Similarities Between Cold Mountain And Odyssey

The Similarities Between Cold Mountain and The Odyssey

It is usually rare for an epic poem to be compared with a novel. In Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and The Odyssey by Homer, the authors wrote about a man trying to return home while facing difficulties during their adventure. Although both writings may list differences and comparisons, they mostly revolve around similar aspects within each other. Despite the several differences between the two stories, it contains a numerous amount of similarities such as the activities during their journey, similar characters within the story, and the interventions both characters face throughout the whole story.

To begin with, Odysseus and Inman’s journey has comparable aspects within both stories.

Penelope and Ada are both lovers of the main character. Penelope is the wife of Odysseus. She patiently waits for her husband to return for multiple years and becomes surprised when he returns home because she believed her husband’s identity was hidden by the Gods. When Odysseus revealed his true self, she admitted, “I cannot speak to him, I cannot question him/ I cannot keep my eyes upon his face” (Homer, book 23, line 1323-1324). In Odysseus head, Penelope is a complete beauty. Ada is the female lover for Inman in the novel. She was waiting for him to return while being pregnant with his child. She is also completely surprised when her husband returns. Another identical characters are Calypso and Sara. The two ladies have a desire for the main characters. Sara admires Inman and wants him to replace the role of her husband. “If I was to ask you to come over here and lay in bed with me but not do a thing, could you do it?” (Frazier, 1997, p.309 ). While Calypso wants to keep Odysseus trapped in her island, so he can fall in love her. The epic poem explained Odysseus and Calypso’s relationship, “He lay with her each night for she compelled him.” (Homer, book 5, line 83). Between both ladies, they have an outstanding beauty. Odysseus admits to Calypso that her beauty may be more impressive than Penelope. He generously told Calypso, “...would seem a shade

Many of the Gods tries to keep Odysseus from attending Ithaca. Poseidon's storm hold Odysseus back, Polyphemus eats most of his crew, and Zeus destroys Odysseus’ ships due to his disrespectfulness towards the expectations. The home guard tries to end Inman’s life by attempting to shooting him more than once. The book showed, “Pistol looked up and Inman shot down on him at such an angle that he missed the bald spot.” (Frazier, 1997 p. 315). Although reality usually occurs in the real life, it can still happen to fictional characters. During most of the journey, both characters had to accept the idea of life. Odysseus had to be aware that he would soon be independent when his crew experiences death. Teiresias explained to Odysseus, “Though you survive alone/ bereft of all companions, lost for years” (Homer, book 12). Also Odysseus had to realized that returning to his kingdom would be difficult due to all the suitors overpowering his kingdom. When Odysseus was about to kill the suitors, he exclaimed, “Your last hour has come, You die in blood.” (Homer, book 22, line 1260). Inman faces reality because he knows he is injured due to the war and being trapped in a hospital. “At the hospital, the doctors looked at him and said there was not much they could do. He might live or he might not.” (Frazier,