Illiad Questions
Option B
6. Whose death has led Achilles to seek to end his quarrel with Agamemnon?
Patroclus
7. Give three details of the gifts that Achilles has just received from Thetis?
Shield of five layers made of gleaming metal.
8. Who was the maker of these gifts?
Hephaestus
9. How effectively in this passage does Homer convey Agamemnon’s mood?
This passage is effective in showing Agamemnon’s mood. Homer shows Agamemnon as trying to be conciliatory however even though it seems like he is apologising to Achilles, it’s not quite there. At first he addresses everyone positively “Friends, Greek Warriors”; this shows how Agamemnon is being civil and polite to the Greek Warriors around him. These words suggest a conciliatory tone. As well as this he states that the call of silence is now done. Agamemnon had to be silent while Achilles spoke, and now he is done, Agamemnon may say his peace instead of interrupting Achilles.
“Now I am going to clarify my position … pay attention” This also shows a hint of conciliatory again yet it is not quite an apology to Achilles. As well as this Agamemnon is showing his authority over the other Greek soldiers and Achilles as well, he is on the defensive side, to show he has nothing to prove and cannot be made to say something he doesn’t want to say. He may be showing everyone around him that he can be the bigger man and almost apologise for what he has done, however he wants Achilles to know it more, as he is the one who went against him first (in his own opinion).
“The Greeks have … last speech began” a defensive start to his statement. Here he does not refer to the specifics of why the quarrel began in the first place, but instead says that the Greeks insult him many times, which is what Achilles had done as well, so it’s technically not his fault. Here Agamemnon’s mood shows how he is on the defensive to start with, as he knows he must apologise but he has many reasons as to why he is not to be blamed. Here he is
6. Whose death has led Achilles to seek to end his quarrel with Agamemnon?
Patroclus
7. Give three details of the gifts that Achilles has just received from Thetis?
Shield of five layers made of gleaming metal.
8. Who was the maker of these gifts?
Hephaestus
9. How effectively in this passage does Homer convey Agamemnon’s mood?
This passage is effective in showing Agamemnon’s mood. Homer shows Agamemnon as trying to be conciliatory however even though it seems like he is apologising to Achilles, it’s not quite there. At first he addresses everyone positively “Friends, Greek Warriors”; this shows how Agamemnon is being civil and polite to the Greek Warriors around him. These words suggest a conciliatory tone. As well as this he states that the call of silence is now done. Agamemnon had to be silent while Achilles spoke, and now he is done, Agamemnon may say his peace instead of interrupting Achilles.
“Now I am going to clarify my position … pay attention” This also shows a hint of conciliatory again yet it is not quite an apology to Achilles. As well as this Agamemnon is showing his authority over the other Greek soldiers and Achilles as well, he is on the defensive side, to show he has nothing to prove and cannot be made to say something he doesn’t want to say. He may be showing everyone around him that he can be the bigger man and almost apologise for what he has done, however he wants Achilles to know it more, as he is the one who went against him first (in his own opinion).
“The Greeks have … last speech began” a defensive start to his statement. Here he does not refer to the specifics of why the quarrel began in the first place, but instead says that the Greeks insult him many times, which is what Achilles had done as well, so it’s technically not his fault. Here Agamemnon’s mood shows how he is on the defensive to start with, as he knows he must apologise but he has many reasons as to why he is not to be blamed. Here he is