The Sundiata LRJ

I typed this yesterday, but as misfortune would have it, I didn't publish it. I hope I can get at least partial credit...

The Epic of Old Mali

The Epic of Old Mali has multiple similarities to The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid and even more differences. Similarities, such as honor, feats of physical strength, and devine intervention. Differences include characteristics of the main character, location, and the amount of gods.

All of these epics portray the main hero honoring a friend, family member, or the hero's homeland. In The Epic of Old Mali, the hero Mari Djatta wishes to wipe away the insult towards his mother, so he asks her, " 'Do you want just the leaves of the baobab or would you rather I brought you the whole tree?' " (Pickett 106-107) and, "with all his might the son of Sogolon tore up the tree and put it on his shoulders and went back to his mother." (Pickett 108). This was Mari Djata's first amazing feat of physical strength, as well. This was made possible by God, and Mari Djata's mother glorifies God by singing, " 'Oh day, oh what a beautiful day, of day, day of joy; Allah Almighty, you never created a finer day.' "

As for differences, Mari Djata is portrayed as humble despite his amazing physical strength,whereas Odysseus from The Odyssey is portrayed as a clever trickster. Also, The Epic of Old Mali takes place in what we know as Western Africa, whereas The Iliad and The Aeneid take place in the region of modern-day Turkey (that's where Troy was located) and The Odyssey takes place throughout various areas in the Greek-Meditteranean.