Comparing Oedipus The King And The Odyssey

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In ancient Greece and Rome, heroes were seen as a godlike, supernatural race of humans. A good hero is known by its influence, commands, and strong will. Heroic qualities such as, strength, determination and achievements, the heroes outweigh common people. In Greek Mythology, Greeks believed that everything happened for a reason and that divine intervention was what led heroes to their fate. In the epics, Oedipus the King by Sophocles and The Iliad by Homer, epic heroes such as Achilles and Oedipus share related heroic qualities that Greek and Roman cultures valued, however, they are also drastically different. In Homer and Sophocles’ pieces of literature, Oedipus the King and The Odyssey, the audience experiences how heroism changes over …show more content…

Like similarities, differences are present between the two pieces of literature. Both Homer and Sophocles lived wrote in different time periods. The difference in conflict is seen in The Odyssey when Odysseus blinds Poseidon’s son and the Cyclops. This leads to his capture and suffering from his family. In Oedipus the King, the pain and suffering of the people of Thebes is caused by Oedipus when he enacted the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. the word ‘hero’ it is significant that the definition of a hero changed from Homeric times to classical times. This change in the meaning of the word “hero” is not unintentional and the explanation is revealing how the concept of the hero in Hellenic mythology emerged and changed over the passage of the …show more content…

He or she frequently offers insight into the thoughts and feelings of even minor characters, gods and mortals alike. Odysseus narrates Books 9–12 in the first person. Odysseus gives inferences about the thoughts and feelings of other characters. The positive side of Odysseus be the narrator is the fact that the audience receives his side of the story. The audience has chance to hear about his experience as a hero. However, in Oedipus the King, because the poem doesn't have a narrator, the tone is shaped by the commentary of the Chorus. The Chorus shows or in other words expresses sympathy for the situations of the characters, yet at the same time the chorus is very aware of the upcoming

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