1. THE ODYSSEY- Literary Terms
Alliteration
Repetition of beginning consonant sounds
When he wills awake the eyes of man
Characterization
Direct-telling the reader directly about the character
Indirect-describing character; what other characters think of character; actions; thoughts/feelings and words of character
Conflict
Struggle between opposing forces
Odysseus fights the Cyclops
Epic Hero
A hero who tries to achieve something of tremendous value
Paris; Odysseus
Epic Poem
Long narrative poem that teaches and entertains
Iliad and Odyssey

2. 6. Epithet:
Noun followed by a descriptive phrase
Lord Helios, the sun; Muse, daughter of Zeus
7. Foreshadowing
When the author gives clues about what will happen in the future
8.Homeric simile:
Long simile that is more like a metaphor
A gull patrolling between wave crests of the desolate sea will dip to catch a fish..(Hermes)
9. Hyperbole
An exaggeration not meant to be taken literally
His fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim (line 129)
10. Imagery
Sensory details that make the reader see/hear/feel/taste
Upon her hearthstone a great fire blazing scented the
farthest shores with cedar smoke..and singing high and
low (Lines 49-53)

3. Irony
To say one thing and mean another
“Nohbody will get out alive, I swear”. (Line 454)
Narrative Poetry
Poem that tells a story with plot/characters/setting/theme
Exile the story of Juan Alvarez’ family.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like the sound they make
…the pierced eye ball hissed, broiling and the roots popped
Personification
Giving human qualities to something not human
The dawn with fingertips of rose lit up the world…(Line 297)
Theme
The message, lesson or universal truth communicated by the author
Odysseus struggled for 10 years to get home-The theme is the value of
home and family