What is the difference between the contents of the story of The Iliad and The Odyssey?

Answer 1

The Iliad is a story about something that happened during the Trojan War. It takes place at the beginning of the tenth year of the war. It tells how the Greek hero Achilles became angry at the Greek commander and withdrew from the fighting. How his friend Patroclus, trying to take his place, was killed in battle by the Trojan hero Hector. Achilles, even more enraged, returns to battle and kills Hector but refuses to return his body for proper burial, instead dragging it around behind his chariot for days. Eventually Hector's father, King Priam, goes pesonally to Achilles to beg for his son's body. Achilles relents and returns it.

The Odyssey on the other hand takes place after the Trojan War. It tells of the adventures of the Greek Hero Odysseus in trying to get home after the war and how, after many wanderings and adventures he has to fight to regain his kingdom which had only been barely preserved for him by the pluck and courage of his faithful wife.

Answer 2

-Iliad: anger of Greeks during war with Troy (tragedy); role of fate in life; reality of war

-Odyssey: adventure-laden journey home to wife (romance); focuses on women's fidelity; love and familial affection; the gods power in influencing human actions; the law of xenia, arete;

Answer 3

The Iliad influenced the Spartans and the Odyssey influenced Athens.