In this epic simile, Homer describes “humanity” as “the generations of leaves.” The cycle of the leaves is compared to the nature of human lives. Each human being is only part of their generation, tiny and negligible like individual leaves of a tree. Thus, each man has a doomed final fate---death. Human does not have the ability to make a choice or prevent death. “The wind scatters”, the leaves themselves have no control of their own. Homer emphasizes this lack of control over fate by depicting life necessities as a burden. The leaves, like human beings, need water, sun, and soil to survive. But even when those needs are met, seasons change for leaves and age does creep up. Homer’s idea of the cycle of life and death is a natural progression.
