Phaethon by Morris Bishop
Apollo through the heavens rode In glinting gold attire; His car was bright with chrysolite 1 , His horses snorted fire. 5 He held them to their frantic course Across the blazing sky. His darling son was Phaethon, Who begged to have a try. "The chargers are ambrosia-fed They barely brook control; On high beware the Crab, the Bear, The Serpent 'round the Pole; Against the Archer and the Bull Thy form is all unsteeled 2 !" But Phaethon could lay it on; Apollo had to yield. Out of the purple doors of dawn Phaethon drove the horses; They felt his hand could not command. They left their wonted 3 courses. And from the chariot Phaethon Plunged like a falling star--And so, my boy, no, no, my boy You cannot take the car.
Identify the simile in this poem, write it below. 1. Explain what it means (What is being compared), 2. and why it matters to the text (What does it impact? Mood, tone, characterization, setting, etc.) explain
The simile in this poem is "They felt his hand could not command. They left their wonted courses." This simile compares Phaethon's inability to control the horses to a hand that cannot command.
This simile impacts the tone and characterization of the poem. It emphasizes Phaethon's inexperience and lack of skill in handling the powerful horses. It also highlights the dangerous consequences of his actions, as the horses veer off their usual course. This simile adds to the overall tension and impending sense of disaster in the poem.