Question

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3.
now from his breast into his eyes the ache
of longing mounted, and he wept at last,
his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms,
longed for
as the sunwarmed earth is longed for by a swimmer
spent in rough water where his ship went down
under poseidon’s blows, gale winds and tons of sea.
few men can keep alive through a big surf
to crawl, clotted with brine, on kindly beaches
in joy, in joy, knowing the abyss behind (436).
type of figurative language
the author is comparing the way odysseus
to the way
this comparison illustrates the
odysseus because

but the man skilled in all ways of contending,
satisfied by the great bow’s look and heft,
like a musician, like a harper, when
with quiet hand upon his instrument
he draws between his thumb and forefinger
a sweet new string upon a peg; so effortlessly
odysseus in one motion strung the bow.
then slid his right hand down the cord and plucked it,
so the taut gut vibrating hummed and sang
a swallow’s note (404).
4.
type of figurative language
the author is comparing odysseus’
to
the comparison illustrates odysseus’
because

Explanation:

Question 3:

• Type of figurative language: Simile (the author compares Odysseus to a swimmer using "as").
• What is being compared: Odysseus' longing for home (specifically the sunwarmed earth) to a swimmer's longing for the shore after struggling in rough waters.
• Why the comparison illustrates Odysseus: Odysseus has endured hardships at sea (Poseidon's blows, gale winds, tons of sea) and, like a swimmer who has fought through a big surf, he longs for the safety and comfort of home (the sunwarmed earth) just as the swimmer longs for the beach. This shows his intense yearning and the relief he feels at the thought of being close to home after his struggles.

Question 4:

• Type of figurative language: Simile (the author compares Odysseus to a musician using "like").
• What is being compared: Odysseus' skill in stringing the bow to a musician's (a harper or one skilled with a bow) skill in playing their instrument.
• Why the comparison illustrates Odysseus: The man skilled in contending (Odysseus) is able to string the bow effortlessly, just as a musician can play their instrument with a quiet hand and create a sweet sound. This highlights Odysseus' proficiency, grace, and ease in accomplishing the difficult task of stringing the bow, showing his expertise and dexterity.

Answer:

Question 3:

• Type of figurative language: Simile
• The author is comparing the way Odysseus longs for home to the way a swimmer longs for the beach after struggling in rough water.
• This comparison illustrates the intensity of Odysseus' longing for home and the relief he feels at the thought of being close to it after enduring hardships at sea.

Question 4:

• Type of figurative language: Simile
• The author is comparing Odysseus' skill in stringing the bow to the skill of a musician (harper) playing their instrument.
• This comparison illustrates Odysseus' proficiency, grace, and ease in accomplishing the difficult task of stringing the bow, showing his expertise and dexterity.