but i clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted. and ah! how…

but i clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted. and ah! how long, with what desire, i waited! till, at the twilight hour, when one who hears and judges pleas in the marketplace all day between contentious men, goes home to supper, the long poles at last reared from the sea. answer the questions to analyze the epic simile. what is odysseus being compared to? what theme does this comparison suggest?

but i clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted. and ah! how long, with what desire, i waited! till, at the twilight hour, when one who hears and judges pleas in the marketplace all day between contentious men, goes home to supper, the long poles at last reared from the sea. answer the questions to analyze the epic simile. what is odysseus being compared to? what theme does this comparison suggest?

Answer

Brief Explanations:

An epic simile is a detailed comparison in epic poetry. In the given text, Odysseus is compared to a judge. Just as a judge has a long - awaited moment of going home to supper after a tiring day of dealing with contentious men, Odysseus has a long - awaited moment when the mast and keel (parts of his ship) come back to the surface. This comparison suggests the theme of perseverance. Odysseus endures a difficult situation (clinging to the wreckage) just as a judge endures a day of dealing with disputes, and both have a moment of relief or a goal achieved (the judge getting to supper, Odysseus seeing the ship parts resurface).

Answer:

  • Odysseus is being compared to a judge.
  • The theme suggested by this comparison is perseverance.