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Notes on The Iliad
Copyright © 2011 by Allan L’Etoile. All Rights Reserved.
A) How the Trojan War Started
Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. All the princes of Greece - 27 of them, kind of like tribal
leaders - wanted to marry her, and the disharmony this caused threatened to unsettle Greece. In order to
establish some peace, the 27 princes agreed to a truce: they agreed to let Helen choose a husband, to abide
by her choice, and to defend the husband's rights if anyone ever took Helen away from him. Helen chose
Menelaus, the ruler of Sparta, as her husband, and Greece was at peace.
Then, all the gods - except for Eris, the god of discord -- attended the marriage of Thetis, a sea nymph, and
Peleus, a human, the future parents of Achilles. During the celebration, Eris, angry that she hadn't been
invited, threw an apple into the crowd; on the apple were written the words "For the Fairest." Hera, Athena
and Aphrodite all claimed the apple. Zeus appointed a Trojan, Paris, to choose the fairest goddess. (This
event is called “The Judgment of Paris” and is mentioned in book 24.) All three goddesses promised him
something if he would name her "fairest," but Paris chose Aphrodite because she promised to give him the
most beautiful woman in the world. Later, to collect his prize, Paris stole into the palace of Menelaus in
Sparta and "kidnapped" that woman, Helen, carrying her and many of Menelaus' possessions back to Troy.
After Helen's "abduction" by Paris, the princes (plus Achilles, the greatest Greek fighter, who was too
young to have wooed Helen and, therefore, never committed to the “truce” to defend her) gathered as an
army to attack Troy and return Helen to Menelaus. This army laid siege to Troy for nine years before the
events related in The Iliad begin. Troy fell in the following year.
The historical reality behind the Trojan-Greek War? See http://www.archaeology.org/0405/etc/troy.html
Book Notes on The Iliad (also, see notes at back of book)
Book 1 (read all)
After Homer introduces the subject of the poem (l. 1f), he goes on to tell us that nine years into the Greek
siege of Troy, a plague came on the Greek army. Why? In one of their raiding trips to islands around Troy,
to resupply their troops, Agamemnon, leader of the Greek army, had taken a girl named Chryseis for his
mistress. In Book 1, her father, Chryses, asks to have her given back. When Agamemnon refuses, Chryses
prays to Apollo to help him; Apollo does so by sending a plague on the Greek army. The Greek prophet,
Calchas, determines that the girl has to be sent back or the Greeks will be destroyed.
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Agamemnon does not want to give her up but does so only after threatening to take someone else's
mistress. Achilles tells him not to do that, that he will be rewarded for giving back Chryseis, and
Agamemnon, still angry, says he'll take Achilles' girl, Briseis. Athena and Nestor, the Greek's wisest man,
calm Achilles (who had threatened to leave Troy), and Achilles, vowing not to fight, retreats to his ships
with his lieutenant, Patroclus, and his army.
In lines 413f, Achilles bemoans his fate in front of his mother, the minor goddess Thetis, and later asks her
to take a plea to Zeus (ll. 483-488). She takes the prayer to Zeus, who agrees to answer it, even though in
doing so he will help the Trojans and anger his wife, Hera.
1 – What is the subject of the poem? Write l. 1 here: _____________________________________
Goddess = the muse, goddess of artistic inspiration
2 – Achaeans – one of the names, along with Argives and Danaans, that Homer uses to refer to the Greeks
10 - Apollo = one of the gods who favored Troy in the war and, consequently, was only too happy to stir
things up between Agamemnon and Achilles
22 - my daughter = Chryseis, taken as loot when Greeks invaded her island in their search for plunder
during their long siege at Troy
44 - Chryse = place where Chryses serves Apollo
45 - Tenedos = island near Troy, sacred to Apollo; important later
49f - arrows = plague
57-60 – note how plague progresses
62-64 – note who calls the army together: _______________; who SHOULD muster the army. Remember
the special situation of this person calling the army together: of all the major Greek fighters, he alone did
not commit to the original truce to defend Helen!
63 - Hera = opponent of Aphrodite in the Judgment of Paris; she and Athena favor Greeks in the war, and
Hera HATES Troy and the Trojans
71f – What does he propose that the Greeks to do try to end the plague?
79 - Calchas = prophet of the Greek army; he interprets signs for them
89f – note the condition on which Calchas agrees to speak
111-118 – Calchas’s prophecy
120-140 – note Agamemnon’s immediate answer; he is RIGHT in line 139: by losing Chriseishe will “go
without [his] ______________.”
150-152 – Achilles achknowledges as much and tries to make it right
153f – Agamemnon’s answer; does he jump to conclusions? (See l. 154.) And what terrible threat does he
make in l. 162? (He follows thru on l. 218)
163 - Ajax, Odysseus = important champions of the Greeks
175-203 – be ready to sum up Achilles’ answer
199 – If you were a
Greek fighter, how would you feel to hear Achilles say this?
