NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth, Turn as the days turn 1 The poem Aeneid was written by Virgil as the logical continuation of the Homers poem Iliad. The Aeneid, like the Odyssey, describes the wondering's of the main heroes and their people after the defeat of Troy. Despite the intentional imitation of the Homers poetic style and form by Virgil, the main idea and the theme of the Aeneid are entirely different and new. The poems Aeneid and Odyssey reflect the difference in historical and cultural background of the authors, as well as the difference of their purposes. The first difference between the two poems is the initial situation where the author first finds his hero. If Odysseus is the celebrated victor of the Trojan War, Aeneas is the relatively unknown escapee.
This difference is essential; it determines the motifs of Homer and Virgil. The poem Odyssey by Homer portrays the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home after the conquest of Troy. Odysseus is returning home from a successful war campaign, in which he played a crucial role, he is the hero, whose only aim is the return to the quiet of his home. Here Homer defines two main themes of his poem: personality and home. Odysseus is the man of twists and turns (Odyssey, Book I) and his abilities are recognized by Achaeans, but there is no limit for the ambitions and it also becomes the reason of Odysseus misfortune.
It was the search for glory that compelled Odysseus to reveal his identity to the Cyclopes and bring the wrath of Poseidon on himself. Cyclops, if any one asks you who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Ulysses, son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca (Odyssey, Book XI) This scene is the vivid 1 Homer. Iliad. Translated by Robert Files. (Viking Adult, 1990) example of the Ancient Greek social value system, where the personal honor and fame was valued above the safety. In his wondering's Odysseus constantly meets various temptations.
Homer accents, that all people, even the best of them easily succumb to temptation. Many times Odysseus knowingly risks for experiencing the dangerous pleasure. The inventive and cunning mind of Odysseus many times helps him to succumb to temptation but escape the danger. For example, when Odysseus sailed past the island of the Sirens Scylla, and Charybdis, he ordered his crew members to plug their ears with the bee wax and tie him up, so he can hear the song of the Sirens but have no possibility to follow them. Sometimes Odysseus is careless, he succumbs to the pleasure and the penance follows. Odysseus falls to Circe's charms and wastes a year with her instead of returning home.
Only the reminder of his people persuade Odysseus continue his journey home. it is time you began to think about going home, if so be you are to be spared to see your house and native country at all. (Odyssey, Book X) These examples help the author to complement the importance of the personality in the Ancient Greek culture. Homer tells, that every human is not ideal; strength exists in the close vicinity with weakness. At the same time Homer insists, that all the experience, gained by human through his strengths or weaknesses help to shape the personality, helps to understand the human values through the personal experience.
Odysseus on his journey encounters wonders and pleasures that are greater than his home island, but he gives up all opportunities and returns home where he is rewarded by love and faithfulness of his family. The ten years long journey helped Odysseus to understand the true value of home, family and loyalty. During the whole poem Homer leads the reader to the understanding of the most valuable experience, the fact that home is the greatest value of all. Every person is the king of his home like Odysseus is the king of Ithaca. I hold the reins of power in this house (Odyssey, Book I) The Aeneid was greatly influenced by the poem Odyssey.
Virgil in his work makes allusions to the style and themes of the Odyssey but the purpose of The Aeneid is completely different from the purpose of the Odyssey. In the Aeneid the main hero Aeneas and his people escape from Troy and he is destined to found the glorious city Rome Till he could found a city and bring home His gods to Latium, land of the Latin race, The Alban lords, and the high walls of Rome. (Aeneid, Book I) Both Odysseus and Aeneas set out for the journey home, but in contrast to Odyssey Aeneas has to settle new home, leaving behind the devastated motherland. This theme is very essential for the Aeneid. Virgil wrote his poem during the first age of the Roman Empire, he remembered the Greatness of the Roman Republic during the reign of Julius Caesar and h saw the political crisis of the Roman Empire at the beginning of the reign of Octavian Augustus. The work Aeneid was meant to legitimate the conquering politics of the Roman Empire. Aeneas travel from the devastated land to Italy alluded to the people who lived on the territories conquered by the Roman Empire, and whose destiny was to forget their devastated settlements and find new home as the part of the Roman Empire.
In similarity to the Odyssey, temptation is one of the major themes in the Aeneid. Aeneas knows his destiny, but during his journey he encounters many dangers and temptations that can interfere with his task. Aeneas states his attitude towards his destiny at the very beginning of his journey. He says: Fate will have it, and Jove adds his force; Nor can my power divert their happy course. (Aeneid, Book I) The author implies, that nations, conquered by the Roman Empire should follow the example of Aeneas and accept their destiny. On his journey Aeneas encounters many dangers and temptations, meant to prevent him from his destiny, but they become only temporary obstacles. Aeneas is determined to fulfill his destiny and this determination very often helps him to overcome the obstacles.
Like Odysseus, Aeneas temporary forgets his plans in the arms of a woman, and he leaves her when he is reminded of his duty, but he does it not out of free will. Aeneas stresses, that his actions are dictated by his duty, which compels him to forget his own wishes: And fate invites me to the Latin lands. That is the promised place to which I steer, And all my vows are terminated there. (Aeneid, Book IV) Here lies the most essential difference between Odysseus and Aeneas: while all actions of Odysseus are dictated by his personal interests, Aeneas values the duty over his interests. Virgil diminishes the significance of the personality and highlights the significance of the state, and this transformation results in the perception of home by Aeneas. Apart from Odysseus, Aeneas is not going to rule the Rome but contribute to its foundation. Virgil accents the importance of a person as small part of the Roman Empire, and he insists, that this task is more important and glorious, than personal achievements.
This theme is very recurrent in the poem Aeneid: Roman, remember by your strength to rule Earths peoples for your arts are to be these: To pacify, to impose the rule of law, To spare the conquered, battle down the proud (Aeneid, Book VI) The author does not name any specific person, but the whole nation. Another example of Virgil's views is his addressing to the muse, and asking her to tell the story of events, not the story of a man: Tell me the causes now, O Muse (Aeneid, Book I), while Homer says: Sing to me of the man, Muse (Odyssey, Book I) The poem Odyssey by Homer and the Poem Aeneid by Virgil describe the ability of the person to overcome the temptations and obstacles in pursuit of his aim. Despite the common themes, these poems convey contrasting motifs. Both poets reflected the views of their contemporaries and their works became the milestones of the western state and political development.
Odysseus and Aeneas reflect the transformation in the value system influenced by the changes in the society. Bibliography Homer. The Iliad and The Odyssey. Translated by Samuel Butler. Barnes and Noble Books, 1999. Virgil.
Aeneid. Translated by David West. Penguin Books Ltd, 2003.
Free research essays on topics related to: value system, journey home, returning home, roman empire, ancient greek
Research essay sample on Roman Empire Ancient Greek
