Question

read the excerpt from part 2 of the odyssey.
neither reply nor pity came from him,
but in one stride he clutched at my companions
and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies
to beat their brains out, spattering the floor.
what does the simile add to the passage? choose two answers.
□a description of the cyclops home
□ a comparison between odysseus and his men
□ an image of helplessness
□ a visual image of the cyclops pets
□ a comparison between the men and innocent animals

Explanation:

1. The simile "like squirming puppies" compares Odysseus's companions to small, vulnerable puppies, creating a clear image of their helplessness against the powerful Cyclops.
2. This comparison also frames the men as innocent, defenseless animals, emphasizing their powerlessness and the Cyclops's brutality.
3. The other options are incorrect: the simile does not describe the Cyclops's home, compare Odysseus to his men, or reference the Cyclops's actual pets.

Answer:

• an image of helplessness
• a comparison between the men and innocent animals