As the skirmish arises, Homer describes the roaring sound of opposing shields and spears. As the battle begins, “Now as the advancing came…they dashed their shields together and their spears…armored men in bronze…sound grew huge of fighting” (IV, L. 446-449, p. 125). Homer compares the clashing Greeks and Trojans to the merging of two flooding mountain streams. He also describes the sound of clashing shields and spears, in the strength of men layered with armor. In the midst of battle, Homer reveals the cold consequence, whom many men face. In Cholos, “of men killing and men killed, and the ground ran with blood” (IV, L. 451, p.125). The men are fighting, and striving for Kleos as they are in the middle of battle. In addition Homer arranges a cause and effect situation by stating that once they had encountered one another, it rapidly lead to a bloody death.
Actually, two similes embrace the epic simile. The encompassing effect, “when rivers in winter spate running down from the mountains throw together at the meeting of streams the weight of their water.” The diction of the first creates an image of formation, by identifying the meeting and energy of the water, just as the Greeks and Trojans charge and forcefully smash together. Homer accordingly relates power with destruction. The second simile suggests aural, as well as visual diction. In description, “far away in the mountains the shepherd hears their thunder, such, from the coming together of men, was the shock and the shouting.” Homer clearly displays how loud the rumble is by stating how far away a man could hear the violent collision. Furthermore, he explains that the men smashing together, along with their shouts and screams resemble the shaking noise.
In general this epic simile establishes a tone of all encompassing, wrath and disaster. In battle, “hears their thunder…from the coming together of men, was the shock and the shouting.” The merging and flooding waters describes the looming clash of the two armies. The diction, “the shock and the shouting,” not only resembles the pain they are going through, but also reveals their starvation for Kudos. The individual combats that occurred, eventually lead to a full-scale war, resulting with many casualties. The Trojans and Greeks, “lay sprawled in the dust face downward beside one another” (IV, L. 544, p.127). Homer reveals the sad consequence of war. He also embraces the fact that these men have failed to come home.
Homer clearly reveals the subtle accomplishment of Zeus’ will through the epic simile. Zeus, “let us consider…whether again to stir up grim warfare and the terrible fighting” (IV, L. 15-16, p. 113). Zeus is debating whether to resume the war or to stop battle forever. He obviously chooses to continue the horrible war on the Achaians and Trojans. The sending of Athene, protector of the Achaians to induce the breaking of the truce, is what starts the battle. Athene, “visit horrible war again on the Achaians and Trojans…make it so that the Trojans are first offenders” (IV, L. 65-67, p. 115). As Athene divinely intervenes with the Trojans, she persuades them with lies. Homer sets up irony here, for the fact that Athene is a protector of Achaians, but she is sent to start a war, and the Trojans are the ones to start it.
