The Hymns written by Romanus the Melode in the sixth century provide vivid descriptions of Christians and insight to particular beliefs, customs and traditions of the time period. The hymns were poetic and referred to as kontakia which is a poetic way to articulate the teachings of Christ. The structure of the hymns employs imagery similar to poems using strophes (now called stanzas) with several verses and a refrain which was sung by the congregation instead of a sermon. The purpose of the hymns strophes was to provide imagery using figurative language to create emotion through pathos, logos and ethos to amplify the message. Romanus of Melode delivered the hymns in euphonious phrases which are pleasing to the ear through lyrical sounds. …show more content…
Romanus describes the effects of the disease on lepers and demoralizing effects of leprosy, highlighting how those inflicted with the disease were cured by Christ and why. Romanus uses literary devices such as figurative language, metaphors, hyperboles, imagery, and alliteration to further impact on what is happening. What makes the Hymn of Romanus important is throughout the hymn of Romanus uses figurative language which plays a role in describing the disease. One example Romanus’ uses the metaphor incorporating alliteration in the phrase “feeds on flesh as though it were fodder” thus comparing the disease which is feeding on the flesh to fodder. The exaggeration is a hyperbole emphasizing the debilitating demise of human flesh to the
Playwright, William Shakespeare, in the play Julius Caesar, utilizes many instances of rhetorical devices through the actions and speech of Caesar's right-hand man, Mark Antony. In the given excerpt, Antony demonstrates several of those rhetorical devices such as verbal irony, sarcasm, logos, ethos, and pathos which allows him to sway the plebeians. The central purpose of Mark Antony’s funeral speech is to persuade his audience into believing that Caesar had no ill intentions while manipulating the plebeians into starting a rebellion against their new enemies, Brutus and the conspirators.
Similes are, in the broadest sense of the word, a way for writers to express a certain idea by comparing and connecting two elements in order to give the reader a better understanding of the situation. One can argue that no author uses this literary device better and with such artistry than the Greek poet Homer. The epic similes found in Homer’s Odyssey are so complex, that they introduce a level of sophistication to his poetry that still has us studying his work centuries later. More specifically, there are two pairs of similes that, when examined, have a close relationship with one another. These pairs can be found on pages 240 and 246, and on pages 122 and 360. Both of these pairs of similes can be bridged together by the messages they
Satire in the common sense comes from people like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert who mock the government, and the idiotic way they try to get stuff done, by using comedy and sarcasm. This form of rhetoric is by no means a modern invention. Satire dates to the Greeks and possible even before them. Maybe the first sentence from human was satirical. The first Roman to discuss satire critically was Quintilian, who invented the term to describe the writings of Lucilius. The satire that we use today can trace its origins back to poets and writers like Juvenal, Horace, and Apuleius. Satire in their work is much wider than in the modern sense of the word, including fantastic and highly coloured humorous writing with little or no real mocking intent. Roman satire was a very important literary device that played an important part in their history which shaped writings for generation to come.
Homer conveys the theme in The Odyssey by using descriptive figurative language throughout all of the books. The themes using figurative language that Homer conveys are vengeance and hospitality.
The ship analogy presents three metaphors encircling the political system of old Athens. The captain is at the helm by virtue of his ownership of the ship rather than his seamanship. The crew desires his position because they desire the prestige and power associated with ownership and are confident in their own seamanship. However, they misinterpret the captain's position at the helm to represent naval ability. In reality, the navigator who reads the stars and interprets weather patterns to guide the ship is the real naval talent. Since the crew assumes that power equates ability they cannot understand the role the guide plays and thus fatally dismissing the navigator's role aboard the ship. If the crew disregards the navigator (which they inevitably will, thinking them useless) the ship will be unable to run smoothly and serve it's proper
From the beginning of 14.30, the description of the battle at Mona, Tacitus emphasizes the “un-Romaness” of the Druids, particularly their tradition of human sacrifice and the behavior of their women: “in modum Furiarum veste ferali, crinibus deiectis.”2 However, even before this, he begins a subtle campaign of Vergilian allusions, belying his unattractive descriptions of the Druids. The opposing battle line is described as “densa armis virisque,” a phrase which cannot help but recall Vergil's “arma virumque cano,” the first line of the Aeneid.3 Later in 30, he employs the Vergilian expressions “preces...fundentes” and “adolere aras”, referring to the superstitious and barbarian religious practices of the enemy but recalling, respectively, supplicating Trojans and Aen...
