Preview

Thematic Essay

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1128 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Thematic Essay
English 9 Pre-Diploma

• In-class essay next block
– Tuesday/Wednesday, February 14/15

Achilles and Hector’s Outlook on: • War • Duty • Heroism (#3 on page 380)

Three-Column Chart
Topic
War Duty Heroism For homework, you must find textual evidence that supports each character’s outlook on the three topics.

Achilles’ Outlook

Hector’s Outlook

Achilles
• Believes that heroism is symbolized by tangible prizes • Experiences internal conflicts about the purpose and validity of war • Does not believe that duty constrains him to fight at the expense of honor
Find the textual evidence for each explanation in Books 1 and 6.

Hector
• Fights, even though he may be doomed to defeat • Consists of intangible loyalty to family and city as well martial valor • Directly threatens his city
Find the textual evidence for each explanation in Books 1 and 6.

• The dual theme of honor and dishonor runs through Books 1 and 6 of the Iliad. • Examples:
– Agamemnon feels dishonored by having to give up Chryseis, and he takes Briseis from Achilles to restore his honor. Achilles, in turn, feels his honor has been compromised by the loss of Briseis. – Hector ignores Andromache’s pleas to stop fighting because he believes he must defend the honor of Troy and thereby defend his honor as a warrior.

Create a three-column chart:
Character
Agamemnon Achilles Hector

Example of Honor or Dishonor

Explanation

Andromache

Agamemnon
• Example: Agamemnon believes himself dishonored by Apollo’s demand that he give up Chryseis. • Explanation: As a major Greek warrior, he no doubt believes himself entitled to the spoils of war, even the human spoils.

Achilles
• Example: Achilles believes himself dishonored by Agamemnon’s taking of Briseis. • Explanation: Briseis has been promised to Achilles as a reward for his wartime heroics.

Hector
• Example: Hector believes that he would be dishonored if he fails to live up to his commitment to defend Troy. •
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Achilles and the Embassy Book Ix of the Iliad
    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Achilles and the Embassy Book Ix of the Iliad

    Agamemnon is a man of terrible character and he does not understand what honor is at all. Sending others to do his dirty work is morally wrong. He has shamefully treated Achilles as if he is a second-class citizen, and he always has. Agamemnon barely makes an attempt to win Achilles, the greatest warrior Homeric times have ever known, over. He offers Achilles many women and gifts, including “the one he took away at first, Briseus’ daughter, and he [swears] a solemn, binding oath in the bargain he never mounted her bed” (332-334). Agamemnon offers everything in the book to Achilles begging him to come back, but what really shows his character is that he sent others to propose the deal. Even worse, he says if Achilles accepts he can come back if Achilles would “bow down to [Agamemnon] I am the greater king, I am the elder-born, I claim-the greater man” (192-193).…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Achilles Flaws In The Iliad
    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Achilles Flaws In The Iliad

    In the Iliad, the characters of Hector and Achilles carry similar traits, although a deeper investigation into each character will show some stark contrasts between the two. Victory and defeat is not the most telling sign as to which is the greater hero of the two. There are flaws within each character and each one fights to overcome them throughout the story. By the end, it is clear which one emerges as the most appropriate symbol of a hero. The character of Achilles is greater than the character of Hector because he was able to overcome more of his character flaws to become a more realistic portrayal of what a heroic character should be.…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Achilles In The Iliad
    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Examples Of Achilles In The Iliad

    In Homer’s book The Iliad, Homer tells the story of the Trojan War with Achilles, the best Greek warrior. However, Achilles does not like Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, because he took Briseis (Briseis was a woman that Achilles had received as a war prize). This is the reason why Achilles was raged at Agamemnon. In a rage, Achilles wants to kill all of the Trojans, especially Hector, the best Trojan warrior. Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend goes out to the battle field as Achilles (wearing his armor), trying to kill Hector but instead Hector kills Patroclus thinking he has killed Achilles. When Achilles finds out about this, he is very mad and goes out to kill Hector himself. When he kills Hector, he is very arrogant about it. Only after this happens does Achilles get Briseis back from Agamemnon.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Honor And Glory Research Paper
    • 1890 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Honor And Glory Research Paper

