'The Odyssey' and 'The Aeneid'

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews, discusses and compares Homer's 'The Odyssey' and Virgil's 'The Aeneid'. According to the paper, both employ an epic hero who embodies the values of his country. Odysseus represents the individual hero of the Greeks, while Aeneas represents the more collective spirit of the Romans. Both Odysseus and Aeneas undertake a dangerous sea voyage, face obstacles, and encounter distractions from women along the way.

From the Paper:

"Because he angered the sea god, Poseidon, Odysseus had a difficult journey home. He became the captive of Calypso on her island, and "though he fought shy of her and her desire, he lay with her each night, for she compelled him. But when day came he sat on the rocky shore and broke his own heart groaning, with eyes wet scanning the bare horizon of the sea" (Homer 85). Odysseus is allowed to leave the goddess Calypso, but his journey is far from over.
In true heroic fashion, Odysseus experiences a situation where he hears of himself and the events at Troy spoken of at a banquet where he eventually reveals his identity. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Anchor Books, 1963.
• Virgil. The Aeneid. Translated by Allen Mandelbaum. New York: Bantam Books, 1971.

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• Comparison Essay # 92307 : "The Odyssey" and "The Aeneid"
• Analytical Essay # 49349 : "Strong Heroes and Steady Trees"
• Comparison Essay # 138072 : "A Comparison and Contrast of the Heroes and the City-Founding Plots of The Aeneid of Virgil and The Odyssey by Homer"

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