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Compare and contrast of the iliad and the odyssey
The iliad and the Odyssey compared
Compare and contrast of the iliad and the odyssey
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Can two things ever truly be exactly the same? When it comes to epic heroes, I’m not sure. In both the Iliad and the Odyssey, written by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles, the journey of two epic heroes are depicted for us. Achilles, hero of the book The Iliad, is fighting in the Trojan War. Odysseus, hero of the book The Odyssey, is simply fighting to get home. Although both the epic heroes are put through some of the same very tough and difficult situations, it doesn’t mean they are quite the same person. An analysis of The Iliad and The Odyssey will show three similarities and three differences between Achilles and Odysseus. To start off the analysis of the two characters, I’d like to begin with how these epic heroes are similar. …show more content…
Achilles, a very valuable warrior and great fighter was a very significant part of the Trojan War. He wasn’t fighting for a family back home or anything of that nature, he was simply fighting because it was his destiny. He knew going into the battle that he was going to die, but he trusted that fighting was the best thing for him and something he had to do. He took his destiny seriously, even though he knew it meant he was going to die. Odysseus, on the other hand, was fighting a very different battle. He was fighting to get home. Throughout the entire poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus displays his longing to be back at home with his wife and son. He is constantly fighting with the gods, monsters, and beast to try and make it back to Ithaca. These two characters are fighting for two very different reasons. One fighting because it’s his destiny and what he’s meant to do, and the other because he longs to see his family once again. It’s plain to see that the motives behind the fighting is different for both of these …show more content…
An analysis of The Iliad and The Odyssey show us that Achilles and Odysseus do have several qualities in common, but that they also have numerous makings that show the differences between the two epic heroes. Both of these men are very violent and kill in very vicious was, they are also very emotionally immature, and finally both Achilles and Odysseus are favored by Athena. With all those features in common they also have several things that make themselves stand out from each other. First off, their mindset is very different. Achilles is very linear minded; he doesn’t beat around the bush and gets straight to the point of why he wants to fight. On the other hand, Odysseus is much more deceptive and cunning; he is very strategic and is almost more powerful with how he makes you think and act towards him. Next, their reasons for fighting are very different. Achilles is fighting because it’s his destiny and it’s what he has to do, Odysseus is fighting to get home to his family whom he hasn’t seen in several years. Finally, their homecomings make these two characters very different. Achilles never does get a homecoming, he dies at the walls of Troy as he is fighting. Odysseus, in contrast does end up coming home to his wife and son, that is, after he fights off the suitors that
One of the main similarities in ancient Greek epics is that there are always great heroes who overcome many difficult and daunting challenges and goes on long adventures. The issue of heroic stature and the character of the hero have a great importance on the epics itself. Classical Greek heroes are usually born to do great things, go on epic journeys and in the end they would receive a reward for their troubles.
One archetype the two stories have in common is the hero. The heroes, Odysseus and Everett, try to reach their family, no matter the risks. Both have the same goal and will do anything to keep their loved ones again. Also, both of the heroes are extremely loyal to their companions. Like whenever Odysseus tried to save his crew, or when Everett went to rescue Pete from jail. However, they can also differ in ways like character. In the face of an obstacle, Odysseus faces the problem head on and uses strategy at the same time, while Everett uses excuses to try to avoid the problem. On the other hand, Everett has his friends throughout his quest, while Odysseus’ companions all die except him. These examples show how the heroes of the Odyssey and O Brother! are different.
There are numerous heroes throughout “The Odyssey,” but none of them are as significant as Odysseus. “The Odyssey” is a narrative poem written by Homer (around 800 and 600 BCE) to show the numerous adventures and experiences Odysseus goes through. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus a prominent Greek epic hero is on a quest to return back to his home in Ithaca; to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Just like real life, not all heroes are picture-perfect; they all have imperfections. In this case, Odysseus is sometimes insolent, and discourteous; but he is still considered an epic hero because of the many heroic qualities he endures. Odysseus proves himself to be an outstanding hero in various ways such as showing loyalty, intelligence, bravery, strength, and courage which are all some of the most momentous qualities found in a hero. If a true hero can prove they are a true hero, makes them a true hero.
One of the major themes of Homer’s Odyssey is the importance of cunning over strength. This also happens to be the case with Odysseus and his long ten year journey home from fighting in Troy. Odysseus uses his intelligence over strength to ‘fight’ through tough times and bring himself home to Ithaca. Odysseus uses his intelligence when he has his men tie him down while passing the Sirens, so he himself will be able to hear their beautiful song, but not be entranced by their singing. He also uses cunning to escape from the Cyclops’ cave without being harmed. He then uses his cunning by storing away all of the armory, shields, and knives from the suitors so he is able to kill them easily.
When comparing the two tales, it is very clear that both heroic characters are men with similarities and differences. One important trait that is common between the two characters is that they both possess superhuman strength which makes them dangerous and this remains useful for them when protecting their people. For instance, they encounter near
Both men are brave in their own way. Odysseus has to develop his bravery during his travel. He did not want to fight in the Trojan War, but was tricked into going. If he had not gone, then Poseidon would not be mad at him. Odysseus gets braver as his journey continues throughout the epic. Odysseus shows his bravery through the example that he sets for his men. When he and his men are getting the Cyclops drunk so that they can defeat him, he says, “So, you ask me the name I’m known by Cyclops? I will tell you. But you must give me a guest-gift as you’ve promised. Nobody- that’s my name. Nobody- so my mother and father call me, all my friends.” (Homer 9.408-411). Odysseus showed his bravery and wisdom by thinking ahead to what the Cyclops might do when they attack him. This proved to be helpful because the other monsters come to help the Cyclops, but left when he screams that nobody is killing him. Odysseus’s bravery is built into his character and is shown through his
Fighting on the battle grounds of the Trojan war, left Odysseus narcissistic, and controlled by his desire for kleos. Odysseus desire for recognition is demonstrated often before he reaches Ithica. It eventually leads to the death of all of his men. An earlier example is the manner in which he dealt with the Cyclops. When Odysseys and his men were sailing back to sea, after escaping the beast, he called out to the already furious Cyclops,...
