The Guide to Greek Gods and Goddesses 4 Dummies

   In the Odyssey, many epic poem characteristics are demonstrated and can be seen throughout the book. One example is in media res, which is when the story begins in the middle or end of the action and refers to events that happened in the past to fill in the blanks in the midst of things.  Homer uses in media res numerous times, one example ebing, "'Bear/in mind, however, that Poseidon is still furious with/ Odysseus for having blinded an eye of Polyphemus king/ of the Cyclopes"' (Homer 2). In media res is also demonstrated when Odysseus tells of his adventures to King Alkinoos, "'Now, however, I will tell you of the/ many hazardous adventures which by Zeus' will I met/ with on my return from Troy/"' (Homer 51). Additionally, Homer uses patronymics, which is referring to someone by the father's name. Homer used patronymics in,"'It is an island covered with/forest, in the very middle of the sea, and a goddess lives/there, daughter of the magician Atlas, who looks after/ the bottom of the ocean, and carries the great columns/ that keep heaven and earth asunder"' (Homer 1-2). Another epic characteristic is kenning, which is a compoud phrase that is being used as a metaphore. Poseidon has a kenning that describes him when Odysseus prays, "'O hear me lord, blue girdler of the islands/'"(Homer 670). Hear, the kenning is describing Poseidon as a water churner. Homer also describes Zeus with a kenning, calling him the cloud-gathering Zeus, reffering to his positon as the God of the heavens. In addition, Homer makes use of euphony, which is imagery that is described in a pleasant way. He does this when he describes Athena pleasurably saying," So saying she bound on her glittering golden/ sandals, imperishable, with which she can fly like the/ wind over land or sea; she grasped the redoubtable/ bronze-shod spear, so stout and sturdy and strong/"(Homer 2). In conclusion, it can be said and proven that Homer used many epic characteristics to provide a very thrilling and adventurous tale.