212 - Myrmidons = the soldiers who follow Achilles into battle
218 – KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
285 - Hector = son of Priam, stud fighter for the Trojans; Achilles is his only match
290 - Nestor = oldest of the Greeks; clearheaded; a good advisor; their "wise man"
320f – What is Nestor’s counsel?
335f – Is Agamemnon right? Is this what Achilles wants?
360 - Patroclus = Achilles' lieutenant and best friend; important later
416 - his mother = Thetis, the sea nymph
417 - short as that life will be = Achilles was fated to die young
ll. 413-423 – “he wept and prayed” – strikes the modern ear as kind of wimpy; why would it NOT have
struck Homer’s audience that way?
l. 430f – Achilles summarizes the story so far, repeating word for word a lot of what Homer has already
said; why?
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468f – KEY -- years before, Thetis had helped Zeus put down a revolt on Olympus led by Athena, Hera
and Poseidon (all now supporters of Greece); by answering Thetis' prayer, Zeus can repay Thetis for her
help and get back at the three gods
484f - Achilles' prayer = that the Trojans push the Greeks back to the Greek ships, where the Greeks will
have to beg Achilles to rejoin the war; note: all of the conditions of the prayer must be met before it can
come to pass (Thetis repeats the conditions on ll. 606-609)
510-580 – Odysseus delivers Chryseis to her dad; Apollo relents
ll. 585-6 – why would Achilles “yearn” for battle?
619 - war with Hera = Hera favors Greece in the war; by answering Thetis' prayer, Zeus will go against
Greece; what does bowing his head mean?
pp. 95-6 – Zeus and Hera argue
ll. 690f. – Hephaestus tries to smooth things over between Zeus and Hera; but look how he phrases things:
“it will be unbearable/ if the two of you must come to blows this way,/ flinging the gods in chaos just for
_____________________.” What seems to be his attitude – and the attitude of the gods – toward humans?
Book 2 (Read ll. 1-397, 522-525, 897-920)
With Achilles out of the action, Agamemnon calls his army together. Zeus, in an effort to keep his promise
to Thetis, tries to undermine the Greeks by inspiring Agamemnon to pose a stupid test to his troops. (This is
an example of what? Why is the test so stupid?) Odysseus IS able to rally the men -- in spite of an
impassioned speech by the poem's only commoner who is given speaking lines, Thersites - by recalling a
bird sign the Greeks witnessed at Aulis. Both armies eat, pray, and ready for battle.
LL. 1-56 ZEUS’S DREAM
-- what is it? (ll. 12-14)
-- how does it run counter to what Zeus had already promised Thetis?
-- what disguise does the dream assume? Why this disguise?
-- does Agamemnon believe the dream? (l. 41-2)
-- what does Homer call him in l. 44, and why?
LL. 57-180 AGAMEMNON GATHERS AND ALMOST RUINS THE GREEK ARMY
-- l. 86f – he proposes a test of his men; why is it a stupid one?
-- l. 92f. note that even Nestor is fooled by the dream; Zeus is powerful
-- l. 130f. = Agamemnon pronounces his test to the army
-- look at the army’s reaction – ll. 165-180!!!!!
-- why do the men want to go home?
LL. 181-397 HERA, ATHENA AND ODYSSEUS SAVE THE DAY
-- l. 183. why would Hera notice the Greeks returning to their ships?
-- l. 196 – why does Athena seek out Odysseus?
-- l. 218f – Odysseus first rallies the lords, then the commoners
-- THERSITES – ll. 246-218 – KNOW WELL – what’s he look like? What does he say to
Agamemnon?
-- l. 287 – Odysseus reminds Thersites of his ________
-- l. 304 – Odysseus mentions Telemachus, who is his _____, in saying how he’ll beat Thersites if
he acts up again; how do we know that Odysseus is making a serious pledge here? Homer
introduces the theme of appeal to family; Odysseus shows great regard for his family name; this
theme will continue with Odysseus and others and it will become PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT in the later books of the poem
-- Odysseus then agrees that he, too, wants to go home, but that the army got a sign saying when
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they would win the war; read the sign in ll. 355-394; note the men’s reactions; 356 - Aulis =
Greek port where the Greek army had assembled before sailing to Troy nine years earlier; there
they had to sacrifice Agamemnon's daughter, Iphigenia, in order to get a western wind to sail to
Troy AND there they saw the sign that foretold the number of years they were to be in Troy
LL. 522-525 GREEK ARMY READIES FOR BATTLE
LL. 897-920 TROJAN ARMY LEAVES CITY TO MEET GREEKS
Write an essay: The men in this chapter seem to be very conflicted in their attitude toward battle.
What are those attitudes, who is best able to sway those attitudes, and what does this ability to sway
say about the real sources of power in this culture or universe? (Essay should be about ONE page long.
It should include quotations from Book 2 that prove the points you make. Due 9/7.)
Book 3 (Read all)
Homer started the poem “in media res,” in the middle of things – in the middle of the war, in the middle of
the fight between Agamemnon and Achilles. He uses Book 3 to go back a little, tell us who some of the
lead players are, fill us in on some of the plot lines.
