14a. THE ILIAD READING GUIDE

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In general

  • trace Achilles' attitude toward duty, heroism and fate throughout the poem
    • how do his views change, and why?
  • look at the similes: the comparisons printed in italics
    • nearly every one has a special relevance to its context; think about what that is

Assignment for Wed. 10 Oct.

Lombardo 1-23 [from Books 1-2]

  • The theme of the poem is clear from the first word.
  • Apollo's plague punishes Agamemnon for dishonoring Apollo's priest Chryses
    • so Agamemnon must give back the priest's daughter, Chryseis
    • so he takes Achilles' war prize, Briseis
  • Look at the argument between Agamemnon and Achilles
    • why does Agamemnon say he is entitled to take Achilles' prize?
    • what is Achilles' answer? why does he resist so? what does having a prize mean to him?
    • who is right? or are both right?
  • Why does Athena step in?
    • she says what will happen, as well as telling him what to do
    • she is goddess of wisdom; external deity, and internal impulse
  • Does Homer say how Briseis felt about leaving Achilles for Agamemnon?
  • Achilles and his mother Thetis
    • what do we learn about his attitude toward Agamemnon? war prizes?
    • what does Thetis say about Achilles' destiny?
  • Up on Olympus with the gods
    • what is Zeus like as a god?
    • how much control does Zeus have over what happens?
    • why does he send a dream to Agamemnon?
  • Back at the Greek camp
    • compare Thersites' insults to Agamemnon with Achilles' insults in Book 1
    • why does Homer have Odysseus defend Agamemnon? is he effective?

Lombardo 28-36 (line 284), 38 (line 353)-42 [from Book 3]

  • A new group of characters is introduced
    • We meet Paris and Menelaus; compare them
    • We meet Hector, the Trojans' best fighter; what's your impression of him?
    • We meet Helen; what's your impression of her?
      • how does she behave with the Trojans?
      • what does she say about herself, and leaving Menelaus for Paris?
    • What do we learn about Odysseus?
  • A long arming scene precedes the duel between Menelaus and Paris: what effect does it have?
  • How does the duel end?
  • The scene between Helen and Aphrodite
    • what is the effect of the meeting between them?
    • how does it compare to the meeting of Achilles and Athene?

Lombardo 52-71 (line 152), 72 (line 218)-82 [from Books 5-6]

  • The heroism of Diomedes
    • follow his progress as he defeats increasingly tough enemies
    • how does Aphrodite react when he wounds her?
    • which other gods get involved in the battle, how, and why?
    • how does Zeus react when Aphrodite is wounded? when Ares is wounded?
  • The meeting of Diomedes and Glaukus
    • shows honor among warriors
    • shows the importance of hospitality and family ties
  • Hector in Troy
    • what do we learn about him from his various encounters?
      • with his mother Hecuba
      • with his brother Paris and Helen
      • with his wife and son

Assignment for Fri. 12 Oct.

Lombardo 92-106 [from Book 9]

  • The embassy to Achilles
    • why does Agamemnon send Odysseus, etc. to Achilles?
    • how does Achilles receive them?
    • compare Odysseus' arguments to Phoenix's arguments
    • what are Achilles' reasons for staying out of battle?
      • what do you think of his attitude?
    • his threat to go home is new
      • is that really an option for him?
      • what would that mean for his status as a hero

Lombardo 124 (line 300)-25 (line 344) [from Book 12]

  • The speech of Sarpedon, a Trojan ally
    • lays out clearly the heroic code: the value system of a Homeric warrior-king
      • a trade-off: bold warfare brings honor; honor brings obligation to be bold in war

Lombardo 153-74 [from Book 16]

  • Achilles and Patroclus
    • note: Patroclus is older
    • what does Patroclus think of Achilles' stubbornness?
    • why does Achilles let Patroclus go into battle with Achilles' armor?
    • what does he warn him?
  • Patroclus in battle
    • compare his exploits to those of Diomedes
    • Patroclus and Hector
      • how does Homer make Patroclus' death memorable?
  • The death of Sarpedon, Zeus' son
    • Zeus can't stop it--or won't; which?

Lombardo 175-95 [from Books 18-19]

  • Achilles' learns of Patroclus' death
    • how does his attitude toward fighting and his fate change, and why?
  • New armor for Achilles
    • why does Homer devote so much space to describing the new armor?
    • what designs does Hephaestus put on the shield?
  • Achilles rejoins the Greeks
    • what do you think about his reconciliation with Agamemnon?
    • what reminders are there of Achilles' fate?

Lombardo 205-21 [from Book 22]

  • Achilles' combat with Hector
    • which gods get involved, and how? Is it a fair fight?
    • compare the attitudes of the two heroes toward this combat
    • how does Homer make Hector's death memorable?
    • why is it effective to have the reactions of the Trojan women to Hector's death?
      • compare their encounters with him in Book 6

Assignment for Mon. 15 Oct.

Lombardo 222-40 [from Books 23-24]

  • The funeral of Patroclus
    • why does Achilles finally give Patroclus his funeral?
  • The embassy of Priam to Achilles
    • why does Priam finally decide to go ask for his son Hector's body?
    • why is it Hermes who guides him to the Greek camp?
    • how does Achilles receive Priam?
    • why does he give the body back?


Last updated: 10/9/07

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