I figured I would post this in both my Blog and the Open Forum
In The Iliad I have found that Homer uses many references to nature and the animal kingdom in describing the actions of the men, especially the war aspects. "But the two Aeantes blazing in battle-fury saw to Imbrius now...as two lions seizing a goat.....in their big grinding jaws,(Homer. 348. 235-239)" "Hector careering breakneck on like a deadly rolling boulder...it rolls no more for all its wild rush,(Homer. 346. 164-170" and "Think how a lion, mauling the soft weak...leaping clear of the big cat's pounce, (Homer. 300. 132-140)" and there are so many others. My question is why does Homer make so many references to natures forces and animalistic behaviors? Is is just so that people can get an image in their heads as to what was going on during the battles? Or was it to show that it's human nature to be violent and destructive, that not only can we not go against the gods who control our lives but that we can't go against our human instincts.
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I think he used nature as a comparison to help describe the actions, but especially to show how closely human beings relate to the natural world they live in.
ReplyDeleteIt's in our nature to protect one's family, home, etc. Back then, men had to hunt for food to feed the family. Wars were common, especially between the Greek city-states, so being a soldier & fighting for the greater good was most important.
I think the excellent descriptions of animals circling their prey, taking down their prey or retreating away from their prey were representations of how human beings react to their environment. In this case, war.
I think Homer uses animalistic references to the warriors behaviors because it paints a vivid picture for the readers. I would say a good majority of us have never been to war and don't know what it consists of. War can be a very ugly thing I know from personal experiences and from what I've seen in Iraq. But hand to hand combat is also completely different from the war we have today. I appreciate his very descriptive analogies, they make the story come alive. I also kind of feel like I was jipped in Iraq, but that's probably a good thing.
ReplyDeleteSarah, definitely a good thing you were jipped. Glad you made it back safe and sound and thank you for your service. What branch?
ReplyDeleteI think that Homer makes numerous references to natures forces and animalistic behaviors for several reasons. First, he definitely does this so that the audience can paint a visual image in their heads about the brutality of war. It is hard to imagine how atrocious a war can be without visually seeing it in action and thus it is important for writers to use vivid imagery to illustrate these scenes. Also, I think it is definitely used to show how ruthless some of the warriors who participated in the Trojan War really were. For example, the image that Homer paints of Achilles dragging Hector’s corpse for nine days after his murder portrays Achilles as an inhumane character.
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