The Aeneid is not a mere plagiarism of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. ... This is evidenced in book VI of the Aeneid, which superficially seems like a complete imitation of book XI of the Odyssey. ... Theonoe, the other strong female character in Helen, deceives her brother into thinking she knows nothing of Menelaus being alive and in Egypt. ... These rather unflattering portrayals of women are tempered, however, by contrasting them with the male characters of the plays. ...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate