The Iliad
Homer’s Iliad Homer is said to be the first teller of adventures. He was not the first author because in his day stories were passed down---they were told. He was a blind man whose date of birth is unknown.
Eris, Goddess of Discord Angry because she was not invited to the wedding of Thetis (the Sea Goddess) to King Peleus, Eris tossed the Golden Apple marked “To the Fairest” into the banquet.
The Fairest Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena wanted the apple. Zeus would not choose; he did not want the goddesses angry with him. Paris was asked to make the decision.
The Decision Hera offered to make Paris ruler of Europe and Asia Athena offered to let him lead Sparta in a victory over the Trojans Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman in the world
Paris Chooses Aphrodite The most beautiful woman in the world was Helen, the wife of King Menelaus Aphrodite helped Paris seduce and kidnap Helen
The Epic Begins: The Invocation: Homer begins The Iliad powerfully by stating the epic’s theme and invoking one of the Muses. The Muses are nine goddesses in Greek Mythology who were believed to preside over all forms of art and science. Homer calls on the Muse to inspire him with the material he needs to tell a story. This type of opening is one of the defining features of a Homeric Epic.
In Media Res: In Medias Res: Homer observes another epic convention by beginning the story in medias res, which is Latin for “in the middle of things.” Reading a Greek epic from the beginning is like tuning in to a story already in progress. Many of the story’s events have already taken place. Information about those events is revealed later in the poem through flashbacks and other narrative devices.
In Medias Res (continued): Homer could begin his poems in medias res because the general outline of the plot and the main characters were already familiar to his audience. The Iliad, like other epics, is a small fragment of a large body of legendary material that formed the cultural and historical heritage of its society.
The Beginning of War King Menelaus called on all those who were loyal to him. They gathered a huge army and built a thousand ships to carry the army to Troy Helen of Sparta was now called “Helen of Troy” She was “The face that launched a thousand ships.”
The Trojan War The battle raged for 10 years Many great heroes lost their lives A prophet predicted that Troy could be captured only with the help of Achilles.
The Hero Achilles Knowing of the prophecy and worried that her son would be killed in war, Achilles’ mother dipped him in the river Styx to make him immortal. His only weakness was the place on his heals where she held him. During the war, Achilles is forced to give up his war prize, a slave girl, to Agamemnon, so he refuses to fight. Patroklos, his friend, asks Achilles if he could ride out in his armor so the Trojans would lose heart.
Achilles Achilles is the “backbone” of the Greek army – he refuses to fight…..but…. Achilles agreed to allow his friend Patroklus to wear his armor. The next day Patroklus was killed and stripped of the armor by the Trojan hero Hektor, who mistook him for Achilles. Achilles was overwhelmed with grief for his friend and rage at Hektor.
10 Years of War The Gods are tired of watching men kill each other and decide to help end the war. Athena whispers an idea in the Spartan hero Odysseus’s ear. What is this idea?
The Trojan Horse Odysseus tells them they will build a huge horse of wood. Some would climb inside and hide. The rest would sail around the tip of the island, where they could not be seen. One would stay behind and tell the Trojans that he had been abandoned by the Greeks and that the horse was an offering to Athena.
The Fall of Troy The Trojans believed the trick. They had a huge banquet to celebrate the end of the war. At night the men from inside the horse came out and unlocked the gates to the city.
The Burning of Troy The city was invaded by the army. The Trojans are drunk and spent from their night of revelry, unable to fight back. The Spartans destroy and burn the city. Aphrodite saves Helen from the destruction.
The War Ends King Menelaus accepts Helen back. The Warriors can now return home. Odysseus leaves for home to finally be with his wife and son. Thus begins…?
THE ODYSSEY
What is an Epic? Epics are long, narrative poems that tell the adventures of heroes who in some way embody the values of their civilization.
What types of epics are the Iliad and the Odyssey? Iliad – War Epic Odyssey – Journey
Modern Day Epics Star Wars Forrest Gump Hobbit Lord of the Rings Wizard of Oz
How were heroes characterized in Homer’s day? Special Aristocrats or Demigods Placed somewhere between Gods and ordinary humans.
How is Odysseus different from other heroes? Hero in Trouble Clever (not just brute strength) Did not want to go to war
Why did Odysseus object to the Trojan War? He believed no war should be fought over an unfaithful woman (Helen) He wanted to stay at home with his wife and newborn son
Important focus questions? What type of hero is Achilles in the beginning of the story? How does he differ from Odysseus? How is he with conflict resolution? How does his character change throughout – especially by the end? What literary elements does Homer use – including irony, foreshadowing, epithets, similes, etc.? What is Homer’s tone concerning the war? Whom does he vilify?
Important focus questions? Which character is indeed the epic hero – Achilles or Hektor? What is the overall theme of the tale? In terms of Greek culture, what is the role of women in this tale? Of the gods?