Poets+-+Homer



=Homer - The Greatest Greek Poet=

Homer's Purpose:
Homer catered to the tastes of ancient Greece when he wrote his epics. Keeping in line with religion and morals of the era, he made an ideal, relatable and compelling story. The stories are not as relevant or interesting today, but Homer made a role model and a hero with Odysseus, someone to aspire to be. Odysseus's defiance of Poseidon in the Odyssey, his attempt to be a good man, leader and father throughout his struggles is something that men wanted to imitate, and women wanted in a husband. Perhaps Homer was fulfilling a dream of being a Greek hero through his writing, being unskilled in war games and such, he did so through his skill in writing.

Homer's Audience:
Homer's audience is perhaps the largest ever, as he is the author of the oldest works that are still present and relevant today. His audience in his own time however was not as large. Anybody interested and able to read likely read his work, as there was far less material around to read as there is today. Claiming to have the words given to him by the Muse, his works were excellent then and passed the test of time for nearly two millennia now.

Homer's Impact on Modern Culture:
The epics "The Odyssey" and "The Illiad" have inspired several book series - some of which have been widely successful throughout much of the modern world. While the epics themselves have not maintained the high degree of interest it held in past centuries, it has proven relevant enough to inspire other authors and to create popular literature. It is still required reading in most middle or high school curriculum, dictating that most of those in a positions of authority hold that is either a good story, educational or somewhere in between.

The Historical Effect of Homer's Work:
Little is known about the everyday or minor happenings of Ancient Greece, meaning little is known about how this affected the lifestyle of Ancient Greeks. The takeaway from the works he composed is that it reflected the modern culture of the time period, displaying the morals, values and common behavior the Greeks. Things like war and the father being a strong head of the household were displayed and considered important. While it is impossible to tell if and how this affected the culture, people can see how the culture was before these epics were written.

Poems:
(Or in the case of Homer, excerpts)

1.
"Next we began to sail up the narrow strait lamenting. For on the one hand lay Scylla, and on the other mighty Charybdis in terrible wise sucked down the salt sea water. As often as she belched it forth, like a cauldron on a great fire she would seethe up through all her troubled deeps, and overhead the spray fell on the tops of either cliff. But oft as she gulped down the salt sea water, within she was all plain to see through her troubled deeps, and the rock around roared horribly and beneath the earth was manifest swart with sand, and pale fear gat hold on my men. Toward her, then, we looked fearing destruction; but Scylla meanwhile caught from out my hollow ship six of my company, the hardiest of their hands and the chief in might. And looking into the swift ship to find my men, even then I marked their feet and hands as they were lifted on high, and they cried aloud in their agony, and called me by my name for that last time of all. Even as when a fisher on some head-land lets down with a long rod his baits for a snare to the little fishes below, casting into the deep the horn of an ox of the homestead, and as he catches each flings it writhing ashore, so writhing were they borne upward to the cliff. And there she devoured them shrieking in her gates, they stretching forth their hands to me in the dread death-struggle. And the most pitiful thing was this that mine eyes have seen of all my travail in searching out the paths of the sea."

Literary Devices:

Simile - Drawing similarities between two objects using the words like or as

"As often as she belched it forth, like a cauldron on a great fire she would seethe up through all her troubled deeps,"

Charybdis is not actually a giant cauldron, but as the reader did not have a full grasp of what she did like Homer chose to compare her appearance and tendencies to relatable things that the reader might understand, like a cauldron. Homer used this technique very effectively in his writing and used it a lot, as he is responsible for the developing of much of greek mythology - apart from the gods and a few heroes/monsters.

Imagery - The use of words to describe a certain circumstance or place to appeal to the physical senses

"Even as when a fisher on some head-land lets down with a long rod his baits for a snare to the little fishes below,"

Once again trying to most accurately portray the monsters he was describing, he used something that the commonfolk could relate to - fishing. Homer was forced to do this a lot, and it is well he did. He immersed the readers in descriptions of events and creatures that were sometimes vague and sometimes incredibly detailed.

Personification - Giving an inanimate object or an animal human qualities

"...and the rock around roared horribly and beneath the earth was manifest swart with sand,"

While the rocks did not physically roar, the sound he was trying to portray was like that of a roar and there is no sound attributed to the movement of rocks, so he used this. Homer never failed in his effort to make his readers understand fully the situation Odysseus was in and the things he saw and heard and felt.

