Question

Which of these excerpts from Homer’s Iliad contains an epic simile?

A) As wasps, provoked by children in their play,
Pour from their mansions by the broad highway,
In swarms the guiltless engage,
Whet all their stings, and call forth all their rage: traveller

B) Great Jove consents to half the chief’s request,
But heaven’s eternal doom denies the rest;
To free the fleet was granted to his prayer;
His safe return, the winds dispersed in air

C) Joyful they heard, and kindling as he spoke,
Flew to the fleet, involved in fire and smoke.
From shore to shore the doubling shouts resound,
The hollow ships return a deeper sound.

D) In equal arms two sons of Nestor stand,
And two bold brothers of the Lycian band:
By great Antilochus, Atymnius dies,
Pierced in the flank, lamented youth! he lies,

Answer 1

As wasps, provoked by children in their play,

Pour from their mansions by the broad highway,

In swarms the guiltless engage,

Whet all their stings, and call forth all their rage: traveller

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The excerpt from “The Iliad of Homer”, poetic interpretation of the original Homeric poem, by Alexander Pope that contains epic simile is the excerpt (A). Simile is a figure of speech that involves comparison of two things of differed kind (such as he is brave as lion) and in the first excerpt warriors are compared to the wasps.