Which scholar contends that the gods are depicted in a way that emphasizes human attributes?

• A. Galinsky
• B. Richard Rutherford
• C. Camps
• D. Edith Hall

Answer: (C)

The crucial idea here is how scholars read the portrayal of the gods as having obvious human traits. Camps argues that these divine figures are drawn with recognizable human qualities—ambition, anger, piety, vanity—so their interventions and decisions feel relatable and morally legible to human readers. This anthropomorphic portrayal lets the epic probe human concerns, ethics, and political realities through the actions and moods of the gods themselves, rather than presenting them as distant, perfect beings.

In this view, gods aren’t simply powerful forces; they are characters whose personalities shape how and why they intervene in mortal affairs. That emphasis on human-like motives and emotions is exactly what Camps is known for highlighting, which is why this author is identified with this reading.

Other scholars focus on different angles. Galinsky often foregrounds the broader social and political contexts in which myth operates; Rutherford tends to analyze myth and poetry in terms of literary purpose and cultural messaging; Hall foregrounds performance, reception, and the theatrical aspects of myth. While they discuss gods and humanity, Camps specifically centers on the depiction of deities as human-like in their attributes.