Divine favor

Definition

Divine favor refers to the approval and support given by gods or deities to individuals or groups, influencing their fortunes and outcomes in life. This concept is crucial in epic poetry, as it illustrates how divine beings can intervene in human affairs, shaping destinies and events according to their will. Characters who receive divine favor often experience success, protection, or guidance, while those who incur divine wrath may face challenges and misfortune.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Divine favor is often depicted as a reward for virtuous behavior or adherence to religious duties, illustrating the moral framework of both Greek and Roman cultures.
2. In 'The Iliad,' characters like Achilles receive divine favor from gods like Thetis, impacting their actions and the outcomes of battles.
3. In 'The Aeneid,' characters such as Aeneas are guided by divine favor from Venus, which aids them in fulfilling their destined mission.
4. The concept underscores the belief that human success is tied to the approval of higher powers, reflecting societal values about piety and obedience.
5. Divine favor can shift throughout narratives, demonstrating that characters can lose or gain support based on their actions and decisions.

Review Questions

• How does divine favor influence the actions and decisions of key characters in both 'The Iliad' and 'The Aeneid'?
  • In both 'The Iliad' and 'The Aeneid,' divine favor significantly shapes character actions. For instance, Achilles receives support from his mother Thetis after being wronged by Agamemnon, which influences his choices in battle. Similarly, Aeneas benefits from the protection of Venus as he embarks on his journey to fulfill his destiny. This divine intervention highlights the importance of relationships with gods and emphasizes how these connections affect individual destinies.
• Discuss how divine favor interacts with the concept of pietas in the context of Roman values as presented in the Aeneid.
  • In the Aeneid, divine favor is closely tied to the concept of pietas, which emphasizes duty to the gods and community. Aeneas exemplifies pietas through his dedication to his mission and respect for divine will, which in turn earns him favor from gods like Jupiter and Venus. This relationship illustrates how fulfilling one's duties not only aligns with Roman values but also results in divine support that aids in overcoming challenges throughout his journey.
• Evaluate the role of omens in depicting shifts in divine favor within epic narratives like 'The Iliad' and 'The Aeneid.'
  • Omens play a critical role in reflecting changes in divine favor throughout epic narratives. In 'The Iliad,' omens often foreshadow events influenced by godly interventions, signaling when characters have gained or lost support. In 'The Aeneid,' omens guide Aeneas on his quest, reinforcing his alignment with divine favor when he follows them correctly. Evaluating these elements reveals how authors utilize omens as narrative devices that signify shifts in divine relationships and character fortunes.

Related terms

Pietas: A Roman virtue representing duty to the gods, family, and country, highlighting the importance of maintaining harmony with divine expectations.

The Fates: In mythology, the Fates are three goddesses who control the destiny of mortals, weaving the threads of life and determining fate, sometimes in opposition to divine favor.

Omens: Signs or events that are interpreted as messages from the gods, often guiding characters' decisions and actions in epic narratives.