Virgil vs. Homer in Underworld

In both Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid, the heroes make the dauntless adventure into the underworld. Both of theses visits occur around the middle of the stories, and they bring information about the lives of heroes ' loved ones. The heroes also get very important information from these loved ones; information that they require to continue on their journeys. However these are not the only things that are similar about the heroes visits. The influence of the Homeric writings of the Iliad and the Odyssey on Virgil’s writings is clear - especially in Book VI of the Aeneid. Throughout this paper we will talk about the similarities that occur throughout the two poems, and how the two authors beliefs shine through. These beliefs are two very different views on the idea of death. Homer’s Iliad depicts death as something that is something souls do not enjoy. Whereas Virgil’s Aeneid depict it more as a final rest for souls – something that relieves them of the troubles of life.

Another undeniable parallel between both tales is the importance of one’s journey. Homer’s Odyssey is far more than an epic of a man “who wandered far and wide” across the sea, it is rather an archetypal journey with universal, as well as timeless themes. That is

The function of prophecy manifests itself in many ways in the Aeneid. Throughout the epic, prophecies and omens act as the agents behind Aeneas fulfilling his destiny as well as providing clear social commentary on the dawn of the Roman Empire under Emperor Augustus. Even though not all of the prophecies and omens included in the epic come to pass in literary terms, Virgil’s inclusion of prophecy is of paramount importance for driving the plot forward. In this essay I will discuss the function of both internal and external prophecy and the effect these prophecies have on both the characters in the epic and the enjoyment of the reader from The Roman Empire until the present day.

     A comparison between Virgil's hero, Aeneas, and the Homeric heroes, Achilles and Odysseus, brings up the question concerning the relevance of the difference between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas. The differences in the poets' concerns are explained by the fact that Virgil lived many years after Homer, giving Virgil the advantage of a more developed literary and philosophical society than Homer had at his disposal. But the question remains: how are the differences between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas relevant to the epic at large? This question will be answered by first pointing out the differences between Greek and Roman society, then explaining

In this essay, I will examine popular Greek ideas concerning fate and their relationship to characters in Homer's Odyssey.

Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid represent their cultures very well, but they express different ideas on what one should strive for in life.  There are also different forces that pushed both epics to be written.  The Aeneid expresses the Roman idea of pietas which means to show extreme respect for one’s ancestors. We see this in Aeneas when he is pictured caring his father away from burning Troy.  He has pietas because he cared so much for his father that in fleeing from Troy he took up his father over his shoulder to save his from certain death.  This is not the only major idea in the Aeneid.  There is also a very political focus.  The Roman were very interested in politics which comes through in the Aeneid. The Odyssey has the Greek

The epic poem The Aeneid, by Vergil adapts scenes, similes, and characters from the Odyssey written by Homer. The works of both authors include the simile of Artemis/Diana. Other characters do overlap in some of Vergil's scenes for instance, Aeneas and Odysseus encounter Cyclops. Both authors also reference the scene of the underworld. Although, Virgil adapts similarities from Homer's epic, each encounter has noticeable comparisons and/or differences. Vergil presents the epic of the Aeneid with a different purpose. At the beginning of the Aeneid, Aeneas leaves his home with other Romans after the Trojan War. Homer starts his epic with Odysseus wanting to return home form Troy.  The motives that guide each character differ from one another. Homers the Odyssey is more of the journey of a man longing to be home again, after the trojan war has ended. His actions are somewhat selfish at times. Virgil's main character Aeneas is driven by more of a scene of duty to the gods, because he is instructed to help build Rome for future generations.

“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.

