Influence of Odyssey, Oedipus the King, and Metamorphoses on Modern Literature - Essay Example

The painting and sculptural works have also been influenced by these traditional or old poems (Wilmer and Zukauskaite 23). The inspiration for the initial writings such as Oedipus the King and Metamorphosis can be seen in very much literature developed after their era. "Metamorphoses" is one of the most influential works every when evaluated in terms of western culture influence. The renaissance era led to the brief silence on the work but towards the end of the 20th century, there was a desire to study Metamorphoses.

The desire to study the work indicates the influence of these works of art which are imperative for the development of new kinds of arts and literature. The tragic plots of King Oedipus and the role of tragic heroes in plays are major influences of the plays and poems. Despite the age of the poems and plays, they still contain important plot and scenes that are vital for literature enthusiasts. The story of a tragic hero has been replicated in other new literature at various levels and degrees of importance.

These two works were written and later translated in English (Sophocles).  In addressing literary differences and similarities, the epic simile is employed effectively in King Oedipus and the same principle is applied in other literature written in the twentieth century. Epic simile employs the use of unfamiliar comparison, which has been employed in other literary works.  Despite the difference in the era, epic simile has been employed over the years in other plays and stories.  The use of Epithets in the poem has been employed in the past literature.

An epithet is a term used to characterize the nature of an event, object, or character. In Oedipus, the king, the employment of epithets can be seen in several verses in the play, which can be compared to newer literature and plays.  However, there are several literary devices that have lost relevance especially in the post-modern era which includes catalogs and digressions (Wilmer and Zukauskaite). Therefore, the impact of traditional Greek mythology and plays can be seen in modern literature.