Iliad
Passages
Achilles Curses
Agamemnon
Iliad I, ll 262ff (Fagles p 85)
Consider in Book I how the argument between Achilles
and Agamemnon
develops.
What circumstances bring them together? How does each character see his
situation?
Are differences in views worth considering?
Is one wrong and the other
right? Or is such an argument highly likely, given the characters
involved and current circumstances?
Homer identifies the rage of Achilles
as ruinous, but understandable
given the temperaments
and roles of the characters, together with current circumstances.
(How also does Chryses engage Apollo
in his dispute with Agamemnon?)
Odysseus Meets Thersites
Iliad II ll 245ff (Fagles, p 106)
Consider in Book II the test Agamemnon offers
his soldiers. The foot
soldier Thersites makes
an appealing argument: he and fellow common
soldiers
will likely die in battle without the possibility of fame
accorded soldiers superior in ancestry, training, arms
and company. How
does his engagement with Odysseus appear to his fellow soldiers and to
fighters with seeking fame?
(How, incidentally, do Homeric dreams or prophecies really work?)
Aphrodite Works
Iliad III ll 146ff (Fagles,
p 132)
Consider in Book III Helen’s involvements with
her rival suitors Menelaus and Paris.
How does she
come to consider each suitor at particular times?
How do
her rivals variously act
in particular circumstances. How might the tracing of her involvements
reveal the powers of Aphrodite?
Pandarus Strikes
Iliad IV ll 100ff (Fagles, p 148)
Consider in Book IV the attempt by Pandarus to save Troy by killing
Menelaus. Athena, of course, tricks Pandarus. But Pandarus’
understanding of strategy, together with
the recognized skill with which
he approaches his quarry deserves the attention of Homeric audiences.
And like reasoning in the face of arguments, Homeric truces
seldom
ensure peace.
Diomedes Wounds Ares
Iliad V ll 998ff (Fagles,
p 192)
Consider in Book V Diomedes as an inspired hero.
How does his attacks on
Ares and on Aphrodite
appear to audiences? Why does Zeus hate Ares
most
of all the Olympian gods?
(Consider also
Sarpedon, the Trojan supporter favored by Zeus,
who next
to Hector appears as the most
worthy of fame.)
Hector Meets Andromache
Iliad VI, 439ff (Fagles, p 208)
Consider in Book VI the meeting of Hector and Andromache. How does each
consider current circumstances and anticipate specific consequences
of Hector’s choices? Homer’s audiences were primarily Greek. How might
Greek audiences appreciate the anticipated futures of Hector, “killer of
men”, and
his family?
Hector Meets Ajax
Iliad VII, V ll 236ff (Fagles, p 221)
Consider in Book VII
the actions of Hector and Ajax.
In Book III Paris and Menelaus fought as rivals for Helen’s favor. Now
Hector has challenged Greeks to put forward
a Greek fighter to meet him
in single combat. Selected
by lot from the nine great fighters who
respond to
the challenge, Ajax
is recognized as the clear favorite,
a testament to his fighting
prowess. What makes
this extended engagement worth particular attention?
What distinguishes each fighter? How does craftsmanship work? When
encroaching darkness ends the combat,
how do fighters and audiences
respond?
Hera & Athena
Face Zeus
Iliad VIII, ll 504ff (Fagles, p 245)
Consider in Book
VIII the competition among gods
and goddesses. Darkness ended the
confrontations
of Ajax and Hector, but the Greeks took from Ajax’s
actions faith in their rising power. Now, as darkness grows once more,
Hera and Athena, united in inspiring Greeks, find Zeus’ inspiration of
Trojans dispiriting. Homeric audiences would know that Troy eventually
falls.
What engages them, then, in depictions of Greek suffering,
including the prediction that Achilles’ beloved companion Patroclus will
fall before Hector? How does the opposition of Zeus to Hera and Athena
work?
Phoenix Counsels
Achilles
Iliad IX, ll 523ff (Fagles, p 266)
Consider in Book IX
the recognition by Agamemnon
that he must convince Achilles to return to
battle.
What influences his choice of ambassadors?
What conditions does
Agamemnon accept?
Consider, for example, the character, actions and
account presented by Phoenix. How might he expect Achilles to understand
the story he offers?
Spies Compete
Iliad X,
ll 523ff (Fagles, p 291)
Consider in Book X the strategy of Diomedes and Odysseus in undermining
Trojan forces. Sleepless
from anxiety, Agamemnon together with the wise
elder Nestor, initiates a spying mission. Diomedes and Odysseus appear
not just as among the greatest
of fighters, but as superior in craft.
Hector, equally sleepless, considering how to take advantage of rising
Trojan power, initiates his own spying mission. But
the satisfied
Trojans lacking inspiration for such
unheroic activity, send out Dolon,
a young untested
fighter, the sole son among five sisters, no match
for Diomedes and Odysseus. Homeric audiences would know that the Iliad
ending, despite the death of Hector, despite the fated death of
Achilles, is inconclusive. Odysseus’ treachery in a surprise attack from
within
the Palladian horse left at Troy as Greeks sail
from Troy will
make of heroic hand-to-hand combat
a fading memory of honor through
personal courage.
Sarpedon Seeks
Fame
Iliad XII, ll 337ff (Fagles, p 334)
Consider in Book XII
the simile which precedes the challenge Zeus’ favorite, Sarpedon, offers
to his young companion Glaucon. Crowded before each side of Greek
ramparts, fighters volley boulders back and forth, so thick they appear
to Zeus above as snowflakes, but to men below as instruments of crushing
death. When even Hector fails to break through the ramparts, Sarpedon
calls to
his young fellow-fighter Glaucon to rise to the greatest
of
risks, to lead Trojans through Greek fortifications.
