Literature study guide

The Iliad
By Homer
(Books I – XII)
Plot Summary
The Iliad picks up at the end of the Trojan War –a ten-year long war fought between the Achaeans (Greek) and the Trojans. Chryses, the priest of Apollo, pleads with the Achaeans to return to him his daughter who they captured in battle. When the Achaean’s refuse, Apollo plague’s the Achaean’s. Agamemnon, leader of the Achaean’s, finally gives up the daughter in order to end the plague, but only after he is fairly compensated by taking the girl previously given to Achilles. Achilles, the greatest Achaean warrior, is dishonored and insulted by the unfair exchange, and resorts to withdrawing from the war in order to punish the Achaeans. To further hinder the Achaeans in battle, Achilles also attempts to seek out help from Zeus, by asking his own mother, the goddess named Thetis, to persuade him. Without support from Achilles or
Zeus, the Achaeans face difficult challenges against the powerful Trojan army.
The Achaean’s meet the Trojans and a duel between Menelaus and Paris ensues to try and settle the war for good. The gods intervene and the duel is left unresolved. Fighting continues back and forth between the two sides. Both sides agree to have a day of peace to bury their dead, and strengthen their defenses. Afterwards, the fighting continues for a few days, and the Trojans, with the help of the gods, begin to take the lead in the war. The Achaean’s unite and recall that Troy is destined to fall. Agamemnon, fearing the Trojan’s victory, offers Achilles great wealth if he rejoins the war, but Achilles refuses. The Achaean’s send spies across the Trojan border, who encounter one of their enemies. They threaten him to gain information about the Trojans, which they use to launch several successful attacks. The next day the Trojans attack the
Achaean’s camp, breaking through the walls of the camp and forcing the troops all the way back to their ships.
Major Themes
Honor –
-Achilles is so dishonored when Agamemnon takes Briseis from him, that he withdraws from the war (Book I). Later, when
Agamemnon attempts to win Achilles back by offering him gifts, Achilles denies, claiming that “There was no gratitude given for fighting incessantly forever against your enemies. Fate is the same for the man who holds back, the same if he fights hard" (Book IX:
316). This shows Achilles de-glorifying war because he chooses to stay home and live a long and happy life, rather than return to the battlefield and die “honorably.”
-As Paris and Menelaus get ready to fight, Paris begins to show signs of fear and cowardice. His brother Hector mocks him, and Paris is moved to fight, but he soon escapes from the field. Paris is looked down upon, in contrast with his brother, who is a great Trojan warrior and a well-respected leader.
- Nestor upholds honor in war by giving uplifting speeches to the Achaeans. In book VII he preaches about the glory of victory to his troops, convincing them to step forward, and fight Hector. Again, in Book IX, while Agamemnon has lost hope and is ready to head back home, Nestor brings reassurance to the troops through a sense of glory, and the troops spirits are again raised.
The Shield –
The shield which Hephaestus welds together for Achilles is described in great detail in Book 18 (you may want to look this chapter over). The elaborate designs on shield depict not only the war, but also life outside of the war (ie dancing, children, and harvest). The shield emphasizes both peacetime and wartime to show that life exists outside of war, and that war is not all which matters.
Burial – Homer gives great importance to burial rituals: both armies engage in a day of peace to bury their dead (Book VII) when Patroclus dies, Achilles refuses to eat to morn his death, and he is given proper burial (Book XIX and XXIII) when Hector dies, Priam goes to the Achaean camp to claim his body and grant him proper burial (Book XXIV)
Structure –
The Iliad is divided into three 8-book units and each unit begin with a decision made by Achilles, and end with one made by
Zeus.
Book I mimics events which occur in Book XXIV, Book II mimics Book XXIII, and Book III mimics Book XXII, etc, etc.
The Iliad is intended to be an enormously long poem, in order to reflect the magnitude of its greatness.
Plot Summary
Book 13 - With Zeus backing the Trojans, the Achaeans have now been forced as far back as their ships. Zeus now takes his attention away from the battle and Poseidon takes advantage of this. In the form of Calchas, he rekindles the Achaeans’ spirit. Consequently, the Achaeans drive
Hector back but Hector wounds Poseidon’s grandson and so Poseidon imbues Idomeneus with super strength. Hector continues the assault, but having lost some of their soldiers, the Trojans lose confidence. Polydamas persuades Hector to fall back and regroup. Hector tries to do so, but most of his front line is dead. Great Ajax then insults Hector and he has an eagle flying on his right, a good omen for the Achaeans.
Book 14 – The Achaeans analyze their situation and again Agamemnon suggests retreating. Odysseus calls him a coward and Diomedes rallies the troops together. Meanwhile, away from the battlefield, Hera tricks Aphrodite to give her a breast band with the power of love and longing and then by promising Sleep one of her daughters, she tricks Zeus. When Zeus sees Hera wearing the band he is immediately seduced and has sex with her. Sleep then makes Zeus fall asleep and allows Hera to tell Poseidon to help the Achaeans while Zeus is asleep. The Achaeans, with new help, charge the Trojans. Great Ajax knocks over and injures Hector with a boulder forcing him back to the city. Without Hector the
Trojans are forced back easily into the city.
Book 15 - Zeus wakes up and sees the turmoil. Hera tries to direct the blame on Poseidon but Zeus promises that he will continue to help Trojans but has no personal interest in the war. He also knows that Troy is still fated to fall. Zeus then has Iris stop Poseidon from helping Achaeans and orders Apollo to help Trojans. Hector again charges and again progresses all the way to Achaean ships. Teucer who had killed many Trojans that day breaks his bow (because of Zeus) and is stopped from killing further.
Book 16 - Patroclus begs Achilles to fight or at least let him wear his armor. Achilles still refuses to fight but agrees to let him wear armor. With
Patroclus wearing Achilles’ armor, the battle turns again in favor of Achaeans. Patroclus goes on a killing spree and even kills Zeus’ son

Sarpedon. Zeus decides to kill Patroclus after he has slain the Trojans more. Zeus imbues Hector with cowardice and he leads the Trojan retreat.
Patroclus chases the Achaeans up to the Trojan gates. Apollo finally persuades Hector to stand up to Patroclus but Patroclus spears Hector’s charioteer though and in the frenzy to get the charioteer’s armor, Apollo wounds Patroclus before Hector finishes him off.
Book 17 – A fight breaks out over Patroclus’ body in order to take the armor. In the end it is Hector who gets it. Zeus continues to support the
Trojans, but not whole-heartedly. He allows the Achaeans to take away Patroclus’ body.
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