Comparison between the Iliad and the Bible Throughout recorded history, man has sought explanations for various phenomena that occur in every aspect of nature, and when no obvious answer has come, it is still an often proposed theory. These explanatory theories, often taking the form of stories or chronicles, are usually tied to some sort of mysticism or divine intervention. By attributing what he does not understand to the will of the gods, man avoids having to face his ignorance in a certain field and also takes comfort in the assumption that the universe actually functions under the guidance of divine beings. Therefore, the explanatory accounts that man creates increases one's security, repressing the fear of chaos that resides in everyone, and also providing a convenient means of building a religion based on such stories. Almost every culture over the centuries has offered a veritable cornucopia of tales. detailing the reasons behind the seasons, dawn, and all other events in the natural world. These stories often form the backbone of the religious tradition that prevails within said culture, as most or all feature gods and goddesses who shape the natural world and everything found upon it into a certain image. The Iliad is full of religious overtones and is also considered a definitive account of ancient Greek culture. The Bible serves much the same purpose for the Judeo-Christian tradition, serving as a literary phenomenon as well as a historical account. Both books claim to be true stories, and the two serve as windows into complex and dynamic cultures. By analyzing the common thematic elements of both chronicles, looking for differences and similarities, and p...... half of the article ......ller, J. Hillis. "Narrative". Critical terms for literary study. Lentricchia, Frank and Thomas McLaughlin, eds. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 1990.Homer. "The Iliad". trans. Robert Fagles. Norton anthology of world masterpieces. Vol.1, 6th ed. WW Norton & Co.: NY, 1992.Cohen, JM trans., Cervantes' Don Quixote. Penguin Books: New York, 1987.-----. The Stories of Gargantua and Pantagruel by Rabelais. Penguin Books: NY, 1982. Mandelbaum, Allen. Virgil's Aeneid. trans. Bantam Books: NY, 1985. 5th ed. Ciardi, John. trans. Dante's Inferno. New American Library: NY, 1982.Guillory, John. "Canon". Critical terms for literary study. and. Lentricchia, Frank and Thomas McLaughlin. University of Chicago Press Ltd: London, 1990.Holman, Hugh C., A Handbook to Literature. 6th edition. MacMillan Publishing House: New York., 1992.