The armies meet and Menelaus comes face to face with Paris; Menelaus challenges him, and Paris backs
down, but Hector then prods Paris, who proposes that he (Paris) and Menelaus (also called "Atrides" here)
have a duel to settle the matter once and for all. Everybody loves the idea.
As they prepare to duel, Helen walks along the wall of Troy and points out for Priam and the Trojan elders
the main Greek heroes; it's kind of a cinematic moment, known as the View from the Wall, and it serves to
introduce the main Greek characters, to characterize Helen, to bring back up the appeal to family and the
past and the good old days, and to introduce the important IRONY into the story.
Both sides swear to abide by the outcome of the duel (ll. 330-351), and the fight begins. It ends oddly
(how?), and no one (except Paris!) is happy now.
LL. 1-14 THE ARMIES COME FACE TO FACE
-- note how Homer describes the armies’ movements and noises; in ll. 2 and 3, he likens the noise
of the Trojans’ shouting to the noise made by ______________ and ________________; he describes the
dust kicked up by the two armies by comparing it to the “_____________________________” in line 10;
these comparisons – likening the human activities to things in the animal or natural world – are called
HOMERIC SIMILES. Look for them as we read.
LL. 15-140 TRASH TALK AND THE CHALLENGE
--23 - Menelaus = Agamemnon's brother, Helen's husband
43 - note Hector's attitude toward Paris
70 - Paris defends himself against Hector's charge by saying that he does only what the gods ordain; others
in the poem will make same self-defense
93 - why?
105 - Paris and Menelaus swear a truce between the armies (all the men agree to it in 349); they'll settle the
matter by themselves
146 - The View from the Wall; see summary above
174 - Scaean Gates - Troy's main gates
187f - note the old men's attitude toward Helen
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196f - note Priam's attitude toward Helen
247f - Odysseus had visited Antenor (the Trojan's wise man; their Nestor) before the war to try to get
Helen back peacefully
Book 4 (Read ll. 1-256)
The gods discuss the future of the war; Zeus offers peace, but Hera convinces him to accept a bizarre
bargain which keeps the war going. Athena prompts a Trojan soldier to break the truce which the two sides
had agreed to in Book 3, Menelaus is wounded, and a doctor (HE'S IMPORTANT LATER) cares for him.
LL. 1-81 THE GODS DISCUSS THE WAR AND RESTART IT
-- Zeus mocks Her and Athena (ll. 6-22), but Hera says he has to come up with a plan that will
please her AND Aphrodite or (l. 35): ___________________________________________________.
-- ll. 43-81; look at how callously Hera and Zeus talk about destroying human lives; amoral!
LL. 81-256 PANDARUS TRICKED
-- Athena is sent to restart the war
-- she disguises herself and speaks to Pandarus (l. 102), telling him, ll. 107-117, to shoot an arrow
at __________________; this, of course will break the ___________; will it get Pandarus in trouble? Why?
-- what is Pandarus called at l. 120?
-- on pp. 149-151, Pandarus shoots; NOTE the mention of MACHAON in 223-250!!!!!
Book 5 (Read ll. 1-41; 104-430; 495-539; 681-695; 816-997)
With the truce broken and the war started again, Athena fears for the Greeks. To protect them, she lends her
help to one of the great Greek fighters, Diomedes, who will try to fill the void left by Achilles' retreat. (The
story of an individual fighter's feats is called an ARISTEIA.) In ll. 33-41, Athena beguiles Ares (a Trojan
supporter) from the field, and Diomedes starts to kill. Eurypylus (IMPORTANT later) helps out (l. 84).
Diomedes is given a LIMIT by Athena (ll. 136-147). He then kills the truce breaker ( 321f; note how and
think about why the way the truce breaker dies is SO appropriate) and wounds a god (380f)!!!!!! He then
attacks a second god until Hector attacks him and Diomedes retreats. Hera then rallies him and Diomedes
scores his greatest triumph. Go Greeks!!!!!
LL. 1-41; ARISTEIA OF DIOMEDES
-- Athena enables Diomedes’ honor to shine forth (ll. 1-3); think of a moment when it all comes
together for an athlete
-- ll. 9-32; Diomedes (also called Tydides) kills Phegeus, whose brother, ____________, retreats;
note Trojans’ reaction (l. 32) _________________________;
-- ll. 33-41—Athena beguiles Ares; how? What is it with these male gods?
LL. 104-132PANDARUS ATTACKS DIOMEDES
-- and brags about it!
LL. 133-396 ATHENA GIVES DIOMEDES A GREAT POWER AND HE ATTACKS PANDARUS
-- first she gives him __________________________ strength (l. 137)
-- then (ll. 140-147) she gives him an even more spectacular power:
-- on p. 169, he goes on a rampage; Aeneas, the Trojan hero, wants to stop it (l. 187), by taking
Pandarus in his chariot to shoot Diomedes; but read what Pandarus says on p. 170, ll. 201-204;
sounds very sane, doesn’t it; has Pandarus’ delusion been lifted? Then look at what he says about
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home on p. 171, ll. 233-241; he’s right; on pp. 172-3, Diomedes confronts Pandarus; note how
Pandarus’ death is describes in ll. 321-325; why is this an appropriate death for him to die?
