The Iliad and the Odyssey were both attributed to Homer in ancient times. But these two poems differ greatly in tone ...

Naz on November 13, 2014

The conclusion of the argument is: "they (the Odyssey and the Iliad) are almost certainly not the work of the same poet."

Why? Though the Iliad and the Odyssey are both attributed to Homer in ancient times, the two poems differ greatly in tone and vocabulary and in certain details of the fictional world they depict.

Answer choice (A) states: "Several hymns that were also attributed to Homer in ancient times differ more from the Iliad in the respects mentioned than does the Odyssey."

The fact that another piece of work that is attributed to Homer differs more from the Iliad than does the Odyssey is irrelevant to our conclusion that the Iliad and the Odyssey were not written by the same poet. We want to weaken the conclusion that the Odyssey and the Iliad are not the work of the same poet. The fact that another hymn attributed to Homer is even more different from the Iliad than the Odyssey is has no relevance to our conclusion, i.e. it neither weakens nor strengthens.

Answer choice (C) states: "Works known to have been written by the same modern writer are as different from each other in the respects mentioned as are the Iliad and the Odyssey."

Answer choice (C) helps weaken the conclusion that the Iliad and the Odyssey are not written by the same writer by giving an example of a different writer who has works that are as different as the Iliad and the Odyssey are and are yet written by the same author.

This helps shed doubt on the conclusion by showing that the evidence put forth does not necessarily mean that the Iliad and the Odyssey were not written by the same poet.

Hope that clears things up! Please let us know if you have any other questions.