This paper discusses the similarities between these two classic pieces of literature. It states that both are epic
works that describe the actions of heroic men who have gone on a long trip, at some point encountering adventure; both stories use elements of real history for their backdrop; and both works are primarily focused on issues that are at the very core of what makes us human, such as the inevitability of
death, the importance of
family, and the centrality of our
homeland.