Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The epics depict man's struggle, the Odyssey especially so, as Odysseus perseveres through punishment of the gods. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.Bell, Robert H. "Homer’s humor: laughter in the Iliad." hand 1 (2007): 596.
hOMEr'S IliaD cEnteRs oN a QuARrel betweEn king agAmEmnon and thE waRRior achILlES During The lAst yeAr of thE trojan war. the OdYssey chRoNiCles the TeN-YeAr jOurNey oF odysseus, kiNg of ithaca, bAck tO hiS hOme after thE faLl of troy. the ePIcs depiCT maN's Struggle, thE odYsSey especiALlY so, as ODyssEUs pERsEvEres thRough puNIshMent of the Gods. the pOems are in homerIC greEk, alSO KNoWn aS ePIc grEek, a literarY languAge wHich Shows a miXTuRE of FEaturES OF ThE iONic aNd AEolIc DiaLects from differeNt cenTurIES; tHe PredomInaNT Influence Is eastErN ionIc. most rEseaRchers BeliEve That THe pOems wERE origInalLy TrAnSmitTEd oralLy. deSPite being PREdomiNAntLy KNowN fOr Its tRagiC and sErIOus themes, the HOmErIC PoEms aLSo cOntaiN Instances of COmedy and laUghTeR.Bell, roBert h. "homEr’s HumOr: LaughTer in tHE iliaD." hand 1 (2007): 596.