What makes his
claim to fame credible and memorable?
Hera Seduces Zeus
Iliad XIV, ll 187ff (Fagles, p 374)
Consider in Book XIV
how Hera, resentful of Zeus,
plans to remove him from action through
seduction.
Her likely success appears in the impression she
makes as
Zeus first sees her: “at one glance the lust
came swirling over him,
making his heart race, fast as
the first time—all unknown to their
parents—they rolled
in bed, they locked and surged in love.” How does
Hera create such an impression?
Sarpedon’s Last
Stand
Iliad XVI, ll 499ff (Fagles, p 426)
Consider in Book XVI the consequences of Sarpedon’s encouragement to his
friend Glaucon in Book XII before storming Greek ramparts. Most beloved
by Zeus of all mortals (for good reason), Sarpedon will not finally
escape his fate. Hera reminds Zeus of unfortunate consequences
if
immortals undermined fated outcomes, but her stronger reminder would be
that not even Zeus can counter fate. (consider also the conditions
Achilles imposes on Patroclus, who, armed with Achilles’ war gear, can
no longer hold back from fighting. Patroclus’ death
will change Achilles
irrevocably. Patroclus’ dying words
to Hector anticipate Hector’s fated
meeting with Achilles.
Hector Assumes
Achilles’ Arms
Iliad XVII, ll 159ff (Fagles, p 447)
Consider in Book XVII how Sarpedon’s death leads Hector, armed with the
war gear of Achilles, to terrify dispirited Greeks. Glaucus, grieving
for Sarpedon’s death, seeks
to recover his body. Goading Hector for
failing to turn back Ajax
from defending Patroclus’ body, and thereby losing the means to exchange
Greek for Trojan, Glaucus stirs Hector to call back the arms of Achilles
from Troy,
to arm himself as Achilles. Greeks will no longer miss Achilles presence
foremost among them in battle, but will face Achilles in the person of
Hector, killer of men. Zeus, grieveing also for Sarpedon, anticipates
Hector’s rampage, but anticipates as well the effect it will have on
Achilles.
Hephaestus
Shields Achilles
Iliad XVIII, ll 558ff (Fagles, p 483)
Consider in Book XVIII how Achilles rejoins Greek fighters to attack
Troy. Unmoved by all offers by Agamemnon
to make amends (consider
Agamemnon’s offer to pick
any of the King’s daughters as a bride!),
Achilles discovers his love for Patroclus, and his attending sense of
responsibility, moves him personally, moves him with
a force greater
even than fame, to seek out Hector,
to avenge the death of Patroclus.
Not reasonable,
but impassioned, Achilles turns his rage from Agamemnon
to Hector. Passion, not reason, rules. Thetis moves Haephestus, the
smith-god, to craft new arms for Achilles, arms crafted with unequaled
technology, and with
fearful pictorial craft.
Achilles Goes
Berserk
Iliad XXI, ll 110ff (Fagles, p 523)
Consider in Book XXI first the rage at work as Achilles slaughters
Trojans. How does the death of his beloved companion Patroclus lead him
to specific actions? Lyaon, a Trojan prince too young to fight appear
before Achilles, cutting fig saplings for chariot wheels. Just eleven
days returned by ransom, he hopes his value will once more spare his
life. Achilles, Patroclus in mind, will not spare him, but consider his
linking of Lyaon’s fate and his own. Fired up with slaughter, however,
Achilles rages against
all life about the River Scamander. What, then,
brings about an end to his rampage?
Hector Faces
Achilles
Iliad XXII, ll 293ff (Fagles, p 549)
Consider in Book
XXII Hector’s reactions to his discovery that the brother he most relies
on was nowhere near him, vanished. Aware that Achilles’ will overcome
him, that Achilles vengeance will drive him to feed the corpse
to dogs,
Hector none-the-less attacks “like a soaring eagle launching down from
the dark clouds to earth to snatch some helpless lamb or trembling
hare.” Can we see Achilles, at the moment of his triumph, as Hector
does,
as a helpless lamb or trembling hare?
Patroclus’ Final
Appearance
Iliad XXIII, ll 65ff (Fagles, p 561)
Consider in Book XXIII the surprise of Achilles when
the shade of Patroclus appears, chiding him for forgetfulness and neglect. How does
Patroclus help Achilles to recall their relationship in the flesh, and
to recognize the distance between those times
and those to come as
shades as shades?
Priam Joins
Achilles
XXIV, ll 540ff (Fagles, p 603)
Consider in Book XXIX how Priam stirs Achilles’ heart
to enable the
release of Hector. Achilles previously raged at Agamemnon, refusing all
terms for engagement.
Achilles subsequently chokes the river Scamander
with Trojan corpses, genesis in reerse. Achilles delays
his departure
from Patroclus as long as possible, refusing to accept his loss. How
will Priam persuade him to end
his rage? Prima’s appearance in the Greek
camp stuns
his audience: “Awesome—as when the grip of madness seizes one
who murders a man in his own fatherland and, flees abroad to foreign
shores, to a wealthy, noble host, and a sense of marvel runs through all
who see him—
so Achilles marveled, beholding majestic Priam.
His men marveled too,
trading startled glances.”
Why does Priam, not Achilles, appear as an exiled murderer? And how does
his appearance and words
stir Achilles?
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