The battered and wooden Trojan horse stood tall while the amber sky enclosed the large structure as the Trojan War had finally ended. The structured horse stood tall and proud once Odysseus’s crew had been renounced upon winning the war after 10 dreadful years of battle, as Odysseus was titled as a “hero” to his crew and to the people of Ithaca. Odysseus showed few heroic characteristics in the novel, however, the negative traits outweighed the good in his character. Odysseus is a villain in The Odyssey by Homer due to his excessive pride, disloyalty, and heartless acts and attitudes through the text. He retold many stories of his victories while glorifying his good deeds, and avoiding the elaboration on the mysterious and deformed aspect of his true character through his experiences on the sea, and in the palace. The waves created by the fury of Poseidon tracked Odysseus’s journey through 20 long years,
The prolonged conflict in this circumstance is the amount of time he has spent in Ogygia. If Odysseus acted like the brave man Hermes thought he was, Odysseus would have been up, using every bit of brain power he had to think of any way possible to escape the nymph with lovely braids and get home to restore the city dear to him. Another reason as to why Odysseus is more accurately described as battle-weary in Book 5 is because of how Odysseus reacts to Poseidon’s wrath out at sea on the way to Scheria, home of the Phaeacians. As Odysseus is out at sea sailing on his makeshift raft to Scheria, home of the Phaeacians, Poseidon realizes what Odysseus is trying to accomplish, becomes angry, and creates a huge storm, providing a massive obstacle for Odysseus to overcome. Instead of Odysseus fighting through the pain, he questions whether or not he should have been dead years ago in the Trojan
One similarity between the two heroes is the great leadership they both demonstrate to their followers. Like Beowulf being the king of the Geats and “he ruled it well” (line 2208) and showing how well he led his men into battle against the previous foes in the epic. Likewise Odysseus leading his men through the Trojan war and the decade long journey home through many challenging mythical obstacles, and being a well a well loved ruler at home showed his skill in leadership. This shows that the cultures despite their differences in time and place, share some universally respected
Virgil’s Aeneid, tells the story of the founding of Rome. It follows the last of the Trojan’s who escaped the fate of Troy. Troy eventually falls following Homer’s The Iliad, and Virgil continues the story of their people. The Trojans are not, however, the only similarity between the two books. Virgil employs many of the same image patterns that Homer uses in The Iliad. The symbolism of fire, shields, and gates are used in both epic poems.
There are several similarities in the two stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The two stories are classic, epic poems written by the legendary poet Homer. Achilles and Odysseus, the main antagonists of the Iliad and the Odyssey, are both Greek warriors and are both represented in each of the poems in some fashion. Odysseus is shown in the Iliad all throughout as one of the Greek forces most cunning warriors (Coleman-Norton, JStor). Although he is shown throughout the Iliad, his first appearance is the most similar to the Odysseus shown in the Odyssey when he is the one picked to captain the ship that is returning Chryseis to her father ( The Iliad, lines 440-447). Achilles character is shown in book eleven of the Odyssey when Odysseus speaks with his spirit for a brief moment (The Odyssey, 585-629). The two stories also include a form of kidnapping within. In the Iliad it is shown right away with the taking of Chryseis and Briseis by Agamemnon and Achilles as war prizes (The Iliad, 182-185). The Odyssey shows th...
The Illiad and Beowulf are two of the most known epic poems. As you read, you notice how different these two heros are. Achilles feels guilt and Beowulf does not. Hector’s body is cleaned after his death and Grendel gets his head cut off. However, they do share some similarities. These similarities include fearlessness and conceitedness.
Of all the many similarities of The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey, the sharing of the main character’s archetype can be considered to be the most significant similarity of the two epics. Odysseus, the main character of The Odyssey, and Gilgamesh, the main character of The Epic of Gilgamesh, both fall under the character archetype of a hero, the man in charge of saving the day. This sameness implies that the two characters had similar fates and characteristics; both had the distinct traits of a hero. Both Odysseus and Gilgamesh were kings, strong, brave, and blessed by the gods. In addition, they both angered a god and suffered from the consequences. In The Odyssey, Odysseus had to change his route to avoid Poseidon’s wrath. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh angered Ishtar which consequently led to Enkidu’s death as a punishment ( “The Epic of Gilgamesh” 29). Both Gilgamesh and Odysseus had elements of arrogance in their personalities, and it was their arrogance that backlashed and caused...
This is the reason why the people act the way they do. The similarities in the characters show how alike these two legendary heroes are. Odysseus’s pride, appears more subtly in the Odyssey and actually benefits him at the end of his tale, instead of being bluntly obvious and hindering him, as it did with Gilgamesh. His pride stems from his renowned skills in archery and cunning. Both he uses, to his full advantage, when it comes to dealing with suitors in his home.