    This communal sentiment often conflicts with individual desires. Many times throughout the Iliad what is best for the group is rejected for individual honor. Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon wage war to regain honor, despite the cost of the lives that will be lost in the process. There are multiple instances throughout the Iliad where the question of standing down to prevent others from being killed is rejected as cowardly or weak, and the fight continues. With the massive struggle between two of the Greeks’ greatest men, Agamemnon and Achilles, to retain their honor in the public view, it becomes clear that there are different views on honor within the society. Agamemnon felt his personal honor was greater than that of the army, but Achilles calls him out as “wrapped in shamelessness, with your mind forever on profit (Homer, Iliad 1.149)”. Both of the heroes see their women as a sign of status and honor, but relinquishing the symbol of honor for the sake 3 Paper 1 Cheryl Texin 21h.301 Rec: F2 of the army, as in Agamemnon’s case, does not necessarily diminish his personal honor. Many other respected men, such as Odysseus, try to convince Agamemnon to calmly return his…

    • 1890 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Iliad American Hero
    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Iliad American Hero

    Achilles cares about nothing other than himself and making sure that his name lives on forever, while Hector cares about winning the battle for his family and country. In one battle, Hector kills Patroclus thinking it was Achilles, which really sets Achilles off and is the reason that Achilles rejoins the war. When the two warriors finally meet near the end of the Epic, Hector is confronted with the fact that he is indeed going to die. Hector tries to think of ways to get out of the battle with Achilles, like bribery. This shows that Hector is not the perfect hero like many people may have thought when they first read about him. One cannot forget that Hector is only human, and that he does have the same characteristics as us humans do now. Everyone has to face a fear that they do not necessarily want to from time to time, and courage is the trait that brings the true heroes to the forefront. After being chased by Achilles for a while, Hector finally realizes that he has to fight Achilles. The fact that Hector stands up for himself and his country proves that he is courageous and that he is indeed a…

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Diomedes
    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Diomedes

    Since Agamemnon refused to return the daughter of a priest of Apollo, Agamemnon agrees to release Helen only if Achilles gives him his prize of honor. This is when Achilles found it unfair and withdraws from the battle including all his soldiers. Achilles then asks the gods to grant him revenge. Agamemnon the had attacked because a dream had encouraged him to. Paris flees the battle with the help of a divinity and Menelaus rages on with his brother demanding the release of Helen.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Achilles Justified in Killing Hector and is Odysseus Justified in Killing the Suitors?
    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Is Achilles Justified in Killing Hector and is Odysseus Justified in Killing the Suitors?

    result, I believe that Athena is to blame for the death of Hector. After Hector’s…

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homer's Ideal of Excellence
    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Homer's Ideal of Excellence

    Throughout this excerpt of “The Iliad” by the great poet Homer, shows the ideals way back into their era. In this epic segregated values of both men and women are seen in Homer’s era. This epic story begins with the young prince of Troy, Paris, who kidnaps Helen, wife of the king of the Greek state of Sparta. After this treachery towards Sparta the Spartan kings Brother, Agamemnon, attacked Troy. The excerpt begins with Paris’s brother, Hector, another prince of Troy, is talking to his wife, Andromache, just before he goes to fight Achilles. Achilles is a great warrior which has slain many foes with nothing but a scratch including all of Andromache all seven brothers who he fought all at once. Andromache attempts to plead to Hector to flee, but his honor and courage strives him to continue to his impending doom. These words spoken by both Hector and Andromache seem as though they both knew it was most likely was going to be their last words. The way Homer writes the tone of these last words between husband and wife were so compelling in the fact that a mans honor and bravery were way more important than staying alive and taking care of his new born son and wife. From just reading this part of Homer’s writing it is obvious how it shaped the minds of all of Greece and set values among the people of the era.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Of My Friend Hector and My Archilles Heel
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Of My Friend Hector and My Archilles Heel

    Being prejudice is when opinions or feelings before the facts are known, without any knowledge, or a good reason it could be favorable opinions and dishonest opinions or attitude. People say that prejudice is an unfair and not reasonable opinions or feelings, especially when it is made up without enough knowledge or thought. In most cases, these opinions are found to be hatred, jealousy, racism, religions, nationalities, and so on. When being prejudice it may be true or false information but is more likely to be negative against other people unfairly.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hector: a Homeric Hero
    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hector: a Homeric Hero

