The Iliad:

The Death of Hector

Literature
Greek Heroes
Do you think Greek heroes fit the
characteristics of an epic hero?
Epic hero characteristics

 A noble birth.

 Capable of deeds of strength.

 Great warrior.

 Travels over a vast setting.

 National heroism.

 Humility.

 Faces supernatural foes or gets supernatural help.

 Homer

-He was blind.

-He used one of the first alphabets.

-There’s not much information

about his life.

-He used visual imagery.

-He used epic simile.

 Visual Imagery
Writers use imagery to help audiences visualize a
picture or an event in a story.

We have to pay attention to the words to

understand the picture they create.
 Example
This is a description in Helen of Troy’s first
appearance:

“Trojans and well-armed Achaeans have endured

great suffering a long time over such a woman—just
like a goddess, immortal, awe-inspiring. She's
beautiful.”

How do you imagine Helen of Troy?

Epic Simile These are so characteristic of
this author that they are also
called Homeric Simile.

The epic simile can extend over

many lines and use the words
like and as to compare heroic
actions to everyday events.
 What is the simile in this text?
Example:
“They sat there, on the tower,
these Trojan elders, like
cicadas perched up on a forest
branch, chirping their soft,
delicate sounds.”
“They sat there, on the tower,
these Trojan elders, like
cicadas perched up on a forest
branch, chirping their soft,
delicate sounds.”
 Work in OneNote using the excerpt
from the Greek epic: The Iliad

1. Identify and write 2 examples of epic simile found in

the text.
Class Activity:
2. Explain how the epic simile helps Homer’s heroic
The Iliad
scenes.

3. Make a list of 3 descriptive words Homer uses to

create a vivid image of Achilles’ charging towards Hector.

4. Describe why visual imagery is useful in The Iliad.