2.
But when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the Trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale with fear. Jove now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying with golden-throned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and the others driving them pell-mell before them with King Neptune in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering in mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who struck him. The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on Juno. "I see, Juno," said he, "you mischief- making trickster, that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused the rout of his host. I am in half a mind to thrash you, in which case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery. Do you not remember how once upon a time I had you hanged? I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in mid-air among the clouds. All the gods in Olympus were in a fury, but they could not reach you to set you free; when I caught any one of them I gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to earth; yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which I felt about noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos, after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him, and notwithstanding all his mighty labours I brought him back again to Argos. I would remind you of this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of which you have come here to trick me."

Literary Devices:

Metaphor - comparing two different objects or circumstances and drawing similarities between them.

"...in which case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery,"

Juno did not sow any actual seeds and will therefore not reap any literal fruit, but metaphorically, she has done both. Juno's actions were the seeds she sowed and what is about to be done to her is the fruit she shall reap because of those actions.

Imagery - The use of descriptive words and/or phrases to paint a picture that appeals to the physical senses.

"I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in mid-air among the clouds."

While I'm pretty sure the speaker is being quite literal in this description, Homer added the details and description for the reader's sake, to paint a picture of what the speaker was capable of to better understand the dialogue and emotions behind it.

Personification - Giving inhuman things human qualities for the sake of describing a situation

"...after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him,"

Tempests are forces of nature and cannot be qualmed or controlled. The technique is used to display his power, as he fought through the tempests to reach and rescue Hercules, though he did not actually stop them. Throughout the whole excerpt Homer was finding ways to display the speaker's power, whether it be by hanging the primary female god, or fending off the other gods, and this is just another example of that.

3.
Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war, even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him. When he looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilius, and at the sound of pipes and flutes and of the hum of men, but when presently he turned towards the ships and hosts of the Achaeans, he tore his hair by handfuls before Jove on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his soul. In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor son of Neleus, and see if between them they could find any way of the Achaeans from destruction. He therefore rose, put on his shirt, bound his sandals about his comely feet, flung the skin of a huge tawny lion over his shoulders- a skin that reached his feet- and took his spear in his hand.

Literary Devices:

Personification - Giving an inanimate or inhuman object/creature human qualities to better describe something

"...or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war,"

Homer is using the image of jaws to represent war. Having no physical characteristics itself (the idea of war), Homer came up with the part of the body that is usually associated with death or other bad things - jaws. Homer did not need to add this technique, but it did enhance the story as well as match his style for being very descriptive and making absolutely sure his reader was on the same page as him when it came to ideas and images.

Imagery - The use of descriptive words to paint a picture of people or a situation that appeals to the physical senses.

"...even so did Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him."

While it is impossible for one's soul to tremble, being as the soul i more of an idea than a legitimate, tangible thing, Homer used the imagery to portray on a deep level how Agamemnon was feeling. Homer's choice of words and techniques paint an artful picture, one that is hard to misinterpret.

Allegory - An abstract idea given form using characters and/or events

"Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war,":

The idea of Zeus/Jupiter rending the world and causing chaos is a broad one, an idea that is nicely exemplified in this brief description as to why Agamemnon was still awake. Homer, while very descriptive, made sure not to overcomplicate things and described small things in heavy detail and broad things in little detail, making it easier to understand.

Similar Artists/Songs

Metallica - Wherever I May Roam

and the road becomes my bride I have stripped of all but pride So in her I do confide And she keeps me satisfied Gives me all I need

...and with dust in throat I crave Only knowledge will I save To the game you stay a slave Rover wanderer Nomad vagabond Call me what you will

But I'll take my time anywhere Free to speak my mind anywhere And I'll redefine anywhere Anywhere I may roam Where I lay my head is home

...and the earth becomes my throne I adapt to the unknown Under wandering stars I've grown By myself but not alone I ask no one

...and my ties are severed clean The less I have the more I gain Off the beaten path I reign Rover wanderer Nomad vagabond Call me what you will

But I'll take my time anywhere I'm free to speak my mind anywhere And I'll never mind anywhere Anywhere I may roam Where I lay my head is home

