Iliad: Book I
1. According to the poet, what is the subject of the Iliad?
2. a. Where does the action of the first part of Book I take place? How long has the
Trojan War been going on at this point?
b. What is happening within the Greek camp?
c. What, in brief, is the story behind the quarrel?
d. What is the result of the quarrel?
e. What do we gather is the custom about Greek warfare and prizes?
3. What is Achilles’ heritage and how does he use its power?
4. a. What is the relationship between gods and men in the Iliad?
b. What picture of life on mount Olympus among the gods emerges from Book I?
5. In retrospect, what is the effect of the first lines of Book I?
Iliad: Book VI
1. What picture of warfare emerges from the first nine “paragraphs” of book VI?
2. Whereas Book I dealt with the Greeks, Book VI is principally told from the
Trojan point of view. Who, do we gather, is the chief warrior of the Tojans? How
would you describe his character?
3. The scene between Hector, Andromache, and their son is one of the most famous
in the Iliad. What details add to the scenes effectiveness?
4. In the scene immediately preceding the one just discussed, Hector visits Paris (or
“Alexandrus”) and Helen. What do you learn about Paris?
5. What is the effect of these scenes in contrast with the battle scenes?
6. Note two of Homer’s literary devices:
a. The use of recapitulation of Glaucus’ lineage beginning “And the son of
Hippolochus answered…”
b. The epithet; For example, “Menelaus of the loud war-cry,” “rosy fingered
morning,” and “Minerva, driver of the spoil.”
What is the effect of each of these techniques?
Iliad: Book VIII
1. What is the purpose of this short reading?
Iliad: Book IX
1. a. What is the situation at the beginning of Book IX?
b. What is Nestor’s advice?
2. To what extent has Agamemnon’s attitude towards Achilles changed?
3. What happens during the visit of the Greek envoys to Achilles?
4. Who is Phoenix, and what is his plea to Achilles?
5. What total picture emerges of the Greek forces in Book IX?
6. How does Book IX return to the central issue of the Iliad?
Iliad: Book XVI
1. a. As Book XVI opens, what is the battle situation of the Greeks and the Trojans?
b. What is the situation now between Achilles and the Greek forces?
2. a. What is the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles?
3. Achilles makes a formal libation and prayer to Jove to grant Patroclus victory and
safe return. What is Jove’s response?
4. a. Homer gives the genealogy of the five Myrmidon captains. What do they have
in common?
5. What impressions of war emerge from Book XVI?
6. Find an example of the following literary devices:
An Extended Speech-
An Extended Simile-
An Address To The Muses or Gods
An address By the Poet to the Characters Within His Work
Iliad: Book XVIII
1. a. What is the major consequence of Patroclus’ death?
b. What prophecy hangs over Achilles?
2. When Thetis goes to Hephaestus seeking new armor for Achilles, why does she
retell the story of her life and of Achilles’ quarrel with Agamemnon?
3. Why does Homer describe Achilles’ new shield in such detail?
4. Book XVIII often shifts back and forth from one locale to another. What do you
think is the reason for these shifts?
Iliad: Book XX
1. Much of this book concerns the workings of the gods in the Greek-Trojan
struggle. What is Jove’s expressed attitude toward it all?
2. a. What, in general, characterizes the gods on the Greek Side?
b. What, in general, do those who side with Troy stand for?
c. So long as the gods do not interfere, The Greeks are winning. Why is this so?
d. After arguments and interference, what do the gods decide to do?
3. a. When Aeneas and Achilles meet, prior to single combat, what do they do and
why?
b. What does this discussion recall?
4.
a. What happens when Aeneas and Achilles fight?
b. What might be the cynical truth behind this action?
c. In the same vein, when Hector withdraws from the fight with Achilles, what is
the reason he gives?
5. Even the horses are given god-like lineages and the power of speech in Book XX.
Why do you think this is so?
6. a. What, then, would be our “modern” reading of the interplay of gods and men in
The Iliad?
b. Why is all this more important and interesting than simple rationalizations for
human weaknesses or strength would be?
Iliad: Book XXII
1. This book is filled with deeply human and affecting scenes. List three of them.
2. By what maneuver of the gods was Hector’s death explained?
3. What traits of character in Achilles emerge in this book?
4. Where does our sympathy lie at the end of the Book XXII?
Iliad: Book XXIV
1. The gods are in council at the beginning of Book XXIV.
a. What is the result of this meeting?
b. How do the gods, together in such a council, represent the good judgment
which they often do not represent singly?
2. Why is Hera so angry about Hector?
3. Why is Zeus so compassionate about Hector?
4. Why does Achilles accept the idea of the ransom of Hector’s body?
5. a. Why does Hecuba try to dissuade Priam from going to the Greek Camp?
b. What wise advice does she give him before he leaves?
c. How does Jove answer?
6. In the scenes between Achilles and Priam, what human qualities emerge for each?
7. What natural course of action does Priam follows when he wakes at night?
8. What is Achilles’ final and honorable gift to Priam?
9. In the mourning for Hector, what do Andromache and Helen say?
10. Why does The Iliad end with the emphasis on Hector?
Overview
1. a. The Iliad was written many centuries ago. Are the characters in it much
different from us?
b. Which scenes stand in your mind as memorable?
2. a. Who are the prime candidates for the hero of The Iliad?
b. Which one does Homer probably mean to be the hero?
c. Which of the two is more appealing to modern readers?
3. What are some of the heroic qualities both Achilles and Hector reveal?