-- who protects Pandarus’s body? Who protects that person?
-- What god does Diomedes wound? What does that tell us about him at this moment?
LL. 397-414 APHRODITE ESCAPES
LL. 495-539; 681-695 DIOMEDES CONTINUES FIGHTING UNTIL . . .
-- l. 497; remember, Apollo was shielding Aeneas
-- 502-4 – Diomedes attacks 3x; why is this mentioned?
-- l. 512 – what does Apollo do? What does this tell us about Aeneas?
- - Whom does Apollo send out to face Diomedes? (l. 523): _________________
LL. 816-996 HERA AND ATHENA GIVE DIOMEDES HIS BIGGEST SUCCESS
-- Hera (l. 816f) sees trouble, warns Athena, who arms (l. 842f) and off they go to help
-- at the top of p. 189, the get permission from Zeus to __________________________
-- on p. 190, the goddesses rally the Greeks; NOTE WHAT ATHENA SAY THAT INSPIRES
DIOMEDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- IN LL. 940-950, Diomedes admits that he has obeyed his limit, which was? Is this a good thing?
-- what does Athena then do with the limit?
-- ll. 990-997: Diomedes’ greatest moment!
Book 6 (Read ll. 1-137; 283-340; 462-end)
The Greeks, encouraged by Diomedes' success, press their advantage. Helenus, priest and brother of
Hector, asks Hector to go back into Troy to pray. There, Hector meets his mother, yells at Paris, and talks
with his wife, who tells him things YOU MUST REMEMBER (especially about Achilles). NNNBBB!!!!!
Hector and Paris then leave the city to fight.
LL. 1-77 THE GREEKS SCORE MANY TRIUMPHS
-- Ajax (l. 6), Diomedes (14), Euyalus (23) and others kill Trojans
-- then, in an important story, Menelaus (45) catches the Trojan ______________________ alive;
that man pleads for his life; what is Menelaus’ response (59-61): __________________________;
-- look at how Agamemnon responds to Menelaus’ decision (62-77):
-- this tells us that Agamemnon has returned to being a good leader
LL. 88-137 HELENUS PLEADS WITH HECTOR WHO STOPS THE GREEKS AND RETURN TO
TROY
--REMEMBER HELENUS!!!!!!! HE’LL REAPPEAR IN AENEID.
-- he tells Hector to return to Troy and offer a sacrifice to Athena (102-114)
-- note WHERE they are to offer the sacrifice (110) ___________________________; this place
will play a HUGE role in the Aeneid;
LL. 283-340 HECTOR MEETS HIS MOTHER
-- her name is _________________________
-- she does as directed but only after offering him _________________ (307-310); why does she
offer him this? Why does he refuse? Remember, he is the model soldier
LL. 462-588 HECTOR MEETS HIS WIFE AND CHILD
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-- A KEY MOMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- look at the love Hector has for his baby (472-480)
-- read Andromache’s speech to Hector; according to her, what will cost Hector his life?
_______________________________. Why is she particularly afraid of her husband fighting
Achilles? _________________________________________________________
-- remember, personal scenes such as this balance scenes of killing and war and make these
characters human and worth of our empathy and sympathy
-- Hector responds in two ways: ll. 521-533: I MUST fight because_____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
ll. 522-555: I don’t care if Troy loses; I know we’ll lose; and I
want to die because I would not be able to stand the sight of __________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
-- THEN – ll. 556-574 – Hector reaches for his son. How does the boy react? Why?
LL. 589-END HECTOR AND PARIS RETURN TO BATTLE
Book 7 (Read ll. 1-19; 488-539)
LL. 1-19 TROJANS ATTACK
-- with the return of Hector and Paris to the field, and with the help of the gods, the Trojans go on
offense.
-- STYLIZED KILLING
LL. 488-499 BURYING THE DEAD
-- by the end of the day, there are so many dead that both sides decide to bury the dead. Why do
they want to?
LL. 500-539 THE GREEK WALL
--the Greeks build a wall around their ships.
-- NNNNNNBBBBBB the gods' reactions on pp. 228-230.
-- 516f - Poseidon and Apollo had built the wall around the city of Troy, and they and others
considered it to be one of the wonders of the world; here, as the gods watch the Greeks build the
magnificent ramparts to protect their ships; what seems to be the complaint of Poseidon and Apollo?:
Book 8 (Read ll. 1-33; 60-62; 78-181; 196-208)
The armies fight anew (note l. 68); Zeus tells the gods to stay out of the war this time - remember, he's still
trying to answer Thetis's prayer. With the other gods on the sidelines, Zeus stuns the Greek army and stops
Diomedes' advance. Hector seizes the moment, and the Greeks are pushed back. Night falls.
