Warriors

The Warrior Song Discussion Questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTs6a0ORdQU What are some key words or phrases that strike you in the song? Why? Does it surprise you that this is a modern-day song meant to glorify members of the Armed Forces? Why or why not? Are there any phrases in here that can relate to Troy or warrior culture in general?

Culture Warriors are generally male, though in Troy we are presented with the Amazon warrior queen, Penthesilea (page 177).

Strength and Capabilities Warriors will go through any means to prove their strength and physical capabilities. In warrior culture, even the most depraved foes are admired to some degree because of their strength.

Violence Turn to page 116 in your book. Violence is often graphic and exaggerated. This is because many warrior texts, such as Beowulf and the Iliad, were either written from oral tradition or were intended to be read aloud. Graphic descriptions helped people remember what they heard much better.

Courage In typical warrior culture, courage is often rooted in indifference to death. Warriors know someday they will die and believe that everything is determined by the gods, and so he tries to gain honour by fighting as often as he can, so that he will be renowned when he dies. However, this is not always the case in Troy. When Hector leaves to fight Achilles, he believes he will be victorious “if the Gods will it” (73) but his goal is more noble than simply gaining honour. He wants to save Troy from the Greeks.

Blood Feuds Warriors live a life of uncertainty and constant death. Many deaths are caused by “blood feuds,” where members of a family set out to kill someone else for murdering one of their kin. This is why Achilles will not allow Hector’s body to be buried – Hector killed Achilles’ lover and cousin. In turn, Hector tells Achilles he will be avenged by his brother, Paris.

Women and Warrior Culture Women are generally not warriors, and their role is that of wife and mother. Troy differs in many ways because while it is a novel about warriors, it includes the voices of many different women. The novel also focuses on female characters, the “home front,” and the plight they suffer when those they love go to war.

Female Heroes Similar to male heroes, heroines must be brave and courageous in the face of danger. However, heroines must also fight against an invisible foe, the patriarchy. This can take many shapes and forms. Some examples may be when Xanthe needs to fight off Boros (145), or when Marpessa needs to defend herself against Paris. It can be a larger social issue, such as earlier in the book, when Xanthe says women are lesser than men, and compares poor girls to oxen (turn to page18).

Discussion Questions Do you think there are female heroes in Troy? Who are they, and what makes them heroes? What are some of the key differences between male and female warriors? Consider things like courage, violence, and avenging one’s kin to help you answer the question.