Ekphrasis facts for kids

Ekphrasis is figure of speech. It is a detailed description of a work of visual art. The work can be real or imaginary. Sometimes the language used in the ekphrasis is considered as art in itself. Homer's detailed description of the shield carried by the hero Achilles in his epic poem the Iliad is a very early example of the use of ekphrasis in literature. The Shield of Achilles, a poem written by W. H. Auden in 1952, describes Auden's reaction to Homer's of ekphrasis.

Images for kids

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  This is a design of the Shield of Achilles based on the description in the Iliad. It was completed by Angelo Monticelli c. 1820. This shield represents the art of ekphrastic poetry Homer used in his writings.

See also

In Spanish: Écfrasis para niños