The Iliad by Homer
Background: The Iliad is the first great work of Western literature. The version we have probably dates from the middle of the 8th century BCE and, if “Homer” was an individual poet (this is debated by scholars today), he probably “compiled” the work in his own creative way from earlier legendary material. The “story” of The Iliad involves the “Trojan war” of around the 13th century BCE. Agamemnon (of Mycenae on the Greek peninsula) is the leader of the Greek invading army and is the bother of Menelaus who is “wronged” by Paris (son of Priam, king of Troy) who “steals away” Menelaus’ wife, the beautiful Helen. This is the pretext of the Greeks’ war with the Trojans. Major “heroes” for the Greeks include Achilles and for the Trojans Hector.
Prior to the beginning of book xxiv of The Iliad, Hector had slain Patroclus, Achilles’ warrior friend. This was due, in part, to the fact that Achilles refused to fight on behalf of the Greek armies because he felt slighted. After his friend’s death, however, he joined the fray and killed Hector in battle. He vented his wrath on Hector by refusing to have his body buried and by dragging it around the walls of Troy. This action, while understandable as an act of grief and revenge, broke many of the warrior codes, displeasing the gods and tormenting Hector’s father, Priam, the aged king of Troy.
Web resources: Test your knowledge of story of the Trojan war with an internet-based game on The Iliad. General background information to The Iliad is available at the Thinkquest site. One of the more significant features of classical literature consists in the way it informs many analyst's thinking. For example, click here to read a recent editorial in the New York Times commenting on federal policy in the war in Iraq.
Discussion questions:
What do you think of the god’s debate about Achilles’ action? (361-2) What do you think of Achilles’ response to his mother’s message from the gods? (363)
Notice how Priam and his family have different reactions to the message of Iris (the goddess of the rainbow, the messenger of the gods in this epic) (364-5). Why do you think an incident like this is recounted? Who conducts Priam through the Greek army’s encampment to Achilles tents? (Recall “hermeneutics”!)
How does Priam greet Achilles once he arrives at his compound? (368) What is Achilles’ response? What does Achilles do with Hector’s body? (369) What do you think of Priam’s request to have time to perform the rites of burial for his son? And what do you make of Achilles’ reply? (370-1)
What is the response of the Trojans when Hector’s body is brought back into the city? (371-2) Notice the individuals who respond, particularly the women, and how they respond.