Comparing The Underworld Of Homer And Virgil - 1744 Words

The Differing Views of the Underworld of Homer and Virgil In both Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid, the heroes make the dauntless adventure into the underworld. Both of theses visits occur around the middle of the stories, and they bring information about the lives of heroes loved ones. The heroes also get very important information from these loved ones; information that they require to continue on their journeys. However these are not the only things that are similar about the heroes visits. The influence of the Homeric writings of the Iliad and the Odyssey on Virgil’s writings is clear - especially in Book VI of the Aeneid. Throughout this paper we will talk about the similarities that occur throughout the two poems, and how the two authors beliefs shine through. These beliefs are two very different views on the idea of death. Homer’s Iliad depicts death as something that is something souls do not enjoy. Whereas Virgil’s Aeneid depict it more as a final rest for souls – something that relieve s them of the troubles of life. There are many similar situations, where the differences in the stories lie in how the author’s character interpreted these experiences. That being said, although the stories of their adventures into the world of the dead are quite similar, they are also quite different. The Odyssey is story about a man named Odysseus, and his travels back to his home. The Aeneid is a story that follows Aeneas, the leader of the Trojans, and his people to ItalyShow MoreRelatedVirgil vs. Homer in Underworld1569 Words   |  7 PagesHow does Virgil deviate from Homer in the underworld, and why? When comparing â€Å"The Aeneid† to â€Å"The Odyssey†, it is impossible not to notice the similarity between Homer and Virgil s poems. 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