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  • The Odyssey was written by Homer near the end of the 8th century BC.
  • Supposedly written in Ionia, Antolia.
  • Poem covers Odysseus's 10 year journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan war.
  • The Odyssey was originally written in Greek.
  • Ulysses is the Latin form of the name Odysseus.

Odyssey Background

The Odyssey vs. The Aeneid

Odysseus kills his wife's suitors.

Differences

  • The Aeneid focuses on the glory of the founding of Rome, while the Odyssey is about Odysseus making his way home to Ithaca.
  • Aeneas is a more 'Roman' hero, he is very skilled in battle and posses a certain amount of wisdom. Odysseus is slightly more clever, choosing to deceive many of his enemies rather than fight them.
  • Virgil wanted Aeneas to be viewed as a very noble hero because he was destined to eventually found Rome.
  • Odysseus and Aeneas come from opposite sides of the Trojan war.
  • Aeneas was favored by the gods, getting help from them, while Odysseus was held up on his journey by the gods.5544

Aeneas and Odysseus in the Underworld

The Aeneid Plot Summary

  • Aeneas and his Trojan followers flee from Troy, they sail for Italy but a storm throws them off course. They land in Carthage.
  • Aeneas tells the queen of Carthage about how he was told that he was destined to found a great city, but both times he tried he was driven away by bad omens. He also tells her of the Trojan war and the fall of Troy.
  • Aeneas falls in love with the queen of Carthage and they live together until the gods remind Aeneas of his mission. He leaves and Queen Dido kills herself.
  • They are again blown off course to Sicily, where they hold a funeral for Aeneas's father Anchises.
  • Aeneas later visits his father in the underworld where he is shown visions of Rome.
  • They finally arrive in Italy, where king Latinus wants Aeneas to marry his daughter Lavinia. His wife, however, wants a different suitor, Turnus, to marry her daughter. A conflict begins, as the Trojans threaten the city Turnus runs out to fight Aeneas and Aeneas kills him.

Similarities Between the Odyssey and the Aeneid

  • Both epic poems cover journeys directly following the Trojan War.
  • Both Heroes are delayed in their journeys by various obstacles and distractions.
  • Both heroes come into contact with Greek/Roman gods.
  • Both poems involve older Greek myths that the authors changed to fit the story.
  • Both men visit the underworld and learn of their fates.
  • Both heroes end their journey with one final battle.43

Aeneas and Turnus

Odysseus coming home

Aeneas receives help from Venus

Odysseus and King Aeolus

  • The first adventure/obstacle that Odysseus encountered was the land of the Cicones. The Cicones were the first people Odysseus and his men encountered on their journey. Odysseus and his men destroyed and plundered their island but the Cicones fought back forcing Odysseus to flee.
  • Odysseus then reaches the land of the Lotus eaters, eating the lotus flower caused men to lose their desire to return home, Odysseus must force his men to leave the island and sail away.
  • Odysseus then had to defeat the giant Polyphemus, he does this by claiming that he is "No one" so that when Polyphemus calls for help he'll say that No one is attacking him.
  • Odysseus then stays with King Aeolus who gives him a bag of winds, when Odysseus gets close to Ithaca his men open the bag to see what is inside and the ship is blown back far away from Ithaca.
  • After this Odysseus lands on the land of the Laestrygens, these are giant cannibals who eat all but one of Odysseus's ships.
  • Throughout the rest of his journey Odysseus encounters Circe, who turns his men into pigs, he journeys to the underworld, he sails past the sirens and he and his men battle Scylla the six headed monster. After all this they land on an island of sacred cattle, his men eat the cattle and the gods punish them by killing everyone except Odysseus. Odysseus is then held captive by Calypso for 7 years he finally leaves on a raft which is destroyed by Poseidon,who is angry at him for killing the cyclops. He then washes up at Scheria where the King and Queen provide him with one of their best ships to sail home on. Odysseus returns home and gets his wife back by proving himself better than all the other suitors.

Odyssey Plot Summary

Aeneid Background

  • The Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC.
  • It is composed of 9,896 lines in dactylic hexameter, a form of meter traditionally associated with Latin and Greek epic poems.
  • The Aeneid is composed of 12 books.
  • The first six books cover Aeneas's wanderings from Troy to Italy, the second half of the poem covers the Trojan war.
  • The Aeneid was originally written in Latin.
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