Intertextuality Throughout Literature

 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.