The Illiad ENG 273: World Literature

Oral Storytelling The story of the siege of Troy was very popular in ancient Greece ◦ Believed it was based on historical events – 11 th or 12 th century B.C. ◦ Amalgam of siege stories told and retold Written account seems to have a guiding author ◦ Attributed to Homer 1868 German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovers what is believed to be “Troy”

Homer Historians are not sure when or where Homer lived (or if he did) ◦ Around BC Believed to have been blind Poetry and Writings Attributed to Homer were very influential in Greek and Western Literature

The Trojan War A story from Greek Mythology Apple of Discord Helen Ten Year Siege Trojan Horse

The Poem Begins after the siege has been going on for almost a decade Opens with an argument between Achilleus and Agamemnon

Key Characters: Greeks Achilleus – half mortal, half divine ◦ Destined either to grow old and die without glory or die on the battlefield and live forever in poetry Agamemnon – Greek war leader Kalchas - prophet Odysseus – warrior ◦ Main character in The Odyssey Nestor – tries to broker a peace between Achilleus and Agamemnon

Key Characters: Trojans Chryses – A priest of Apollo Chryses’ Daughter (Chryseis) – Held captive by Agamemnon Paris – Helen’s Kidnapper Hektor – A warrior Priam – Hektor’s Father ◦ King of Troy Hecuba – Hektor’s Mother Andromache – Hektor’s Wife

Key Characters: gods and goddesses Zeus – father of gods and men Hera – Zeus’ wife Apollo – Zeus’ son by Leto Athena – goddess of wisdom Thetis - Achilles’ mother Hermes – son of Zeus ◦ Very quick moving

Key Characters: Others Breisis – Achilles “prize” who is taken unwillingly by Agamemnon Chryses’ Daughter (Chryseis) – Agamemnon’s “prize” who is given back to her father Helen – Menelaus’ wife who was taken by Paris

Key Themes Nature of Gods and Goddesses ◦ Relationship to Humans Reality of War and Battle Glory versus Shame Death and Mourning