LL. 1-33 ZEUS GIVES THE GODS AN ORDER
-- “this violent business” (10) = his promise to Thetis, which is ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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-- Zeus gives the gods a command in ll. 10-11 to stay out of the fighting _______________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
60-62; 78-87 ZEUS ON MOUNT IDA
-- Zeus’s scales: what’s the image here?
-- What do the scales represent?
-- What do they make happen on Earth?
88-181 ZEUS ENDS DIOMEDES’ ARIESTEIA
-- Zeus throws a _________________________
-- effect on the Greeks: ________________________________________________________
-- who runs back to ships: l. 91: _____________, _________________; l. 92:
_________________, _________________;
-- who DOESN’t run? _________________; why? (95-102):
--Who attacks this man? _____________________
-- Who defends him (106) _____________________; how? (116-143)
-- Diomedes seems unbeatable. Therefore, Zeus (152-154) . . .
-- and what good advice does Nestor give Diomedes at top of p. 236?
-- and what does Diomedes decide to do in ll. 178-180?
LL. 196-208 HECTOR MAKES A THREAT
-- what is it?
Book 9 (Read ll. 1-3; 94-206; 217-240; 261-318; 362-542; 598-627; ?
738-771; 786-802
The Greek set their sentries, and the leaders meet. Nestor proposes a plan to appease Achilles. Agamemnon
admits he had been wrong (“mad,” which is another way of his saying that he behaved like a ____) and
proposes to give Achilles lots of stuff (know what it all is, on pp. 255-6). Phoenix, Ajax and Odysseus take
Agamemnon’s offer to Achilles. Odysseus speak first; after explaining the military situation, he makes AN
IMPORTANT APPEAL to Achilles (ll. 306-315; know it), and lists all the stuff Agamemnon will give
Achilles if he comes back to fight. What sort of honor does Odysseus promise Achilles (ll. 366-7)?
l. 362f: Achilles response. In ll. 386-7, he spells out what he sees as the effect of Agamamnon’s taking of
Bresius; Write those two lines here: Agamemnon’s taking of Bresius has created a situation in which “The
same ____________________________________________________________________________.”
Note, too, the threat he makes in l. 432f. Note the claim he makes about Agamemnon (l. 461) What
DANGEROUR thought does he express in l. 488? Why is it dangerous to think this way?
Note the reaction of those who hear him (524f). Phoenix then talks; he’s an old friend of Achilles’and he
offers some sage advice.
Look at how Achilles responds to Phoenix! (738f.) Again, he says things that the men find difficult to
believe. Even an appeal from Ajax – the fighter with the greatest power next to Achilles -- can’t win him
over.
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Book 10
[NOTE: In book 10, the Greeks plan a raid to spy on the Trojans and the Trojan Dolon tries to infiltrate the
Greek camp to get info for the Trojans. Dolon is killed.
Book 11 (Read ll. 1-16; 64-96; 106-368; 401-473; 506-529; 555-556; 571-6;
595-613; 678-690; 704-728; 763-790; 908-END)
The armies dress, Agamemnon has his aristeia, Hector is shielded from Agamemnon by Zeus (note the
command Zeus give Hector in ll. 217-227 - VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!), Hector attacks, Diomedes
counters, and Diomedes is wounded. Odysseus is wounded. (Is Zeus answering Thetis's prayer?). Nestor is
hurt and the doctor I told you to remember - Machaon - reenters the picture. Eurypylos is hurt. Achilles
sees Machaon and sends Patroclos on what will be a crucial errand. Nestor then offers Patroclos a plan
which just might save the Greeks from their present plight (p. 322).
LL. 1-16 STRIFE; GREEKS ATTACK
-- why might Zeus send strife into the hearts of the Greeks? Is this a form of delusion? (THINK!)
-- the Greeks leave their defenses and approach the Trojans
LL. 64-96 TROJANS MEET GREEKS IN BATTLE
-- 87 note where gods are
LL. 106-199 AGAMEMNON’S ARISTEIA, PART I
-- killing of Bienor (107-117) and others (ll. 118-189) are perfect examples of _____________
fighting because
-- why does Zeus protect Hector in ll. 189-90?
-- l. 199 – the Trojans are driven all the way back to ___________________________
LL. 200-252 ZEUS EMPOWERS HECTOR
-- Zeus sends Hector a message; it has several parts
-- Hector must let the others fight until ________________________________
-- then, Hector will be given the power to kill DOWN TO _________________
And UNTIL __________________________
LL. 253-347 AGAMEMNON’S ARISTEIA, PART II
-- note how it starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (253)
-- KNOW who Coon is (298) and what he does!!!!!!!!!!!
-- So, the GREEKS LOSE _____________________________ #1
LL. 348-368 HECTOR ATTACKS
-- in 363-372, __________________ and _________________ step up to challenge him
LL. 401-472 __________________ (#2) IS WOUNDED!
-- note who does it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LL. 473; 506-529; 555-6; 571-6 _____________________ (#3) IS WOUNDED!!!!! AND HELPED OFF
THE FIELD
LL. 595-613 ____________________ (#4) IS WOUNDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- note (ll. 606-7) why they are so desperate to save this man
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LL. 678-690 _______________________ (#5) IS WOUNDED!!!!!!!!!!!
