Homer and his Writings

The Iliad and the Odyssey were Homer's first two great works of art. Homer could have written these poems during the dark ages. The Iliad and the Odyssey are still used in just about every high school in America.


Homer's first two greatest works of art were the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer is thought to have lived during the dark ages. However, his birthplace is not known for sure, due to the fact that several countries claim to have been his birthplace. It is very likely that he came from the western coast of Asia minor, from the Island of Chios (Snodgrass 15).


The Iliad is based on Troy's story. This poem retells man's struggle against fate in a bloody, morbid, gruesome mighty war. The Odyssey, however, is about fearless Odysseus, working against nature's mysterious forces. Homer portrays his view of life in both of these stories. His view of life was that it was dangerous, thrilling and glorious (Weigel 41). However, his view of death was very different from his view of life. He viewed death as a dismal state (Wiegal 41).


Homer's writings were very influential. Homer created the perfect example for epic poetry in the Western literature. These two poems are also believed two have played a very important part of a young Greek's education. To this day most high schools in America include the Iliad and the Odyssey in their curriculum.


The Iliad and the Odyssey were Homer's first two great works of art. These poems show his view of death and life (Snodgrass 15). His writings still influence us today. As a matter of fact, it is because of Homer's and Hesiod's writings that we even study the Greek religion.


Snodgrass, Mary Elen. Cliff's Notes on Greek Classics. Lincoln Nebraska: Cliff Notes,
1988.

Weigel, James. Cliff's Notes on Mythology. Lincoln Nebraska: Cliff Notes,
1973.