What are the Iliad and The Odyssey considered?

Attributed to the singular ancient Greek poet Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey are considered to be, not only, the most important works of ancient Greek literature but the oldest extant works of Western literature.

What style of literature are the Iliad and Odyssey?

The Odyssey, like its companion poem, The Iliad , is an epic poem, meaning an exalted story of a warrior-like hero’s journey and dealings with the gods, told in a formal poetic structure. Dactylic hexameter, epithets, and epic similes became conventions of epic poetry after The Iliad and The Odyssey. …

What is the significance of the Iliad and The Odyssey?

The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus as he travels home from the war. The two epics provided the basis of Greek education and culture in the Classical age, and they have remained among the most significant poems of the European tradition. The method of their composition has been long debated.

What literature is Odyssey?

epic poem
What is the Odyssey? The Odyssey is an epic poem in 24 books traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. The poem is the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years (although the action of the poem covers only the final six weeks) trying to get home after the Trojan War.

Are the Iliad and the Odyssey two different books?

“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” are epic poems written by the Greek poet Homer around the 7th or 8th century B.C. They are considered two of the most influential early works in Western literature. Homer wrote “The Iliad” first, so “The Odyssey” is a sequel with its own plot and character development.

What is the book The Iliad about?

Dating to the ninth century B.C., Homer’s timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War.

Are The Iliad and The Odyssey two different books?

In what ways are The Iliad and The Odyssey similar?

The Iliad and The Odyssey have the same elements in their structure and shape: each epic poem consists of 24 books and is written in dactylic hexameter with the use of the same literary devices. Their plots also have similar traits: a ring-form composition and numerous divine interventions.

Why is Iliad a great book?

The Iliad is the archetypal war story, and at the same time it is an anti-war story. It shows us the heroism and also the tragedy and senselessness of war. It is the prototype of all wars and all war stories. It puts human faces to the struggle and the suffering.

Why is reading the Iliad important?

The Iliad, an epic poem by Homer, provides a unique insight into both Greek history and the formation of a Greek identity. Beyond its significance for promoting a historical understanding of a Greek identity, The Iliad also serves as a lesson in warfare in modern days.

Which book came first Iliad or Odyssey?

The Iliad is the earlier work (it was written first) [1]. Also the events in the Odyssey are a direct consequence of what happens in the Iliad and the reader of the Odyssey is assumed to know the summary of the plot in the Iliad and who the main characters are. So it would come natural to read the Iliad first.

What was the importance of the Iliad and the Odyssey?

Iliad and Odyssey are both masterpieces that detail the events of Trojan War. As to their importance, it lies in the fact that they are the ancestors of Western Literature. Of course, the influence which they had on the subsequent development of literature is quite noticeable.

What is a summary of the Iliad?

The Iliad Summary. The Iliad recounts a brief but crucial period of the Trojan War, a conflict between the city of Troy and its allies against a confederation of Greek cities, collectively known as the Achaeans .

What is the Iliad Book?

The Iliad is the first book in Homer’s classical duo of Greek epics, followed by the Odyssey. The poem describes the events of the Trojan War between Greece and Troy, including the adventures of Achilles, Agamemnon , Paris, and other Greek heroes and legends.

When was Iliad first written?

The evidence suggest that the Iliad, for the most part, was written by a single person between 850-750 BCE. The recited poem was finally put into writing about 550 BCE and further edited around 200 BCE.