LL. 704-728 ACHILLES SEES SOMETHING AND SENDS PATROCLUS ON A MISSION
-- what does he see and what does he ask Patroclus to confirm that he saw? (723-4)
-- why might Achilles be SO interested to know if this man has been wounded?
LL. 763-790; 908-964 NESTOR BEMOANS FATE OF GREEKS AND OFFERS PLAN TO
PATROCLUS
-- Patroclus tries to go back to his tent with answer for Achilles
-- what’s Nestor’s tone toward Achilles (777-790)?
--starting in 908, Nestor reminds Patroclus of their last day before leaving home for Troy
-- What advice had Peleus given to Achilles (936-7)
-- what advice had Partoculs’ dad, _________________, given him (938-942)
-- why would this reminder be so powerful for Patroclus?
--Nestor then reveals his plan (951-961)
-- how does Patroclus react to the idea?
LL. 965-END A POIGNANT STORY
look at what Patroclus does here; how does it make us feel toward him?
 On his way back to his ship, he
Book 12 (Read ll. 1-21; 202-208; 226-298; 460-468; 506-end)
Apollo and Poseidon start to weaken the Greek wall around their ship (remember why?); Hector charges,
but a bird sign stops the charge; Poulydamas warns Hector against attacking the ships (remember why?),
but Hector doesn't listen; the Trojans attack the Greek wall: NOTE SARPEDON'S ROLE; the wall is
breached!!!!!!!!!
1-21 - foretells what will happen to the Greek wall; what?
230f - important bird sign; how does Poulydamas interpret it?
-- what does Hector say about it?
460-468 – a moment of glory for Zeus’s son ___________________; we will see him play an important
role later
506-end – what glorious thing does Hector get to do?
Book 13 (Read ll. 1-108; 400-419; 626-787; 811-end)
With the battle still raging, and seemingly at something of a standoff, Zeus turns his attention elsewhere.
One god uses the occasion to meddle in the war. The Greeks are thus encouraged to fights back and many
people die horrible deaths. Hector and Greater Ajax are brought face to face.
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1-11 – Zeus does something weird; in the middle of the battle taking place on Earth, just as Hektor has
achieved a moment of glory, Zeus (write lines 6 and 9 here): ______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
6 – Thrace is a land just across the Bosporus from Troy
1-11 – What presumption does Zeus make?
POSEIDON INTERFERES IN THE WAR
Remember, back in Bk. 8, Zeus commanded the gods to stay out of the fighting; but now, given what
happened in the first 11 lines of the book, Poseidon decides to get back in the war.
l. 12f -- He descends to Troy from a mountain where he’d been watching the battle and disguised as
_________ (l. 56) encourages two Greek fighters __________________________ (l. 57) to get back to the
battle; they realize it was a god who encouraged him and go to work, as do most of other fighters.
l. 400-419 – It’s a sad commentary on how little the gods care for humans. Read these lines carefully. Look
at the goals for the war, the fighting that the gods are said to have here. Are these noble goals or petty ones?
ll. 626-787 -- Illustrate the violence of the god-induced fighting; the Greeks have been pressed back against
their ships; the Trojans are desperate for a breakthrough; men are being reduced to brutes; other men are
being torn to pieces
811f – the encouragement that Poseidon gave to the Ajaxes at the start of the book begins to pay off
840-870 – Hector listens to Polydamas
Top of p. 367 – note the effect that Paris’ agreeing to fight has on Hector, the model soldier; in l. 928, the
renewed Hector is called a “match for ______________________.” Yikes.
l. 935 – Hector comes face to face with the big Ajax; what a match up! But read ll. 936f. and look at how
Ajax talks to Hector. He calls him a “Madman,” another word for a __________.
l. 948 – Then there is a bird sign on the Greeks’ right; a bird sign on your right-hand side is good luck for
you; the sign is on the Trojan’s left-hand side; which means? Oh, and the Eagle is the bird associate with
the Greek god Z_________
l. 960 – Hector’s threat to Ajax on l. 961 tell us how far things are going downhill; no man of honor, in his
right mind, would threaten this
Book 14 (Read ll. 431-594)
Poseidon (awakening; see ll. 429-430) rallies the Greeks and Hector is wounded; the Greeks, desperate to
push the Trojans away from the ships, charge and Penelaus (ll. 569f.), a Greek fighter, performs the first act
of brutality (see reaction in ll. 590-592). The Greeks are almost defeated!
-- 431-448 Poseidon himself gets the Greeks psyched
-- p. 383. It works. Look at what happens to Hector on p. 383.
-- read ll. 519-592 CAREFULLY. A KEY turning point.
-- Little Ajax (521) kills Satnius (522);
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-- angered by this, Polydamas, kills Panthous (ll. 528-532) and then gloats over the body;
look at the effect that has on the others (ll. 538-9):
-- Ajax then kills a man and gloats; what’s happening to the code of honor, to stylized
killing?