Both centered on heroes and war. In The Iliad it was Achilles, the hero of the Greeks. While in The Aeneid it was Aeneas of Troy. To add to that, both heroes defeated another army’s major hero who was the adversary to them in the epics. Achilles brought down Hector and Aeneas defeated Turnus. Where it becomes even more obvious that Virgil built off of Homer’s ideas in The Iliad is in the aspect that both of the central characters closest friends were killed by the heroes’ foes. Hector cut down Patroclus and Turnus killed Pallas. Therefore both heroes, Achilles and Aeneas avenged their friends’ deaths. Both of these epics did an outstanding job of sharing what honor was to both of the heroes’ empires. The Iliad showed the honor of the Greeks and the Aeneid told of the honor of the Roman Empire. This similarity is also where the biggest difference in the epics derives

The Odyssey written by Greek poet Homer and The Aeneid by Roman poet Virgil, are the main characters who make an enlightening visit to the underworld. The depiction of each other’s imagination of the underworld is an inspiration to each other, even centuries apart. In numerous ways, they are similar, yet both poems in its entirety are different explaining the purpose as to why the composure and societies were shaped, however , the visits and parallel events take place within them. There is a resemblance between the underworld of Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid that reveals examination of the important differences. In addition, both Homer and Virgil gives their audience both distinctive comparisons by connecting the poets and their creations.

Dante’s Inferno is a narrative poem, with a very complicated rhyme scheme, originally written in Italian. It documents the author’s, Dante, trip through hell, where he learns how hell is organized and the way in which sinners are punished. Dante is guided by the great poet Virgil, who leads him throughout hell. The Odyssey, is an epic authored by the Greek, Homer. The epics centers on Odysseus’ protracted journey home. The protagonist, Odysseus, visits the underworld for a very short amount of time. The two literary works contain many common elements, such as characters being punished, the protagonists interacting with those in the underworld, repeating characters, and the misery of the underworlds. There are also differences

Homer and Ovid are two of the oldest, most influential poets that have ever lived. Although they are both poets, they have several differences in their writings. Homer, a Greek poet, is most famous for his epic poems Iliad and Odyssey. Ovid, a Roman poet, is most famous for Metamorphoses a 15 book poem containing over 250 myths. To compare and contrast these two poets and their writing styles, I will use Achilles’ battle with Hector in Homer’s Iliad book 22 and compare it with Achilles’ battle with Cycnus in Ovid’s Metamorphoses book 12. The comparison of these battles will give us a better understanding of these poets different views on the Trojan War.

The Aeneid and the Odyssey have many similarities. For one, they are both epic poems, they both have heroes who travel and sail the seas fighting creatures and killing their enemies. The main characters or heroes in both epic poems were both traveling from Troy. They gods play a part in both of the epic poems. They love to meddle with the lives of the humans. The gods either help them to get where they need to go or do everything in their power to stop them from getting there. Both epic poems begin near the end of the journey, Odysseus will be in Ithaca in a few days and Aeneas will be in Italy in a

Recognized by many to be one of Rome’s most popular origin myths, one filled with pro-Augustan rhetoric meant to appeal to the Roman emperor of the time, Virgil’s Aeneid provides us with a detailed retelling of the titular protagonist Aeneas’ journey from the desolate ruins of Troy to his triumphant slaying of Turnus. Throughout the epic, Virgil supplements Aeneas’ travels with very vivid, extended scenes from the past and future depicted on different works of narrative art. Called ekphrases, there are three such instances of these drawn out, visually arresting descriptions that tell stories crucial to the events depicted in the Aeneid. By showing these very specific works––namely that of the frescoes on Juno’s temple’s walls in Book I, the temple doors designed by Daedalus in Book VI, and Aeneas’ shield in Book VIII––in incredibly vivid detail, Virgil inserts within the text an underlying story of sorts. More importantly, however, Virgil’s utilization of ekphrases justifies Aeneas’ actions, while emphasizing his transition from bystander to founding hero.

Three legendary mythical figures from history, Aeneas, Achilles & Beowulf provided the inspiration for writers to produce some of the greatest classic literature that western civilization has ever seen in the form of the Iliad, the Odyssey and Beowulf. This paper will analyze some of the similar themes and characteristics found with each of these characters and will contrast some of the variances and will discuss the impact each character has had on literature both historically and in our modern era.