2

Set 4: Command of Evidence

Explanation

Answer: A

PASSAGE

In *The Odyssey*, Homer uses the epithet 'wine-dark sea' repeatedly to describe the ocean. This poetic device was common in oral traditions, helping storytellers remember long passages and providing a rhythmic quality to the narrative.

What function did epithets like 'wine-dark sea' serve for oral storytellers?

A. They indicated the color of the sea at sunset.✓ Correct
B. They were mnemonic devices aiding memorization and adding rhythm.
C. They were inserted by later editors.
D. They showed Homer's lack of vocabulary.

Detailed Explanation

The text states these helped 'storytellers remember long passages and providing a rhythmic quality. ' That's mnemonic and rhythmic.

Key Evidence:

• "helping storytellers remember"

• "rhythmic quality"

Why others are wrong: A (The literal meaning of the phrase is not the point.), C (Not mentioned.), D (It's a deliberate stylistic choice, not a flaw.).

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