-- THEN Peneleos breaks the code: where does he deliver the death blow to Acamas (line
_____); where does he retrieve his weapon (line _______); where does he mutilate the body (line
__________); and what is the Trojan reaction (ll 592-4):
THE RULES OF BATTLE HAVE CHANGED; THE OLD SOCIETY IS BEING TORN
APART; THIS IS NOT GOOD.
Book 15 (Read ll. 280-311; 388-435; 457-480; 686-700; 800-830)
With Apollo's help, Hector returns to the field and the Trojans press on again; Patroclus is moved by the
plight of the Greeks; why does Zeus look for (wait for) fire among the ships in ll. 691-700; Hector and the
Trojans reach the ships - NNNNNBBBBB l. 817f; very bad for them.
280-311 – Apollo heals, pumps up Hector
388f. Hector starts to kill again; the Greeks retreat to their ships (l. 407 or so) and look at what Apollo does
in ll. 418-432):
457f. We return to the scene we left at the end of Book 11. Patroclus is moved by the Greeks’ plight.
686-700 – why is Zeus looking for fire on the Greek ships (ll. 691-700)?
800-830 -- Hector attacks; ll. 816-7 – WHY DOES THIS SEAL Hector’s fate? Recall the limit Zeus put on
his ability to kill (11:219-227)
Book 16 (Read ll. 1-53; 92-110; 135156; 303-355; 429-473; 499-598; 642656; 764-829; 911-end)
A KEY BOOK!!!!!! Patroclus, moved by the plight of the Greeks, cries, and scolds Achilles, and proposes
to him Nestor's plan (see p. 322). Achilles agrees to the plan, BUT he places a limit on Patroclus. The
Trojans fire the ships, Patroclus dresses. After a speech and prayers by Achilles, Partoclus attacks. The
Trojans are stopped and then routed (ll. 361-428). Patroclus and Sarpedon fight (note the outcome AND
Zeus's concern - ll. 512-521 - and Hera's response to him). The Greeks try to mutilate Sarpedon's body!
Sarpedon's body is protected (note by whom) and Patroclus exceeds his limit (799-802). You know what
happens. NOTE HOW!!!!
LL. 1-53 – PATROCLUS RETURNS
-- what is Achilles’ response to Patroclus’ tears (ll. 13, 18)
-- Patroclus isn’t afraid to scold Achilles (ll. 33f)
-- NB what he says in ll. 35-39; these things reflect on the idea of home, right? Would they sting
Achilles?
-- he proposes Nestor’s plan (l. 43) and a rationale for it (ll. 51f. which is?)
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LL. 92-110 ACHILLES AGREES, PLACES LIMIT ON PATROCLUS
-- Achilles puts a clear limit on what Patroclus can do in ll. 96-114; what is it?
-- Also, REREAD THOSE LINES AND NOTE THE REASONS Achilles places the limit on
Patroclus
LL. 135-156 FIRE!
LL. 303-355; 429-473 THE PLAN WORKS!
-- even Hector retreats!
LL. 499-598; 642-656 THE STORY OF SARPEDON
--wow
-- last great fighter trying to pin Patroclus at the ships; son of Zeus
-- what is Zeus’s dilemma (ll. 514-521)?
-- what is Hera’s answer to him (ll. 522-543)?
--and then offers a sign from heaven
-- Sarpedon killed
-- the brutality creeps into Patroclus (ll. 654-656)
LL. 764-829 HECTOR RETREATS AND PATROCLUS FOLLOWS!
--Zeus orders ______________ to protect the body of Sarpedon (777)
-- FOOLishly, Patroclus follows the retreating Hector – why foolish? (799-809)
-- ______________ stops Patroclus from taking the city (816-829)
LL. 911-end DEATH OF PATROCLUS
-- note change in tone of voice (l. 916)
-- ll. 920-4 = FIRST to hit Patroclus = ________________; how:
-- ll. 936-940 = SECOND to hit Patroclus = _________________; how:
-- ll. 951-976 = THIRD to hit Patroclus = __________; how:
Book 17 (Read ll. 1-154)
Menelaus protects Patroclus's body until Hector makes him retreat; NB Hector's brutality; Ajax finally
protects the body
10f - remember, Euphorbus had stabbed Patroclus
Book 18 (Read ll. 1-42; 59-429)
Achilles learns that Patroclus is dead; he says he must return to battle. His mom (who?) is sad, but goes to
get him new armor. The armies fight over Patroclus's body; Hera send Iris to tell achilles to fight; the
Greeks retrieve the body (note how); Poulydamas (who?) tells the Trojans to return to the city; Hector says
no (NB: l. 353 is crucial). Achilles acts brutally
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pp. 470-471 - Achilles admits his delusion; is willing to face fate and regain his honor
ll. 318-322 - once again, Poulydamas is right
330f - once more, Hector ignores his wise counsel
353 - remembers Hector's limit
392f -Achilles promises to add to the butchery taking over the war
Book 19 (Read ll. 1-105; 158-184; 282-430)
Thetis returns with Achilles' new armor, and she protects Patroclus's body; Achilles apologizes;
Agamemnon and Achilles make up; Achilles mourns Patroclus (NNNNNBBBBB ll. 390f!) and dresses for
battle.
