Prompt: Throughout The Odyssey, Homer uses various literary devices to enhance the telling of this epic
poem. These devices create various moods by painting vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. In a 4 paragraph
essay answer the following questions: What moods are developed by Homer’s use of figurative language,
and how does imagery help create these moods?
Focus: Your thesis statement must argue that Homer uses figurative language to develop two particular
moods in two different parts of the poem (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4).
Example
Thesis: In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer uses homeric similes in the first of half of the poem to create a
tense mood, while he employs personification in parts three and four to create a jovial feeling for the audience.
●
Body paragraph one would focus on how Homer uses homeric similes to establish a tense mood
throughout part one and part two.
●
Body paragraph two would focus on how Homer uses personification to establish a jovial mood
throughout part three and four.
Your analysis will explain how the mood is created by discussing the apparent imagery.
Figurative Language Choices
1. Simile/Homeric Simile
2. Metaphor/Extended Metaphor
3. Personification
4. Epithet
5. Alliteration
Essay must:
❏ Include sophisticated diction (adjectives and verbs)
❏ Include transitions between ideas (be sure to use commas)
❏ Avoid Taboo words
Essay Structure
Intro Paragraph
❏ Attention Getters + Bridge Sentence + Thesis statement
2 Body Paragraphs
❏ Topic sentence
❏ Claim/1st main point
❏ Evidence: Direct Quote + line numbers
❏ Analysis (2-3 sentences)
❏ Claim: 2nd main point
❏ Evidence: Direct Quote + line numbers
❏ Analysis (2-3 sentences)
❏ Concluding/transition sentence
Conclusion
 Restate main ideas + universalize the topic
How to construct your Thesis Statement:
Include title, must tell the two moods, the two figurative language devices, and the parts of the story for focus.
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer uses homeric similes in the first of half of the poem to create a tense
mood, while he employs personification in parts two and three to create a jovial feeling for the audience.
Now you try:
How to structure the body paragraph
Topic Sentence: must mention the mood and the parts of the story you are discussing.
EX: In part one and two of The Odyssey figurative language creates a tense mood.
Now you try:
Claim: Tell the first figurative language device
EX To begin,:when Odysseus’s men face undeniable death when meeting the Scylla, the reader feels anxious.
Now you try:
Evidence: Provide the quote that shows the device
EX: In an extended metaphor, Homer describes the Scylla as “a man surfcasting on a point of rock / for bass or
mackerel, whipping his long rod/to drop the sinker and bait far out will hook a fish and rip it from the surface/ to
dangle wriggling through the air” (ln 128-131).
Now you try:
Analysis: Must explain the imagery.
EX: The reader feels tense because he or she can envision the viciousness of the Scylla. The cruel creature is
savagely ripping men from the boat and these soldiers are dangling before Odysseus’ eyes. The men are like
helpless fish flapping in the wind.
Now you try:
Now do this all again for the second body paragraph.