Simile post by Andrew Schultz

In book 15, Hector had been injured in battle and was on the ground clinging to life.  Apollo then restores him back to good health so he can fight and take on the Greeks.  When he rises back to his feet, the Greeks are absolutely stunned.  The Trojans then charge against the Greeks and the Greeks retreat towards their ships as another intense battle ensues.  The following simile describes the scene of Hector getting back up and fighting again.

Hunters and hounds have been hot on the trail
Of an antlered stag or a mountain goat,
But a sudden sheer rock or a tangled wood
Saves the animal, which was not theirs to catch,
And their shouting brings a bearded lion
Into their path.  Then the eager hunters turn back.





     Here, the tenors are Hector and the Trojans being saved from Apollo and attacking the Greeks.  The vehicle is the antlered stag being saved by the rock and lion from the hunters and hounds.  The simile helps establish the quick turnaround that the Trojans make after Hector is almost killed.  It also sets up Hector's faith in himself and the Trojans to defeat the Greeks.  Hector gets up and leads the Trojans to clobber the Greeks toward their ships and gains tons of confidence after killing Patroclus.  His confidence is shortlived as Achilles kills him later in the poem. 
     This simile also has very interesting comparisons for the characters.  It compares Hector to a stag or a goat which is not a very imposing animal.  He feels like he would be more like a hunter or hound that is actually used to describe the Greeks.  It also makes the comparison of Apollo to a bearded lion.  This is also interesting as it shows the glory that Apollo rightfully deserves in his place of the battle.  He is the main reason that Hector and the Trojans are able to fight the Greeks to the ship.  Without Apollo, Hector might have died and the war could have ended with this battle because the spirit of the Trojans was down.  Apollo was like a heroic lion that saved the Trojans from the clutches of defeat and destruction.