In his intertextuality essay Zach talks of the
way Dante challenges the characteristic of epic heroism in Achilles and
Odysseus by putting them in hell. He first gives good examples of the
characteristics the two heroes posses that make them epic heroes. These include
for Achilles, a heroic fighter, honest, and straightforward. Odysseus is smart,
a good fighter and is capable of overcoming challenges. Zach does a good job of
then comparing the characteristics they are given in Inferno. He also does a good job by showing the reasoning for Dante
doing this as Dante is biased towards the Greeks. He grew up in Italy, which
was formed by the Trojans. Zach does a good job explaining the reasoning behind
the intertextuality in Homer’s and Dante’s poem’s.
Shannon
talks of the similar qualities of Odysseus in The Odyssey and Satan in Paradise
Lost. She shows the different characteristics including their power over
people. She also explains a crucial difference where Odysseus follows the gods
yet Satan is against God. Odysseus also has a more fortunate ending compared to
Satan’s. She also points out a big similarity I had personally never notice
which is that the two had to disguise themselves in order to trick others.
Shannon shows that these similarities and differences are being used to show
power. Milton wants to make Satan appear to be as an epic hero. Shannon shows
the intertextuality in The Odyssey and
Paradise Lost and the reasoning
behind it.
Melissa
takes a different comparison of Satan than Shannon as she compares him to
Achilles. Milton borrows three characteristics from Achilles as Melissa states
in her essay. These are pride, rage, and determination. Satan shows pride, as
he believes he is as powerful as God. Achilles also shows pride when Agamemnon
tries to take Brisies and Achilles shows anger. Melissa also shows rage and
Satan shows revenge in making human kind fall. Achilles shows rage in refusing
to fight. There determination is comparable as Satan still fights even after
being cast down and Achilles avenges the life of Patroclus. Through these
comparisons, Melissa shows the reasons for Milton’s use of Intertextuality.
Each
of these students successfully show the affects of intertextuality. They each
talk of the different characteristics that are similar in two different books.
