Achilles’ Heroic Journey
An Outline
Known (Ordinary World): Anger at Fate, Fighting for Glory
Unknown (Special World): Acceptance of Fate, Fighting for Love
I.
II.
III.
Departure
1. Call to Adventure: Agamemnon takes Achilles’ glory/prizes
2. Assistance:
a. Athena prevents Achilles from killing Agamemnon
b. Nestor advises Achilles to respect Tradition and the Gods will
c. Thetis consoles Achilles and asks Zeus for favor
3. Departure: Achilles withdraws from battle
a. Threshold Guardian is Zeus who consents the Trojans will suffer
b. Journey Type: Forced – Gods/Agamemnon. Intentional –
Achilles’ choice
Initiation
4. Trials: Book 9 – Agamemnon sends 3 emissaries. Odysseus advises:
a. Of war’s status/Greek Losses
b. Of Agamemnon’s offer to restore Achilles’ glory/prizes
c. That Achilles should yield to authority
5. Approach: Patroclus asks to wear armor
6. Crisis: Patroclus dies. Thetis agrees Achilles must fight
7. Treasure: Book 19
a. Hephaestus’ armor
b. Achilles regrets “anger among men.”
c. Agamemnon restores prizes despite Achilles’ objections
d. Achilles is filled with “lust for battle”
8. Result: Book 21
a. Achilles kills many, fights river gods, and aided by gods
b. Book 22 – Achilles kills Hector
c. Book24 – Achilles tries to mutilate Hector, Zeus sends Thetis
decreeing Achilles must give Hector back, Achilles’ anger relents
Return
9. Return
10. New Life
11. Resolution
12. Status Quo