Works Cited Homer. The Iliad in Western Literature in a World Context Volume 1. Eds. Davis, et. al. Boston: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1995…
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.…
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.…
Since the birth of prose, various literary techniques such as tone, imagery, similes, and foreshadowing have been used by authors to engender specific impressions upon their audience. Like an artist's pallet of paint, authors color their words with vibrancy through the use of these literary tools. In the Greek work the Iliad, Homer skillfully utilizes similes and foreshadowing in an innovative way. Rather than approaching them as separate entities, he notably combines them by foreshadowing in the form of a simile about what will come to pass. Though the fall of Troy may not be told directly in the Iliad, numerous comparisons are drawn between the element of fire and Ilion, alluding to its anticipated and foreseen demise. Through critical analysis of three specific epic similes, it is apparent that the functions which Homer's similes serve not only surpass extravagant imagery, but also heighten anticipation about an expected occurrence and expand the descriptive power of each scene in which they appear.…
Achilles shows various forms of commitment in the Iliad. This god does not appear as often as others do, but when he does he appears with a bang. He and Agamemnon have ongoing beef, and because of this he resides from the Achaen army. The Achaens need his help to defeat Troy but he is so committed to his hatred for Agamemnon that he refuses to help. “never again, he’ll never rob me blind with his twistsul words again. Once is enough for him. Die and be damned for all I care” (9, 455-457). The beef begins when Agamemnon steals Achilles’ wife from him, whom he cherished very dearly. In the text it is very clear that Achilles is committed to his love for this woman, which isn’t common for the gods to do. “…anguish gripped Achilles. The heart…
Literary heroes have been important to stories and poems throughout history. Each author develops his hero through a unique writing style, combining conscious use of detail, diction, tone and other narrative techniques to outline a hero's personality. Homer, in his epic poem The Iliad, develops two classic heroes who are distinctly different at first glance, but upon closer inspection are very similar in terms of their basic characteristics. Hector and Achilles both are courageous soldiers, relatively honorable men, and respected leaders, but they also both have human failings that eventually lead to tragedy. In Homer's lyrical verses and in his use of detail, diction, meter and imagery, he paints his own portrait of a classic hero through the brave deeds as well as the human flaws of Hector and Achilles that eventually lead to the downfall of proud and powerful Hector.…
Though this may seem like the actions of a man that had lost his mind but consider that he is a warrior and has been through ten years of war, he had seen thousands of deaths before this one. This death, specifically of his best friend, makes him act the way he does. Throughout all of The Illiad, not once is Achilles this upset or moved by anyone else’s death, this mean that Virgil had meant to specify and make sure that the reader understands how much Patroklos means to Achilles and how close of friends they are. With how severely depressed he gets that Antilochos thinks that he may kill himself is another hint that Achilles if actually a very emotional person. The way his actions are described clearly show that he is completely distraught because of the loss of his comrade. “Antilochos held Achilles’ hands as Achilles moaned / in his noble heard, and Antilochos feared that he would cut / his throat with a knife” (XVIII.32-33). The fear that Antilochos has that Achilles may cut his own throat also is another example of how much Patroklos meant to him and how emotional he was. Lastly, after the fighting had subsided and after the death of Hector and the funeral of Patroklos, Priam had…
The Iliad and the Odyssey; last year of the Trojan war and heroes from the Trojan war…
In this essay we are to compare and contrast the heroism, motivations and values of Achilles of The Iliad with the heroism, motivations and values of Rama. Achilles, is known as the greatest and fastest hero on the Greek side during the Trojan War, and is also the subject of Homer's great epic poem about the Trojan War, the Iliad. Rama is…
Aristotle said that the man who is incapable of working in common, or who in his self-sufficiency has no need of others, is no part of the community, and is like a beast or a god. Discuss the character of Achilles in light of this statement. Use plenty of examples, details, references, and quotations in the response.…
One of the biggest changes being of the details of Achilles shield. In The Iliad there are four pages of description of what is being designed on Achilles shield, ranging from the different elemental aspects of earth to places inside towns and cities such as a dancing grounds and farmlands. Yet in this painting there isn’t so much detail within the shield as there could be. There is one section of the shield that we can closely analyse: that being the rim of the shield. In The Iliad the shield is said to have “the greatest strength of the River Ocean, lapping the outermost rim of the massive shield." (Iliad 18. 651-652). West's version of the “Greatest strength of the River Ocean” in this painting, however, is depicted to be some swirls wrapped around the shield. This could, however, possibly be detailed on the scabbard instead of the shield as there seems to be more clearer icons and symbols on that rather than the shield. The problem with that, according to The Iliad, is that there was not a scabbard made for Achilles by Hephaestus. In fact not only was there not a scabbard made, but according to The Iliad there are two other pieces of armor missing in this piece of art: the breastplate and the…
This quote is about Achilles while he is experiencing Aristeia. It is yet another example pf epic simile. This time I drew the figurative representation. The drawing itself is a simple picture of fire in a gorge. I used Homers brilliant description, but in the form of a drawing instead of elaborate writing.…
This image describes and symbolizes a struggle between two opposing mythical warriors. Both from different worlds and ways of life, both attempting to conquer the other in battle. The first being in the image (the one on the right that is about to slay his enemy) is a great mythological warrior, the son of Peleus, named Achilles. Achilles is a famous Greek hero that many Greek citizens, at that time, could relate themselves too. He had characteristics that almost any Greek male wanted to imitate.…
Achilles’ shield wa like no other piece of armor. Eva Brann, in her article “Hephaestus’ World: The Shield”, described the shield as “the world of the god who makes it but just as much the world of the man who bears it”. Brann, in the same article, went on to describe such meanings of the shield. Brann explained that in both of Homer’s poems, he believed that artifacts, chariots, garments and shields were all “wonders to behold” but Achilles’ shield was far beyond that.…
The shield 's design as interpreted by Angelo Monticelli, from Le Costume Ancien ou Moderne, ca. 1820.…