Analysis Of The Book The Iliad Essay - 2279 Words

The first book of the Iliad begins with the beginning of Achilles’ rage, the rage that will eventually cause his own people so much grief and is also the force for Homer’s version of the story of the Trojan War. Whereas the taking of Helen is the focus of the larger, traditional story, the feud between Agamemnon and the hero Achilles over a kidnapped girl defines the Iliad. Both feature a conflict over a woman, Helen and Chryses’ daughter, and a need for resolution as well as a breach of social contract: Paris steals the wife of Agamemnon, ruining the bonds of the guest relationship, while Agamemnon denies Chryse his right to ransom and invokes the wrath of the gods in the form of a plague. In both cases, however, it becomes clear that the conflict will not be resolved quickly, but will continue through the very heart of the story. By â€Å"singing of Achilles’ rage† from the first line, the narrator is clearly showing the audience that this Trojan war is not the war of Hector or Paris or Helen, but of the proud Achilles and his hero-sized enemy. It is interesting to note then, that the argument between Agamemnon and Achilles finds a parallel right at the end of the same book in the fight between Zeus and his wife Hera. This produces a somewhat suprising effect, the first chapter of an epic that is originally about a foreign military campaign is bookended by scenes of internal conflict: dissent within the ranks of the Greek army and a domestic dispute among the immortals. EvenShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Iliad Essay1648 Words   |  7 PagesBook 1: If I was a character in the Iliad, I would refuse to fight in this war. I don’t understand how there is not more discontent among the lower hierarchy of the army. I would not see the point of fighting simply to retrieve Menelaus’s ex-wife Helen; is it really worth giving up all of their lives to get her back? I understand that they were also concerned with heroism and honor, but to me fighting over such a simple disagreement doesn’t make much sen se. That aspect, along with the inclusion ofRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Iliad 965 Words   |  4 PagesSing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Achains,† (page 76 lines 1-7)This quote comes Richard Lattimore’s translated version of The Iliad, it tells the reader that Achilles is a man who is capable of great anger, anger that will kill thousands and bring much suffering. You wouldn’t think that a man like that would be able to feel anything but that anger, but in Christopher Logue’s War Music we see, â€Å"a naked man run with what seemsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book 12 Of The Iliad 894 Words   |  4 PagesHis True Nature Following the demise of Troy, the Achaean’s mighty fortification is destined to fall not by mere mortal strength, but rather, the selfish act of divine intervention. In Book 12 of the Iliad, Homer’s narration is centralized around the Greek’s mighty fortifications, the fortress that agitates the gods. The author begins the story by describing Zeus’s plans to dismantle the Greek rampart. The author makes the god’s plan manifest when Hector chastises Polydamas for his foresight andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Six Of The Iliad 1362 Words   |  6 PagesAgency Agency can be defined as willed action that is freely taken after deliberation or action taken having a specific purpose behind it. In book six of the Iliad, Hector deals with the struggle of choosing between his familial duties and his public heroic responsibilities. The outcome of this conflict, presented in the passage from book six of the Iliad, represents an agency that is both purposeful and goal directed towards receiving honor. The fact that Hector leaves behind his beloved familyRead MoreThe Iliad : Greeks And Their Love For War1568 Words   |  7 PagesAffourtit Affourtit.2 February 10th, 2017 CLAS1101 The Iliad: Greeks and Their Love for ‘War’ It has long been a popular scholarly opinion that the Greeks in the Iliad were lovers of war and violence. The Greeks were most definitely primal beasts, and blood shedders, a fact made abundantly clear in the Iliad. However, I think that the Greeks were not lovers of war, furthermore I think this interpretation is shortsighted. The amount of violence in the Iliad seems to be evidence for their love of war, butRead MoreA Comparative Analysis of Odysseus and Achilles Essay1207 Words   |  5 PagesA Comparative Analysis of Odysseus and Achilles The Trojan War was more than a series of battles between opposing forces, it was the climax of an age of heroes. The retrieval of Helen brought together many of the mythological characters of that time onto a single stage. Of the thousands of brave men who fought at Ilion, two men stood above the masses, sharing the title of hero. They were born in the line of those on Mt. Olympus, favored by the gods. Excelling in courage and skill, adored by thoseRead MoreExistentialism And Akhilleus : State Of Affairs1182 Words   |  5 PagesState of Affairs in Homer’s Iliad Existentialism is a philosophy that deals with human existence. This philosophy is a complex subject that asks questions about life that include meaning, purpose, choice, morality, ideology, and individuality. When reading other texts one could easily make connections to existential themes within the book’s literary tropes. Occasionally, some books have an overloaded abundance of existential themes. Homer’s Iliad is one of the books that comprise of an abundanceRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s Iliad 1382 Words   |  6 PagesRyan Doerhoff History of Greece Dr. Kirkland September 5, 2014 Document Analysis The primary documents that will be focused on in this analysis come from Homer’s Iliad. Homer is venerated today as the greatest of Greek epic poets, as his works had a colossal impact on the history of literature. Through his epics, Homer brings us first hand into the culture of the Greek world in the eighth century B.C. It is important to note that at this time very few had the privilege of an education, and lackedRead MoreHomeric Vs. The Iliad1654 Words   |  7 PagesHomeric View of War in the Iliad Being a milestone for all ancient Greek Literature, the Trojan War was discussed and narrated in many different works, most notably Homer’s epic poem the Iliad. Depicting a classical style of mass battle, Homeric warriors were thus treated equally as fighters, but were disregarded in the text in order to illustrate the sheer power of the heroes and leaders. Every warrior was just another piece of the phalanx, which is why the army was so withstanding of attackRead MoreThe Iliad: Literary Analysis1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe Iliad: Literary Analysis Throughout The Iliad, an epic poem written by Homer, there were numerous warriors and other characters that could be looked upon as heroes; some of these heroes included Achilles, Ajax, Diomedes, Hector, and Glaucus. All of these individuals were heroes because of their remarkable mental and physical strength: they were courageous and were better fighters in war than other ordinary men. The trade of battle was a way of life to the Greeks back in Homer’s time. Children