Hero Comparison

This comparison worksheet is designed for students in Grades 7 and 8 to develop analytical thinking, organization, and evidence-based reasoning through a focused study of epic heroes from The Aeneid and The Odyssey. Learners complete a side-by-side chart comparing Aeneas and Odysseus across key themes such as motivation, leadership, relationships with the gods, family loyalty, response to fate, and ultimate goals, then synthesize their thinking to explain what makes Aeneas distinct among epic heroes.

Learning Goals

• Comparative Literary Analysis (Grades 7-8)
  Students analyze similarities and differences between two epic heroes across shared traits and themes.
• Evidence-Based Explanation
  Learners cite or paraphrase textual evidence to support each comparison point.
• Understanding Cultural Epic Ideals
  Activities highlight contrasts between Roman values (duty, fate, pietas) and Greek values (cleverness, individuality).
• Synthesis & Analytical Thinking
  Students draw conclusions about heroic identity beyond simple comparison.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA and world literature standards.
• Clear Comparison Chart Format
  Structured layout supports balanced analysis rather than plot retelling.
• Strong Writing Scaffold
  Serves as an effective prewriting tool for paragraphs or comparative essays.
• Encourages Higher-Order Thinking
  Moves students from listing traits to interpreting meaning and significance.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for classwork, homework, discussion prep, assessments, or presentations.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Hero Comparison worksheet helps students develop a deeper understanding of epic heroism by examining how Aeneas and Odysseus reflect different cultural values and leadership models. Through organized comparison and synthesis, learners strengthen analytical writing skills and prepare for more advanced literary analysis. Whether used in a world literature classroom or a homeschool humanities program, this printable resource provides meaningful practice in comparative reasoning and evidence-based explanation.

This worksheet is part of our Aeneid collection.