English | Assignment | Achilles’ Heel
Assignment
Achilles’ Heel
Respond to each of the following questions. Use details from the text to support your responses. Use at least
three module vocabulary words.
Describe a character in two full paragraphs.
1. Achilles agrees with Ajax that he is clinging to his anger over Agamemnon's insult. Many of the choices
Achilles makes are based on that anger. However, when Achilles sends Patroclus into the fray, he advises
him to drive back the Trojans but to stay away from the city's walls, lest he be killed. These actions give depth
to Achilles. Describe Achilles based on his actions and his interactions with others. Use specific details from
the text to support your answer.
Answer: Achilles seems to be brave because he warned Patroclus to help him. He did this so he would not lose
his life.
Write one full paragraph in answer to each question to demonstrate your understanding of the story.
2. Achilles is the greatest warrior in the Iliad: He has matchless strength and skill in battle, noble birth, and the
gods' favor, so he should have great pride. But Achilles has too much pride. What has Achilles been willing to
sacrifice for the sake of his pride?
Answer: Achilles sacrifices his pride because he wants to get revenge for the death of his friend Patroclus.
3. Having too much pride is a common theme in Greek stories; the Greeks even have a word for it: hubris. For
Achilles, his pride, or hubris, is his tragic flaw. It causes his downfall. Think about the events so far in the
story. Why is Achilles' hubris causing his downfall?
Answer: Achilles pride causes his downfall because he thinks everything is the right thing to do, so he does it
without thinking about the consequences. Pride is a good thing to have but too much pride can make you do
things that aren’t like you.
© 2016 K12 Inc. All rights reserved.
Copying or distributing without K12’s written consent is prohibited.
Page 1 of 1