While the Aeneid does outline the future of Rome, it also highlights the pains of war, and also exposes his audience to a culture of violence, which they may be unfamiliar with. The act of balancing one’s duty towards others and his or her personal desires was a conflict that many people struggled with. By presenting the struggle between balancing inner desires and and personal responsibilities, Virgil offers his audience a framework that enhances their overall understanding of the poem.
Figurative language is when you use words or a phrase that do not have a regular, everyday literal meaning and is used by almost all authors in their writings. Authors use figurative language to make their works more interesting and more dramatic. Examples of figurative language include metaphors, similes, personification and hyperbole. Helena Maria Viramontes uses figurative language all throughout her novel Under the Feet of Jesus. In the opening paragraphs of the novel Viramontes uses imagery to set the scene for her readers, she really makes us feel as if we are riding along in the station wagon with Estrella and her 6 other family members. In this scene she describes to her readers reflects on the hardships that this family, and people
The disease was viewed as a black man’s disease due to its vast spread in the black race community. In this chapter, it is clear that the medical fraternity had formed opinion of the disease even before the start of the experiment. The theme of racial prejudice is brought out clearly in this chapter. The blacks are discriminated from the whites even after learning that syphilis can affect both races alike. The slaves received treatment like their masters just because of economic concerns and not because they were human like their masters. In chapter 3 “Disease Germs Are the Most Democratic Creatures in the World”, the writer points out that the germ theory changed the way syphilis is viewed in the society. It was clear that other emphasis such as sanitation, education and preventative medicine was necessary to combat the disease. The areas inhabited by the blacks were behind in healthcare facilities and service. In this chapter, the theme of unequal distribution of resources is seen. Whereas areas inhabited by the whites had better hospitals and qualified professionals to deal with the
In, “Julius Caesar,” by William Shakespeare, there is a funeral held for Caesar at which Brutus and Antony speak. Brutus is one of the conspirators who killed Caesar while Antony is a friend of Caesars. Brutus speaks first and is able to turn the crowd from being angry about Caesars death to wondering why he was not killed sooner. Antony wants to speak at Caesars funeral and he is granted his wish under the terms that he does not speak ill of the conspirators. Despite agreeing to these terms, Antony slowly begins to praise Caesar and the crowd reverts to loving Caesar. Both men use ethos, logos and pathos to persuade the crowd; however, Antony is more effective in convincing.
In the text Phaedrus, Socrates and Phaedrus consider the nature of the soul in order to assess Lysias' speech, rhetoric in general, and the requirements of good rhetoric for a speaker and an audience. A chariot allegory is given to provide a separation between the rational and impulsive sides of man and suggest the ultimate pursuit of philosophy. Socrates explains the relation of madness to rhetoric by bringing attention to the good gifts that come out of madness, such as the noble lover. There are three lovers discussed throughout Phaedrus that Weaver parallels with the differing ways language can affect us. Through the evaluation of the soul, madness, and lovers, Plato's Phaedrus and Weaver's analysis of Phaedrus, function to provide several
When people think of Roman culture, they see the violence, the lust, and betrayal of one another. This perception is due to the influence novels and movies and televisions shows depicting such actions. However, like most revolving around the past there is more to cultures of the Roman people. To prove that Rome’s culture is not how it seems, historian Paul Veyne published “Pleasure and Excess in Roman Empire” to explain to the audience more about the culture they are not fully aware of in the article. But how well does Veyne’s explanation in his book hold any weight and do explain these facts rather well?
John Milton’s bee simile in Book Two of Paradise Lost, is rooted in the epic tradition. Homer, Vergil and Dante look to the nature of bees in order to understand the human condition and an ideal society. Bees are described by these poets as unified, loyal to their king and hive, hard workers, untainted by carnal desires, and righteous in their ability to love. Milton alludes to the characteristics given by the poets before him in a complex simile that explains the beginning of Satan’s Pandemonium.
The lyric poems in the ancient times are presented in the first person point of view. Since lyric poetry expresses the personal and emotional feelings of a speaker, Sappho’s poems, Abu Nawar’s verses, Egyptian poems, and Neo-Christian Aztec poems explore the emotions of the speakers as they describe their culture, lifestyle, and tradition. These verses depict the passion, love, and perspectives of the ancient civilizations
The Chorus is very much an important part of Euripedes’ Medea, and indeed many other works written in the ancient Greek style. In this play, it follows the journey Medea makes, and not only narrates, but commentates on what is happening. Euripedes uses the Chorus as a literary device to raise certain issues, and to influence where the sympathies of the audience lie.