    To be a “Homeric Hero” is to have a “nobleness of character, exalted above that of ordinary men” (Renehan 99). Hector is considered to be a hero because of the fact that the Trojans revered him and recognized Hector as the finest Trojan warrior. Hector’s interactions with Paris in Book 3 show that Hector is a brave man and does not accept cowardice from any warrior, including himself.…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Greeks 'Shame Culture In The Iliad'
    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Greeks 'Shame Culture In The Iliad'

    A shame culture usually involves a person who tends to put a high level of importance on preservation of honor as well as on being publicly disgraced. Individuals tend to conform to the stipulated actions and norms for fear of being dishonored publicly or shamed. A guilt culture is defined as the internalization of moral codes. The conformity to a moral code normally takes place through a persons’ own will. In most cases, this usually has very little to do with the public approval of a given society. In the Iliad, an individual’s honor is greatly valued and for one to obtain that glory, he or she must be considered an incredible doer of deeds. This includes…

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Achilles Pursuit Of Honor
    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Achilles Pursuit Of Honor

    Hector and Achilles both view the ethical code in contrasting ways. Hector believes and upholds the importance of honor, while Achilles doubts its relevance in life. The two warriors’ different motivation changed how they fought. Hector’s motivation for obtaining honor, his friends and family, show the duty he has to defend Troy. Duty, according to Homer, gives Hector purpose to life. Priam’s son has a stronger mind-set than Achilles when it comes to insecurities. While Hector acknowledges his fate by focusing on his obligation in obtaining the honor for his people, Achilles lets his fear of death and rage towards Agamemnon consume his actions. However, later in the poem, Achilles returns to battle after the death of Patroclus. Vengeance becomes the main focus of Achilles due to the guilt he feels about his dear friend’s death. He feels that he needs to defend Patroclus’ honor. As a result, Achilles refers back to the ethics and honor once he recognizes the guilt he feels. His return to believing in ethics provides Achilles with a purpose. Even though the two men’s opinion and motivation concerning honor vary, Homer emphasizes the differences to show its importance on the characters’ purpose in…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Achilles
    • 1334 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Achilles

    * The beginning of Achilles’ wrath begins when he becomes infuriated by the way Agamemnon has publicly humiliated and dishonored him. Achilles feels that he is a greater warrior than Agamemnon and deserves more than he is rewarded after battles because he shows more honor and bravery than any other man. After being publicly humiliated and dishonored, Achilles is pushed to the edge of anger and announces, “So must I be called out every order you may happen to give me. Tell other men to do these things, but give me no more commands, since I for my part have no intention to obey you. And put away in your thoughts this other thing I tell you. With my hands I will not fight for the girl’s sake, neither with you nor any other man, since you take her who gave her.” Achilles leaving with his soldiers is dishonorable because he must fight to fulfill his fate and he cannot gain any glory by not fighting. Achilles inhibits his destiny to leave after he is humiliated by Agamemnon and striped of his concubine Briseis. If Achilles does not fight in Troy, he will not be able to fulfill his destiny of bringing honor and having his name live on forever. This state of wrath he feels inside almost destroys his path to destiny by bringing him away from battle.…

    • 1334 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Portrayal of Heroism in the Iliad
    • 2159 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The Portrayal of Heroism in the Iliad

    Throughout the Iliad, Homer portrays heroism in a variety of ways. Heroism is not just the heroic code, the set of guidelines that heros follow, but is a reflection of what actions are acceptable in a certain context. In addition, heroism must be portrayed through a medium of a hero, thus the portrayal of a hero is essentially a portrayal of heroism. I will explore some themes within the Iliad and discuss how they portray heroism.…

    • 2159 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Gods and Their Interaction with Humans
    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Gods and Their Interaction with Humans

    Hera despises the Trojans and rather than watch Achilles kill Agamemnon she decides to intervene and calm Achilles down by offering him an abundance of gifts. "…break off this combat…Here is my promise, and it will be kept: winnings three times as rich, in due season you shall have in requital for his arrogance." (Book I; 177-82) This scene also contrasts the difference in beliefs between Achilles and Agamemnon. Achilles respects the gods and knows that it is in his best interest to sheathe his sword and not allow his hubris to cloud his judgment. Yet Agamemnon will not allow anyone, human or divine, be better than him or tell him what to do and takes Briseis from Achilles. Shortly after this, the Achaeans go to Troy to call a duel between Paris and Menelaus to end the war. Venus watching this knows she has a vested interest in…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics