The Iliad Review
Book 1:
1. What did Apollo do to punish the Greeks? Send a plague on them
2. Why did Apollo punish the Greeks? Agamemnon kidnapped Chryses’ daughter
3.
Why do Agamemnon and Achilles argue? Agamemnon threatened to take Achilles’ war
prize, Briseis, if Agamemnon did not receive another war prize to replace the one he had to give
up Why does Athena visit Achilles? To stop him from harming Agamemnon
4.
What does Achilles do at the end of Book 1? Stopped fighting in the war
5.
What is Achilles best known for among the Greeks and Trojans? Fighting skills; a great
warrior
Why does Agamemnon agree to return Chryseis? In order to stop Apollo’s plague
6.
7. Why does he resist returning Chryseis at first? Because he did not want to be without a
war prize
8.
9.
Why does Agamemnon feel insulted by Calchas? Because Agamemnon feels insulted by
Calchas because the prophet asked him to give up his war prize
Why does Achilles retreat from the war? Because Agamemnon took his war prize
10.
Who tries to stop the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon? Nestor, the speech
maker
11.
According to Agamemnon, what does Achilles want to do? Take control of the entire
army or become king
12.
Who suggests to the Greeks that they seek an oracle so he can tell them why Apollo sent
a plague on them? Achilles
13.
Why does Agamemnon become angry with Calchas? Because Calchas calls him out and
tells everyone that Agamemnon is the cause for the plague
14.
What did the Greek soldiers wants Agamemnon to do so that Apollo would stop
punishing them? Give Chryseis back
15.
How did Athena keep Achilles from attacking Agamemnon? She stops him and tells him
that he will be blessed beyond measure for NOT fighting him.
16.
What does Agamemnon say he will do if he has to forfeit his girl captive? He will take
Briseis, Achilles’ prize, instead.
Book 22:
17. Why does Achilles re-enter the war? To avenge the death of his cousin, Patrolcus
18. What does Hector offer to do if he kills Achilles? He offers to return Achilles’ body to
the Greeks
19.
Who helps Achilles kill Hector? Athena
20.
What is Priam begging Achilles for? He is begging for the return of Hector’s body
21. Which god suggested interfering in the battle and saving Hector? Zeus
22. How did Achilles know the weak spot in the battle gear Hector was wearing? It belonged
to him and to Patroclus, so he knew where it was vulnerable
23. Where is the weak spot in Hector’s armor? Between the neck and the shoulder blade
24. Why is Achilles so determined to shame the corpse of Hector? Revenge
25. How does Athena help Achilles in his fight with Hector? She tricks Hector and gives
Achilles his spear back
26. How does Achilles and the other Greeks disrespect Hector’s corpse? They stab it
repeatedly and Achilles drags the body behind his chariot.
Book 24:
27.
Who does Achilles remember as a result of Priam’s word? His father and Patroclus
28.
What does Achilles threaten to do to Priam after the Greek loses his temper? Kill him
29.
Why does Priam suddenly leave Achilles’ camp? He fears for his life thanks to a dream
caused by Hermes
30.
What is Achilles’ attitude toward Hector as the Trojan lies dying? Defiance; disrespect
31. Why does Priam embrace Achilles’ knees? Out of desperation
32.
Why are Priam and Achilles able to form a bond between them? They have both lost
someone and feel anguish
33.
Who does Achilles show the least sense of duty toward? Agamemnon
34. Which god helped Priam enter the Greeks’ camp? Hermes
35.
What does Priam remind Achilles of when he comes to him seeking Hector’s body? His
father
36.
Why doesn’t Achilles go ahead and attack Troy after he kills Hector? What does he have
to do? He feels like he needs to bury Patroclus before attacking
37.
Why does Achilles tell Priam to stop grieving? It won’t do any good; it won’t bring
Hector back to life
38.
What does Achilles promise Priam he will do? Give an 11 day truce so that they can
bury Hector properly.
39.
Why does Achilles refuse to allow Priam to see Hector’s body? He doesn’t want to upset
or anger him again…when they’ve just made peace
40.
After Achilles returns Hector’s body, what does Priam encourage Achilles to do? Make a
bed for him so that he could rest
41.
What odd thing do Achilles and Priam do after they reconcile? They feast together
Characters:
42. Who is Paris? Kidnapped Helen, Priam’s son
43.
Who is Menelaus? King of Sparta
44.
Who is Calchas and what did he do to anger Agamemnon? Greek priest and prophet; he
calls Agamemnon out for stealing Chryseis
45.
Who is Patroclus? Achilles’ cousin who Hector killed in battle
46.
Who is Andromache? Hector’s wife
47.
Who is Astyanax? Hector’s son
48.
Who is Chryses? Apollo’s priest
49.
Who is Hecuba? Hector’s mother
50.
Who is Chryseis? Agamemnon kidnaps her; she is Agamemnon’s war prize
51. Who is Briseis? Achilles’ war prize
52. Who is Nestor and what role did he play in the tale? Wisest and oldest of the Greeks;
tried to stop the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon
53.
Who is Zeus and what role did he play in the tale? King of the gods, wanted to intervene
when Hector was running from Achilles but didn’t; weighed the fates of the two
54.
Who is Athena and what role did she play in the tale? Goddess of war and wisdom;
helped the Greeks
General:
55. What type of literature is The Iliad? Epic poetry
56.
What started the Trojan war? Paris kidnapped Helen, and Menelaus gathers the Greeks
and attacks the Trojans
57.
How did the Greeks defeat Troy? Odysseus created the wooden horse. It was hollow and
several Greeks hide inside of it. The Trojans pulled the horse inside the walls of Troy and
partied because they thought they had won the war. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they were too
drunk to protest, and the Greeks inside the horse crept out, opened the gates to the city and the
rest of the Greeks returned. The Greeks entered the city and burned it to the ground.
Themes:
58. What is a theme from Book 1? Moral courage
59. What are three themes from Book 22? Revenge, consequences of war, funeral/burial rites
60. What are the themes of Book 24? Grieving; funeral/burial rites