43-45 - note how Thetis preserve the body of Patroclus
100f - Agamemnon admits error an (rightly) blames the gods for it as well
151f - again he blames folly (ruin)
333f - Briseis, in a touching moment, cries for Patroclus
390f - IMPORTANT!!!! Note Achilles desire for his son; Patroclus's death will have grave repercussions
for Troy and the "civilized" world, as we will see
Book 20 (Read ll. 1-90; 403-514; 554-end)
The god line up for war and there's an earthquake: the ensuing battle will be a battle of the universe!
Achilles fights!!! Hector doesn't. Book ends with epic similes.
8 - rivers = rivers (bodies of water in general) were thought of as BOTH the water in those bodies AND the
controlling forces (in the guise of human-like gods) behind the water; the gods of the rivers around Troy
will fight Achilles by trying to drown him in book 21
30 - the gods are allowed back in the war; why now?
70 - earthquakes, flood signal the "cosmic" upheaval about to come; gives the looming battle great
authority
433 - Hector pulls away from Achilles
463 - Polydorus is the first of Priam's 50 sons to die; note the pathos in his dying
Book 21 (Read ll. 1-158 [in ll. 162-236, Achilles kills many, including the
Paionians mentioned in l. 237]; 237-434; 605-end)
The rivers around Troy fight Achilles (see map in book); with Hephaestus's help, Achilles defeats the
rivers. Athena and Poseidon put a limit on Achilles. Achilles promises a supergross punishment for
Patroclus's death. The Trojans retreat, with a god's help.
139f - Achilles' brutality starts to surface
618 - Priam saves his people! And the Universe!
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Book 22 (Read ll. 1-110; 224-end)
Hector is left alone outside the gates of Troy; Hecuba pleads with him to retreats inside the gates; he
doesn't; Achilles (the great runner) and Hector race around the city; Athena fools Hector; Hector see his
doom. Achilles wounds, insults, kills Hector. Achilles abuses the body. The Trojans MOURN!
5 - Hector is the only Trojan outside the gate
68f - Priam is wise enough to see what is about to happen
97f - Hecuba's appeal brings up familial theme
118f - Hector's tragic dilemma
362f - Hector finally acts up to his honor
407f - note Achilles' brutality!
442f - body mutilated
467f - the famous mutilation of Hector by Achilles
560f - remember, Andromache saw this coming; her words are touching and recall family again
Book 23 (Read ll. 1-258)
With the abused body of Hector beside him, Achilles begins a funeral feast (for Patroclus) with his men; he
sleeps; Patroclus comes to him in a dream and tells Achilles to bury him; NB the tender moment in ll. 115116. The Greeks build a funeral pyre for Patroclus, put the bodies of dogs (ll. 199-200) and others (ll. 2014) on the pyre, but the gods reject the offering (NNNNBBBB ll. 221-222). The wind gods help Achilles
out, and Patroclus's body is burned. (In the rest of Book 23 – lines 259ff WHICH YOU DON’T HAVE TO
READ -- the Greeks hold funeral games in honor of Patroclus.)
164 - it was traditional to offer to the river god near your town a lock of your hair at your death
221 - the god reject Achilles' offering, showing their disapproval
Book 24 (Read ll. 1-388; 519-end)
The funeral games over, Achilles turns philosophical. He abuses Hector's body again; the gods don't like
this (why?) and Zeus pronounces what is to happen (top p. 570). Messengers from the gods are sent to both
Achilles and Priam. Priam tells Hecuba (who?) that he's going to go to Achilles' tent to get Hector's body:
NNNNNBBBBB Hecuba's violent reply (p. 574, and be ready to tell me why this is especially shocking). A
chariot is prepared for Priam, and, with Hermes' help (see l. 519), Priam reaches Achilles' tent: READ
CAREFULLY ll. 569-661. Achilles returns the body (why?); everyone eats; Achilles (sounding very much
like a king) orders Priam protected and promises him nine days of cease-fire so that Priam might hold a
funeral for Hector; the Trojan women mourn Hector. The end.
26-7 - even Homer expresses disapproval of Achilles' behavior
252-3 - the violence of the war has spilled over into the home life of the characters
299-310 - Priam sees the REAL effect of the war
519 - Hermes is the "god of luck"
559-562 - Priam acts in a decidedly UNHEROIC manner; for a moment, he puts his honor aside, a very
brave deed (and therefore very HEROIC)
567f - note Achilles' response to Priam's gesture in ll. 572-3 and the appeal which Priam makes to him
642f - "You must bear up now"
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768-770 - Achilles is again leading Agamemnon (see esp. ll. 787-788)
820 - Cassandra will foretell the fates of all involved
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