odysseus has none.  One by one, they all suffer the same fate.

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    Posted by michael336 on Saturday August 30, 2008 at 1:19 PM