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Bower-9th grade
Epic Unit Literary Terms (Odyssey)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| epic | a long, narrative poem detailing the adventures of a larger-than-life hero |
| Homeric simile | an extended comparison (several lines) |
| epithet | a descriptive phrase regularly used to characterize a person; a nickname |
| myth | a traditional story rooted in a culture that explains that culture's beliefs |
| rhapsode | an oral storyteller who would sing a tale |
| odyssey | a long journey during which lessons are learned |
| allusion | a historical reference to a person or event |
| imagery | an author's use of words that appeal to the five senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, smell) |
| dramatic irony | the audience is aware of something in the story that a character in the story is not |
| personification | giving a non-human thing human qualities or characteristics |
| alter ego | a spiritual reflection of a hero's best qualities |
| flashback | a story that tells past events |