The first epic is the story of a soldier who got lost at sea and sailed for many years before finding his way home. While he was gone, his family struggled financially. Knowing how much their father valued his ancestors’ homeland, his children refused bribes of food and money offered in exchange for the land. They preferred to live humbly and proudly. Upon his return, their father’s joy was boundless, which pleased his sons and daughters. The second epic is the story of a great leader and prince who was banished from his home by an evil cousin. While traveling and living a simple life in the forest, the prince met and married a princess. Despite their royal backgrounds, neither of them minded living safely hidden in the forest. This humility saved their lives on a number of occasions, and their great happiness together did not depend on living in a castle.

Mario has compared these two myths. He has determined that characters with determination and loyalty play prominent roles in both myths.

What question did Mario ask in order to find this similarity?

A) What were the customs of the day?

B) What characteristics do the myth-tellers believe are important?

C) How did the myth-tellers obtain food?