1. Writing Homeric Similes

2. Homeric Simile  An extended comparison between something the audience could not have seen, to something ordinary they would know

3. Examples  Odysseus and his men bore out Polyphemus’ eye, “…and I leaned on it turning it as a shipwright turns a drill in planking…” (p. 665; lines 378-380)  The digging of the Cyclops’ eye is compared to a ship builder drilling a plank.

4. Examples  When Odysseus tells of the Cicones, he says, “They came with dawn over the terrain like the leaves and blades of spring.”  Odysseus is saying that the soldiers suddenly appeared everywhere like leaves and grass in spring.

5. You try… Directions: Choose 3 of the following awesome events and create a homeric simile for each. You may also create your own.  An ollie 360 flip  Sky diving from 23 miles up  Scoring a 100 yard touchdown  Meeting Nyles from One Direction  Winning a shopping spree at your favorite store  Chuck Norris beating up a shark  Seeing Mr. Morrow dance “Gangnam Style”