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Comparison answer, Story-Telling in the Odyssey 30 marks
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Comparison (15 marker) between Virgil's Aeneid and Homer's Odyssey Model essay on Story-Telling in the Odyssey, A*
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Odyssey 8. 228-255 ('As for the javelin, I can throw it.... It is somewhere in my house.')Aeneid 9. 597-621 ('You have been sacked twice already... Make way for the iron of our
swords.')
1. In which passage are the relevant societies’ beliefs and values
conveyed more effectively? (10)
In the Odyssey passage, it takes place during the Phaeacian games, and it is used as a literary tool for
Homer to accentuate the themes of the epic while also displaying the heroic strength of the hero,
Odysseus. He says, “As for the javelin, I can throw it further than anyone else can shoot an arrow.” His
speech is intense, and his anger displays how ill-mannered the man is for offending Odysseus. Euryalus
has impugned his very kleos, and that can’t be allowed to stand unchallenged. This quote highlights the
importance of protecting your honour in society. After his speech, Alcinous swiftly intervenes with a fine
display of kingly conciliation, delineating the Phaeacians’ diplomatic and anti-war stance in their society.
He continues by saying he wants Odysseus to be able to tell his friends and family that “Zeus has given
[the Phaeacians] certain skills” and how the Phaeacians surpass others in boxing, wrestling, jumping, and
racing. He also points out how their arete lies in other areas: in seafaring, and in an increasingly comical
list of civilized pleasures; feasting, singing, dancing and hospitality. This is effective, as it contrasts the
harsh tone of Odysseus while also giving a large amount of detail. Homer gives us a clear insight as to
how they considered hospitality as part of their sacred duty to the gods and their piety, how the
Phaeacians take genuine and justified pride in their quality of life, while also exemplifying their desire
for the world to know about their beloved land that is hidden from the outside world. Thus, Homer
conveys the Phaeacians’ beliefs and values very effectively through this passage, as they act as a bridge
between the real world and the fantastical, as they can have as much fun as they want, trouble-free. In
addition, the end of the passage adds to the value of storytelling, as Alcinous calls for the bard,
Demodocus to sing a song for their guest, highlighting the importance of oral tradition in Greek society
as the Phaeacian King highly values him.
In the Aeneid passage, Ascanius makes his first kill at Remulus, a Rutulian soldier, who mocks the Trojans
in return. Virgil uses Numanus to highlight and contrast ancient ethnic stereotypes, which come
together to form the Roman identity. His speech is abrasive as he begins with a series of rhetorical
questions and exclamations to mock the Trojans. He mentions how they were “twice captured”, their
violating of marriage agreements, and even their homeland being sacked in the Trojan war. He contrasts
this with the praising of the Italians, describing them as “men of hardy stock” and boasts that their
children are carried to rivers and hardened in the icy water. He reinforces a theme of Italian austerity
and manhood – using descriptions of teenagers enduring hard labour and hunting all the way until they
are grey and old. This highlights the Roman value of devoting oneself to unrelenting work and warfare in
society by connecting agriculture to warfare. His speech his hyperbolic and extremely effective in
conveying Roman values through his anger and pride. However, he continues to mock the Trojans,
mocking their effeminacy and luxury. He describes their love of purple and gold dyes, dancing and the
tunics and ribbons they wear to contrast the manliness of the Rutilians. He mocks them for their music
and goes as far as to say they are “Phrygian women, not men”, which would contrast the values of
Romans at the time Virgil was writing. The extravagant behaviour he denounces the Trojans of, and the
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