Topic > Analysis of imagery in Homer's Iliad and Euripides' Bacchae

Particularly in Bacchae, he does this to support his theme of the natural world contrasted with the world of man. For the audience, the application of imagery allows for further clarity of characters, plot progression, and invests their emotions in the story to build a stronger connection. Homer constructs striking visual images to enrich the view of the setting and the characters' overall personality so that the reader can make a logical sense as to why his character takes the actions he does. One of his main characters, Achilles, is central to his use of imagery. He uses various descriptive words and repetitions of rhetorical devices as similes to describe his impulsive and violent nature when fighting in war. On more than one occasion, he uses a combination of the two, as if to illustrate Achilles' anger towards Agenor during their battle, "Achilles now like an inhuman fire raging through the drained mountain gorges, setting fire to great strands of wood , the wind whirled the enormous ball of fire to the right and to the left - chaos of fire - Achilles advanced with his spear brandished and the earth became black with blood... hoofs of oxen” (Homer, Iliad 20.560). three consecutive similes to compare Achilles to the characteristics of fire and oxen From this he wants the reader to understand Achilles' fiery, ruthless and passionate character; leads to acting in such a barbaric and impulsive manner. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned" Get an Original Essay Furthermore, he enriches his similes with a long description of the setting of the battlefield through phrases like "his sharp-hoofed stallions trampled shields and corpses" and "blood on the handrails sweeping the car" mixed with vivid adjectives like "splashing," "churning," "swirling," and "shooting" (Homer , Iliad 20.560). This triggers a feeling of danger and suspense in the reader, allowing them to see the text in a different perspective. Almost as if they were themselves on the battlefield, smelling the blood and the hooves of Achilles' stallion crushing the bodies. With this example, Homer achieves his goal by using imagery because it evokes a deeper sense of emotion and perception that emphasizes the complexity of Achilles' persona and the grotesqueness of that plot. Furthermore, Homer uses extended metaphors in combination with descriptive adjectives to intensify his comparisons and convey his message to his readers. An extended metaphor he provided showed a truce between two armies disappearing and erupting into a deadly battle, “Screams of men and cries of triumph break in one breath… Wild as two winters, torrents raging from the mountains… crash of war" (Homer, Iliad 4.517-527). Here he compares the armies to two violent winter torrents that destroy each other and everything in their path. Homer uses imagery through an extended metaphor to demonstrate the extent of tension and hostility, as well as the dissolving relationship between the two armies. Overall, trying to convey its message about the extent of this feud between them and the intensity in which they fight, as well as foreshadowing that such extreme animosity is destined to repeat itself later with serious repercussions. Homer's use of imagery has the real ability to bring the reader into the book and make them feel as if they are seeing events unfold through a first-hand perspective. Incorporate sensations that allow them to feelalmost all four senses through his vivid comparisons and memorable descriptions of events. His audiences hold their breath at suspenseful events, devote emotional attachments, and gather their intellect for what is at stake in each circumstance; Thereby allowing them to foreshadow, reflect on, and gain a further sense of plot.Euripides creates complex and dynamic visual images in his readers, all while portraying his underlying messages in relation to his theme. His use of visual imagery provides much support for the central conflict and theme of the natural world in comparison or harmony with the world of man. To clarify, it showcases nature as a representation of wild, untamed, disordered rationality. On the other hand, it portrays the city of Thebes as an orderly and civilized representation of rationality. This notion also translates to its main characters. In one of the scenes of the comedy, Euripides draws a visual image showing the possible harmony between nature and man: "Some of them held young deer or wild wolf cubs by the arms, and offered them their white milk - all the women…children behind” (Euripides, Bacchae 700) Through the use of detailed vocabulary and unusual actions given to the characters, Euripides is able to construct an image in the reader's mind of women who they raise nature's animals and that allows the reader to deduce that symbolic meaning of togetherness. The audience gains a complete understanding and progression in the plot and, from this, is able to deduce and determine how the theme translates into other components of the story. his story, such as Dionysus and Pantaeus. In addition to supporting visual imagery in keeping with the theme, Euripides is able to teleport the reader into a setting through his fluid and descriptive word choices: “One of them took the his thyrsus and threw it against a rock, causing a stream of dewy water to gush out. Another….splash of white liquid scraped the earth…lively jets of milk….sweet streams of honey” (Euripides, Bacchae 710). His use of words like “dewy,” “livley,” “dripped,” and “sweet” bring the image to life and allow the reader to really gain a full understanding of how tranquil and peaceful the setting is. It brings the audience into a state of awe, almost as if they are observing and experiencing the calm for themselves. However, Euripides creates this beautiful image with the purpose of conveying his underlying message to the readers and allowing them to foreshadow that disrupting such a harmonious environment and people will only bring severe and destructive consequences. In support of the foreshadowing, Euripides greatly impresses the reader by immediately following up with a completely contrasting visual illustration of the once peaceful environment: “You might have seen ribs or cloven hooves thrown everywhere; and bloody pieces hung dripping from the pine branches…..your royal eyes” (Euripides, Bacchae 740). The 360' contrast that this visual image brought compared to the previous visual image completely fascinated and disgusted the audience. Euripides wanted to instill in his readers a feeling of confusion and amazement through his vivid vocabulary and the abnormal actions of his characters. He wanted his readers to grasp the visual image back to back as a representation of the evolutionary relationship between man and nature. Where from the first image is harmonious and unified to the second striking visual image which is chaotic and blurs the boundary between the two concepts. Furthermore, Euripides showcases the ability of his characters coupled with how the lines between nature and man are blurring through his description of Agaue, “foaming at the mouth and rolling his eyes distorted, his senses lost, he was..