Comparing The Iliad And The Odyssey

Religion is a major cultural factor in both epics as gods and goddesses are a daily presence in people's lives and have great influences on them. In the Iliad, the gods were called more to intervene the mortals' affairs than they were in the Odyssey. In the Iliad, the gods are portrayed as deceptive, volatile, and conniving as there were a lot of sneaking behind one another's backs to aid one side over the other. For example, Hera wanted the Achaeans to win, but Zeus tries to remain neutral. In result, some of the god's plot to put him to sleep so they could help the Achaeans win. It appeared as though the battlefield was a theatrical play and the mortals were their puppets. The extent of their generosity was even exposed. The priest of Apollo, Chryses, stated, "Hear me, lord of the silver

A classic example of this divine involvement occurs within the first page of The Iliad.  Achilles, the great hero of the Achaean armies, and Agamemnon the commander-in-chief of the Argives clash bitterly, and the entire epic centers on this conflict.  Homer details the cause of this

An epic poem is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet. These poems tell tales of intense adventures and heroic feats. They often include cultural references to the time it was written and was a way for the people to spread their ideas and beliefs. Epic poems are very important when a person is trying to learn more about a certain culture or era in which the poem was written. Two of the most famous epic poems are Beowulf and The Odyssey. Although no two poems are exactly them same, Beowulf and The Odyssey do share a few similarities. Between Beowulf and The Odyssey, the most salient similarity they share is the way the monsters from the epics are symbolic and challenge

The Lord of the Rings and Odyssey are two very weird stories in my opinion. The two stories include several similarities. The most noteworthy similarity of the two that were in common was the use of themes. Both included similar themes such as, life, death,power, brotherly love, myth, temptation, and journey.

Beginning in medias res, The Odyssey succeeds the events of The Iliad. Prior to Telemachus’s introduction, Homer develops tension by telling of Odysseus’s tribulations—held captive by the “great nymph Kalypso”(14) and torment by Poseidon, who was ceaseless in his anger”(20) for blinding his son, the “Cyclops”(70) “Polyphemos (70)” of returning to his beloved “home and wife”(14) revealed by the goddess Athene in her parley with her father, Zeus. In turn, the succession of Telemachus’s narrative discerns the chaos which has befallen Ithaca. As Odysseys’s character and narrative is introduced only in Book 5, the suspense builds on the existing complex poltline, and holds the fleeting attention of the reader.

In both The Odyssey by Homer and The Aeneid by Virgil, epic similes are used to portray the last battle of each heroes’ journey home. Each hero must face his own set of trials in order to complete his journey home before facing off in one final battle. The epic similes by both Homer and Virgil represent the final battles from each epic. The similes represent parallel battles in the epics which causes them to have similar traits. For example, both Homer and Virgil use animals to portray the brutal nature of these battles. However, the similes represent different men, culture, and battles, which differ in many ways. For example, Homer represents Odysseus and the Greeks, and Virgil represents Aeneas and the Romans.

In the book, Mythology. By Edith Hamilton and the Iliad. By Homer. The two epic heroes are Achilles, who is the hero of the Greeks and Hector is the hero of Troy. They are many ways to define an epic hero, an epic hero has a list of characteristic, for example, significant and glorified, is ethical and morally upright, has superior strength, intelligence, and or courage, is a strong and responsible leader and much more. Achilles is the better epic hero. There are characteristics that follow Achilles more than Hector.

In addition, in both epics, both the Romans and Greeks play the same games, those being wrestling, boxing, running, long jump, diskos throwing, and javelin throwing. Both the Aeneid and the Odyssey are similar in many ways. Not only are they both epics, but both Odysseus and Aeneas are both sent a journey, having to overcome many obstacles to and as a result become epic heroes. Secondly, both the Greek and Romans underworlds are worlds that Aeneas and Odysseus are both sent to in order to receive help. Further, both heroes see a place filled with many suffering people who are being judged. And finally, the Greek and Romans take the games very seriously as both Odysseus and Aeneas strive to do an excellent job during the games, and to win honor. Both of these characters show the true qualities of a hero honor and bravery. As Aristotle sates, “The truly good and wise man will bear all kinds of fortune in a seemly way, and will always act in the noblest manner that the circumstances allow.”

The stories told in the Iliad and Odyssey are based on stories handed down over several generations, for they preserve (as we have seen) memories of an already quiet far distant past. The two pomes show clear connection in their language and style, in the manner in which their incidents presented, and in the combination of agreement with level, which distinguish their creation.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.

The hero archetype in both the tale of King Arthur and The Odyssey exemplifies its omnitude in British and Greek culture respectively. Although each hero delineates his own culture’s values during different times, it is evident that both share similar qualities and traits pertaining to the hero archetype. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is representative of the Greek values of rule through Gods and Goddesses. In contrast, King Arthur represents British values of rule without the significant influence of supernatural beings. Granted that each story contains nearly opposite values, the hero archetype is still able to resonate in both characters. One of the main heroic aspects portrayed by each character is their dynamic personalities. Both King Arthur and Odysseus are distinguished as vigorous, audacious, and most importantly wise in each of their

“The Aeneid” and “The Iliad” are relatively two different epics that were written decades apart. However, they have their similarities. These are two epics with the fate of two heroes. In the epic “The Aeneid,” the readers follow the journey of a man named Aeneas who is a Trojan refugee who journeys from his homeland of Troy to find Rome for the generations of the future. “The Iliad” is a story of the Trojan War and the hero of the story Achilles. Achilles was one of the bravest soldiers of the Greek army, but he was just as vain as he was brave. Both heroes showed a great amount of heroic actions throughout their perspective epics. Aeneas kills the Latin warrior Turnus and ventures away from his burning Troy to find Rome and prepare it for the future generations to come. Achilles fights for the Greeks which eventually results in him dying a hero’s death.

We were asked to write an 1000 word essay on the comparison between the Iliad and the Odyssey. After reading the stories I’ve come to realize that they have multiple comparisons enough for me to write a life time about. But I’m going to limit myself to only writing about one topic and it the free will vs. predetermination (choice vs. fate). The Iliad and the Odyssey both contain the Trojan War, but only a little bit of it. The Iliad didn’t cover the whole story of the Trojan War but only captured the ninth year of the war. The Odyssey didn’t capture the war only Odysseus journey back home to his family which took 20 years. The Iliad and the Odyssey were both written by the same person the stories both correspond together like a missing piece

The Odyssey can be summed up by stating how the great warrior, Odysseus, is trying to return home to his wife and son after fighting an epic war. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a partial god, by the name of Gilgamesh, faced retribution for poor leadership, but manages to redeem himself. In both the Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh, both heroes are in search for the meaning of life. Both heroes want glory and everlasting fame. They want their name to last for eternity.

Although both of these stories are Homer's Greek Epics, they differ in great measures. In the Iliad, the Gods play a very prominent role in the course of the poem. While in the Odyssey, the Gods do not play a major role and serve more as a spiritual guide on a long journey.