Iliad Background and Epic Conventions Similes, heroes, elements – Everything that makes it EPIC!

The Writing Conventions Begins in “media res” Begins with an apostrophe – invocation to the muse LONG Includes a hero who represents a particular nation or race Involves serious battles and long difficult journeys Setting is large in scope

Conventions cont. Uses flashbacks to fill in the audience/reader Divided into chapters referred to as books Uses a lofty, elegant style Includes descent into the underworld Involves divine intervention Ritual of arming for battle is significant, weapons and gear are often made by immortals Involves an epic hero!

I Need a Hero! A brave and noble individual who represents an ideal

The Epic Hero Has unusual origins Early in life he is confronted with the fact that he is extraordinary Initiated by having to perform a difficult task Has powerful enemies (human or superhuman) Enemies force him to further difficult tasks Helped by powerful friends (usually not human) who offer advice and weapons

Epic Hero As a result of such aid, he works miracles His suffering culminates in what appears to be complete disaster As a result of the disaster, in which he may perish, he achieves even greater glory He leaves the world better than he found it

Literary Devices Kenning: a two-word descriptor which is closely associated with the same character, place, event. (bright-eyed Athena) (adj) Alliteration: words that begin with the same consonant sound (tongue twisters) Patronymics: calling a person the son of his father instead of his own given name Hyperbole: an elaborate exaggeration which is done simply to accentuate the point

Literary Devices cont. Epithets: key words that are synonymous with certain characters become so closely associated with the person or place that they are interchangeable. The earth-shaker (noun) Synecdoche: this is a figure of speech where a part is used to represent the whole (all hands on deck) Apostrophe: calling out, speaking to someone as if they were present

In the Greek

From a 10 th century manuscript

Important Names, Dates and Terminology 8 th century BCE 1184 BCE – fall of Troy Oral history BCE Written down about 750 BCE Viewed as History to the Greeks

Iliad Themes Fate and courage Glories of War/ Adventure Reasons for war Realistic descriptions Others Gods and Humans Individual vs. Society Words vs. Deed

Important Themes, Motifs and Narratological Elements CHOICE and PERSUASION THE HEROIC CODE LEADERSHIP TRIANGULAR RELATIONSHIPS SIMILES THE GODS

Ideals of Heroism Arete, (arete - excellence, virtue (within one's social context); being the best you can be; also used to indicate courage and military prowess ) time (honor; also meaning value, attributed to a person (as Achilles' time); public acknowledgement of one's value/glory through awarding prizes; acclaim for achieving excellenc ) kleos (glory, often implying fame and immortality (in the memory of others), achieved as a result of one's time )

Xenia Xenia consists of three basic rules: The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide them with food and drink and a bath, if required. It is not polite to ask questions until the guest has stated his/her needs. The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to their host and not be a burden. The parting gift (xenion, ξεινήιον) from host to guest. The parting gift is to show the host's honor at receiving the guest.

Do NOT Reduce the Iliad to either: PRIDE Or FATE

Homeric Cycle Series of texts about Troy Some tell the same stories as the Homeric epics Many tell entirely different stories What still exists contains only a part of the entire story of the Trojan War

Mythological Stories You Need to Know – details coming! Helen and the Suitors Wedding of Peleus and Thetis Hecuba’s Dream of the Burning City Judgment of Paris Assembling the Suitors Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Helen and the Suitors Helen: daughter of Leda and Zeus Clytemnestra: daughter of Tyndareus and Leda; twin of Helen; (later) wife of Agamemnon Penelope: niece to Tyndareus Suitors Agamemnon: king of Argos; son of Atreus; brother of Menelaus Menelaus: brother of Agamemnon Odysseus: king of Ithaka; (later) husband of Penelope Ajax: son of Telemon; great warrior

Hecuba’s Dream of the Burning City Priam = Hecuba __________________|___________________ SONS:DAUGHTERS Hektor (m. Andromache)Cassandra Paris (m?. Helen)Polyxena DeiphobusCreusa Polydorus47 other daughters 46 more sons

Wedding of Peleus and Thetis Thetis: water nymph, daughter of Nereus prophecy that the son of Thetis would be greater than his father Peleus: mortal man, son of Aeacus, King of Aegina Thetis and Peleus are the parents of Achilles

Wedding of Peleus and Thetis (cont.) OLYMPIAN GODS Aphrodite: goddess of love Apollo: god of healing, music, prophecy Ares: god of war Artemis: goddess of the hunt Athena: goddess of wisdom, strategy Demeter: goddess of the Harvest Hephaistos: god of fire and metal craft; son of Hera and Zeus; crippled because he was thrown by Zeus Hera: wife of Zeus Hermes: messenger god Poseidon: god of the sea Zeus: king of the gods; (very unfaithful) husband to Hera

Wedding of Peleus and Thetis (cont.) ERIS: Goddess of Discord, not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis Golden apple inscribed “To the Fairest”

Assembling the Suitors Agamemnon Menelaus Odysseus Ajax Achilles – the most difficult to find

Gaining a Strong Wind Agamemnon = Clytemnestra ______________|_____________ | | | IphigeneiaElectraOrestes

Key Aspects of the Epic’s Opening Emphasis on the 1 st word Invocation of the Muse Questions What events are set into motion in the opening 2 pages? Who is who? What are the key words? Are any of the themes mentioned earlier present in this segment of text?

GEOGRAPHY

Greeks vs. trojans What do the locations indicate ideologically? East v. West Trade routes control Culture clash Wealth v. pursuit of wealth

Mechanics of Fighting SWORDSHELMETS

Closeness of fighting

TRANSPORTING THE ARMY Ships

REPRESENTING THE GODS Athena Zeus Poseidon

For Next Classes Read the preface 3-22, look for information, summary of the plot, and interesting facts As you read Book 1, pick a passage of no more than 20 lines that you find important and/or difficult and write about it. We will use these student-chosen passages as the basis for discussion next class.