Odyssey Literacy Devices

Question 1

Epithets

Answer 1

Epithets are descriptive phrases which stress a persons characteristics and help establish them in the audiences mind e.g - ‘Good Odysseus’

Question 2

Recurrent phrases

Answer 2

Recurrent phrases helped oral poets to compose and recite their material

Question 3

Similes and imagery

Answer 3

Similes are comparisons, used often at moments of great drama or importance. They’re often taken from nature and create a vivid picture in the audiences mind.

Question 4

Gruesome details

Answer 4

Gruesome details shocks the audience and their sense of horror makes them listen more intently

Question 5

Tension building and foreshadowing

Answer 5

Creating suspense and tension by suggesting a later plot development or occurrence through imagery/ other means

Question 6

Irony

Answer 6

Irony is when the words or actions of a character are understood by the reader but not by the other characters. This increases suspense.

Question 7

Action and pace

Answer 7

Increase the amount of pace of activity at important moments of action, helps make the story vivid, exciting and memorable

Question 8

Pathos

Answer 8

Pathos means creating sadness (sorrow) for the suffering of characters, getting the audience more involved in the story

Question 9

Vivid description and scene setting

Answer 9

Helps audience imagine the scene and become more involved in the story. Scene setting gives a clear picture of the location of an event, rather like a stage set

Question 10

Small details

Answer 10

Small or apparently minor physical details can help create a clear picture in the audiences mind, or help emphasise a particular theme

Question 11

Direct speech and flashback

Answer 11

Speeches or stories told by the characters, which make the narrative more dramatic and bring the characters to life