Comparing Heroism In The Odyssey And Oedipus The King

The portrayal of heroism in Greek literature differs between authors, time periods, and genres of literary work. The representation of heroism, and the characteristics of the hero throughout time have changed greatly in Greek literature, but the characters are still referred to as heroes. By comparing factors of three different Greek literary works, the changing nature of heroism can be seen. The Odyssey, The Argonautica, and Oedipus the King are all very influential Greek works. The heroes of each piece of literature have many similar characteristics, but there are factors that cause each hero to differ from that of the other. Each of the literary works that are being compared were written in different time periods, and show a different portrayal of heroism in each, thus showing the changing nature of heroism in Greek literature. …show more content…
The differences between the epics represent the societal values and moral understandings that were present during the writing period. The other factor that can be seen changing the way heroism is portrayed in literature is the genre of the work. When comparing the epic poem The Odyssey to the tragedy, Oedipus the King, it can be understood the difference that genre can have on the depiction of a hero, and their outcome. Epic poetry illustrates the story of heroes and their great feats and battles; it is a praise for the heroes. Tragedy tells the story of the hero, and their catastrophic downfall to misfortune; it is meant to invoke feeling for the audience. The two genres have different intentions, and thus the representation of heroism would differ between the