Literary techniques & impact on reader

Narrative Techniques

Homer uses immersive storytelling to engage his audience, presenting events in a vivid and detailed manner to generate an almost pictorial image.
The use of Dialogues between characters allows for personality constructs and the development of drama.
Homer employs ‘In Medias Res’, a narrative technique where the story starts in the middle of events, creating an immediate sense of action and interest.
Homer’s use of flashbacks gives depth to characters and events, enriching his narrative with layers of past actions and decisions.
The Similes and Metaphors used often describe battle scenes and characters, enhancing the reader’s connection with the storyline.

The use of pathos helps to evoke the reader’s empathy for the characters, particularly in scenes such as Priam’s mourning or Achilles’ guilt.
The device of foreshadowing, such as Hector’s premonition of his death, builds suspense and anticipative excitement in the audience.
Divine interventions serve as major plot devices, enhancing the drama and conflict of the story.

The repetitious invocation of the Muse in the beginning emphasises the tradition of oral storytelling.
The use of epithets and formulaic expressions serve both as mnemonic aids for the poet and to reinforce character traits and attributes to the reader.
Detailed accounts of funeral rites and feasting rituals provide cultural context and authenticate the setting of the story.

Homer’s use of direct speeches allows audience engagement with characters on a personal level.
The poem’s consistent focus on human themes of love, honour, and loss resonate universally with readers, forming emotional connection.
Detailed battlefield descriptions and heroic actions generate excitement and suspense, making the reading experience more thrilling.
The resolution of conflicts and the closure of the story with a note of humanity, despite being a war narrative, has a profound impact on the reader.