The Iliad
by Homer
Written in 44 BC
*See your around the room activity
sheet for information about Homer
Historical Fiction/Mythology
• The Iliad is like a tall tale with some parts
that are based on facts
• For example, there really was a Trojan War
• Characters in The Iliad may have lived during
the Trojan War, but certain details about the
characters were created by Homer.
• The character Achilles, may have been
developed from a combination of fierce
warriors.
• Troy was a real place in modern day Turkey
• The lost city of Troy, it’s high walls and
towers were recently discovered.
• It’s believed that Troy was destroyed by an
earthquake.
• There was a Trojan War, but we are unsure
why.
• The Trojans possibly fought the Greeks
because of a waterway near Troy.
Excavating the Ruins of Troy
Read Page 55 in the text
1. List two things about Homer
2. Describe Achilles
3. Describe Hector
4. Explain how the war began
-------------5. Was the Trojan War real? List two
details about this.
Why read The Iliad?
*This is on your around the room activity
worksheet
• To become familiar with the first piece
of literature the western world has to
offer
• To discover an exciting war story
What is an Epic?
*This is on your around the room activity
worksheet
A long poem usually about a hero.
The Iliad is an epic poem.
Examples of epic poems: The Odyssey,
Beowulf
Movie examples: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings
Epic Simile-copy this
•A comparison using like
or as that extend over
many lines
Map of Greece and Troy
Map of Greece and Troy
• The Iliad begins during the tenth year
of war.
• In medias res--To begin in the middle
of the action.
• Epithet-Descriptive word or phrase
used in place of a name.
• Example “Swift-footed Achilles”
Characters
in
The Iliad
Do not copy this
The Greeks
Also known as:
Achaeans
Dannans
Argives
King Agamemnon
Brothers
Menelaus
Achilles
Who was
Achilles?
•Son of the Peleus (Dad) and the Thetis (Mom).
Thetis attempted to make her son immortal.
•Thetis held Achilles by the heel and dipped him
in the river Styx, but the heel remained dry and
was unprotected.
•MOVIE--Patroclus was not his cousin in the
written text
Patroclus
The Trojans
King Priam
Prince Hector
Brothers
Prince Paris
Who was Hector?
• Oldest of 50 sons belonging to King Priam
• Younger brother named Paris
Who was Paris?
• Took Helen to Troy
• Helen was married to Menelaus
• His brother Hector was killed by Achilles
and Paris was later killed during the
Trojan War
• His brother Deiphobus marries Helen,
but Menelaus kills him and takes Helen
back to Greece
Helen of Troy
(originally Helen of Sparta)
MOVIE
1. Patroclus is
1.
Achilles’ cousin
2. Menelaus is killed 2.
by Hector
3. Achilles ties
3.
Hector’s feet
4.
4. Helen is with Paris
at the end
5. No Gods in the
5.
movie
6. Hector wears his 6.
own armor
Epic Poem
Patroclus is his lover or dear
companion
Menelaus lives to see the end of
the war
He pierces the feet
She ends up with Paris’ brother
Diephobus. He is killed by
Menelaus. Menelaus takes her
back to Greece
Gods on both sides during the fight
between Hector and Achilles
Wears the armor he stripped from
Patroclus who was wearing armor
belonging to Achilles.
Vocabulary and Literary Devices in The
Iliad
Use Page 56 in your textbook, page 30
workbook and a dictionary
1. Groveling
2. Gallant
3. Scourge
4. Fawning
5. Metaphors pg
1193 or 1423
Definitions
1. Groveling: Crawling, humiliating oneself in
front of authority.
2. Gallant: Noble, brave.
3. Scourge: Means of inflicting severe
punishment. Refers to a whip.
4. Fawning: Cringing and pleading.
5. Metaphor: Something used to represent
something else. Example: “Sea of troubles”
Figurative Language
**Author’s use this in order to achieve
a special effect or meaning in their
stories
Similes and metaphors are examples of
figurative language.
Imagery
• Used to help readers create pictures in
their minds of what is being described
• Examples of imagery from The Death of
Hector
–Raining spears
–His dark hair swirling round that head
–Tall Hector, helmet flashing
Workbook Page 31
• Read The Death of Hector
Workbook Pages 31-36
Questions
1. How long has the war been going on between
the Greeks and the Trojans?
2. What pact does Hector want to make with
Achilles?
3. Why are Hector and Achilles fighting?
4. How did Hector end up wearing Achilles’
armor?
5. What does groveling mean?
6. Give a detail about the armor Hector is
wearing.