Notes: “The Iliad”
Terms
Epic – Long narrative poem that reveals a culture
In Media Res – begins in the middle of the action
Heroism – for the Greeks is achieved by striving in the face of unconquerable destiny.
Dates
1250 B.C. – Trojan War
950 B.C. - Homer writes “The Iliad”
* Plot takes place during the final 2 weeks of a 10-year war
Length: 24 books
Themes and Topics raised
1. The devastation of war
2. Wrath
3. Is Glory worth the price of death?
4. Older generation vs. Younger generation - Analysis of “youth and old age.”
Among the Gods, the sons overthrow the father. Among men, the younger
generation is generally considered inferior.
5. Return of the slighted warrior.
6. Tragedy of the best warrior.
Achilles
 Greek
 Cultural Folk Hero – his wrath is a traditional theme
 Destined for Glory
 Pledged to defend Helen in his youth
 Declares no war or prize is worth his life, but knows he will die in Trojan war.
 Appears in Book 1, withdraws, and reappears in Book 18 – main hero is absent
for the majority of the epic.
 Challenges Agamemnon’s authority and the cultural norms – assumes the role of
King
 Asserts his birth right (Glory in battle), as a result, challenges the moral code
 Wrath is similar to Apollo’s

Thetis
 Goddess – Mother of Achilles
 Destined to have a son greater than his father
 Zeus and Poseidon courted Thetis. Gods intervene in Thetis’ marriage and arrange
a mortal marriage
 Thetis is now fated to bear a son that is destined for glory but will die. The
bargain – Honor for Death
 The battle that was to be in Heaven takes place on earth – the Trojan War
 Pleads with Zeus on behalf of Achilles
Apollo
 God of
 Rat Catcher and Bringer of plagues
 Wrath is similar to Achilles’ wrath

Nestor
 Greek - advisor to King
 Represents the cultural status quo

Hector and Paris
* Represent “Warrior
Women:
 Mortal women are bystanders – Goddesses have an active role
 Weaving by women symbolizes the ideal/fantasy – Men’s “weaving” makes
reality
 Helen – Descended from Zeus name is traced back to “Daughter of the sun”,
motif “abduction of the sun maiden”
 Helen’s earthly beauty similar to Aphrodite (Goddess Beauty)
 Helen used by Aphrodite as an earthly substitute
 Helen sees through Aphrodite’s trickery
 Hera supports the Greeks and will not let Zeus end the war
Plot Summary
 Achilles’ conflict with Agamemnon

Achilles’ withdraw

Paris at the Gates

Death of Patroculus

Hector at the Gates

Achilles vs. Hector

Priam and Achilles