Comparison Between Sundiata and Odyssey - Essay Example

Although widely varied in their cultural representations, settings, and timing, the two epics share a lot of similarities. This paper compares and contrasts the two literary works. The most notable difference between the two compositions is their storyline. On one hand, The Odyssey narrates the story of Odysseus, a Greek homebound hero who has to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War and claim his rightful place as the king of Ithaca. The story begins with a meeting of the council of the gods where the goddess Athena the patron goddess of heroic endeavor offers to travel to Ithaca where she is to meet Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, and urge him to go to Pylos and Lacedaemon in search of his father.

At the same time, the god of transition and boundaries Hermes is to go to the island of Ogygia and instruct a nymph named Calypso to release Odysseus, for home.After these helpful interventions from the gods, Odysseus sails home with a raft but is caught in a storm although he manages to safely arrive at the island of Scheria where he is received by Nausicaa the daughter of King. While here he is treated with great hospitality and narrates the fall of troy and his adventures after the fall a significant part of the epic itself.

The Phaeacians, his hosts at the island grant him a ship which he uses to sail safely back to Ithaca and after gaining entrance to the place with the help of his former swineherd he kills all of his wife’s suitors and resumes his position as the king of Ithaca.On the other hand, The Sundiata is an account of the rise of Sundiata from the lowly position of a cripple to the king of Niani and eventually the founder of the Empire of Mali. The king of Niani Maghan receives a gift from two buffalo hunters inform of an ugly hunchbacked woman whom the soothsayers say will sire a great son for the king.

Filled with optimism the king accepts the gift but ends up having a crippled son who is also a glutton of few if any royal qualities.