Comparative Study of Application of Epithets in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

One of the common stylistic features in the Iliad and Odyssey by Homer and Shahnameh by Ferdowsi is the use of epithet. By presenting details about characters, objects and the places in a story, epithets create a powerful descriptive structure in order to develop the character and images in the story. The epithets along with the person’s name form a formula, which fills a part of a verse and play an important role in the poem’s rhythm. Thus, it can be said that epithets help the poet in the description, narration and the music of the poem and help the reader or audience to better understand the story. The present study attempts to define the epithets and mention numerous examples, so as to show the effect of using them in developing the characters, image and the rhythm in Iliad and Odyssey and Shahnameh.