But i'll take my time anywhere Free to speak my mind And I'll take my find anywhere Anywhere I may roam Where I lay my head is home

Carved upon my stone My body lie, but still I roam Wherever I may roam

Odysseus's long journey throughout both epics, and more specifically The Odyssey and his changing attitude and feelings throughout it are accurately portrayed in this song. Odysseus comes from such a rich, notable place of influence in his home town, and becoming lost and homeless, a wanderer with no destination is something he gets accustomed to, even if he still has the goal to get home - these ideas are mirrored in the song. They both use imagery to better portray emotions and events in the writings seen in the excerpt:"Even as when a fisher on some head-land lets down with a long rod his baits for a snare to the little fishes below," and in the song: "...and my ties are severed clean."

Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

"Man In The Mirror"  I'm gonna make a change

For once in my life

It's gonna feel real good

Gonna make a difference

Gonna make it right As I, turn up the collar on

My favorite winter coat

This wind is blowing my mind

I see the kids in the streets

With not enough to eat

Who am I to be blind?

Pretending not to see their needs With so much disregard, a broken bottle top

And one man's soul ( and a one man's soul)

They follow each other on the wind ya' know

'Cause they got nowhere to go

That's why I want you to know I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love

It's time that I realize

That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan

Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone? A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart

And a washed-out dream

They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see

'Cause they got no place to be

That's why I'm starting with me I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make that

Change! I'm starting with the man in the mirror

(Oh yeah!)

I'm asking him to change his ways

(Better change!)

No message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make the change)

You gotta get it right, while you got the time

You can't close your, your mind! (Then you close your, mind!)

That man, that man, that man, that man

With the man in the mirror

(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)

That man, that man, that man

I'm asking him to change his ways

(Better change!)

No message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make the change Oh no, no no I'm gonna make a change

It's gonna feel real good!

Chime on!

(Change)

Just lift yourself

You know

You've got to stop it

Yourself!

(Yeah! Make that change!)

I've got to make that change, today!

Hoo!

(Man in the mirror)

You got to

You got to not let yourself

Brother

Hoo!

(Yeah! Make that change!)

You know, I've got to get

That man, that man

(Man in the mirror)

You've got to move! Chime on!

Chime on!

You got to

Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!

(Yeah! Make that change)

Stand up and lift yourself, now!

(Man in the mirror)

You know it!

You know it!

You know it!

You know it

(Change)

Make that change

Read more:[|Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror Lyrics | MetroLyrics]

Throughout his long journey home, Odysseus begins to regret certain aspects of his life that he wish he could have done better, knowing he might not get the opportunity fix them. The song is talking about changing one's self, making themself better, something that Odysses wishes he had the chance to do. Imagery is used heavily in the epics, as well as in the song: "A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top And A One Man's Soul," in the epic: "I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in mid-air among the clouds." While this excerpt does not show Odysseus's regrets, it better shows the imagery for which Homer did so well.

Journey - Don't Stop Believing

Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train Goin' anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train Goin' anywhere

A singer in a smokey room A smell of wine and cheap perfume For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching In the night Streetlights, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night

Workin' hard to get my fill Everybody wants a thrill Payin' anything to roll the dice Just one more time Some will win Some will lose Some were born to sing the blues Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting Up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching In the night Streetlights, people Livin' just to find emotion Hidin' somewhere in the night

[Instrumental interlude]

Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlights, people Don't stop believin' Hold on Streetlights, people Don't stop believin' Hold on to that feelin' Streetlights, people

The general message of this song is to never give up, or never stop believing. Odysseus, when the whole world and even supernatural forces were conspiring against him never gave up, he continued with what he believed could be a potentially endless ("Journey") home. Although it would have made sense to give up, and most people would have, Odysseus never did and eventually made it home. The whole song is really an abstract idea, with certain people with different backgrounds referenced to embody the idea. In this way, the whole song is an allegory for different kinds of people in different walks of life, in the same way Homer uses allegory to simplify his broad topics: "Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that he could get no rest. As when fair Juno's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of hungry war,": <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Works Cited "Homer - Ancient Greek Epic Poet of the Odyssey and Iliad." Homer- Ancient Greek Poet. Ancient Greece Foundation, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. "Homer Bio." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. "Poet: Homer." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.