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The Odyssey was intended as a swashbuckling heroic tale, a contrast to the weightiness of the Iliad. Homer shows us the ancient Greek sense of humor throughout. He uses it to keep the tone much lighter in the Odyssey. Humor is therefore an important storytelling device, used to help carry the tale through its darker moments. It is also used with the intent of bringing more emotional lift to the story. The heroes are more relatable to the audience because the audience can derive greater joy from their exploits on account of the humorous elements. This same sense of humor can be seen in modern action movies as well, where heroes enjoy dispatching the villains. The task is not grim in the Odyssey. This illustrates a shift in context from the Iliad. Whereas that poem is a dark, brooding, moral study, the Odyssey is populist entertainment. In such entertainment, laughter is an effective tool, and one that Homer wields effectively


Works Cited:
Mandelbaum, Allen. (1990). The Odyssey of Homer. University of California Press......

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