Essays on The Iliad

The Iliad
Original title The Iliad
Author Homer
Genre

Epic Poetry

Language Homeric Greek
Characters Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector, Paris
Published 1581
ISBN 9780743487781
Book Summary
Essay Examples

Table of Contents

The Iliad is a tragic story of the Greek hero Achilles who fights against the Trojans. Achilles is the son of Peleus and Thetis, and he is the greatest warrior of the Greeks. The Trojans are led by the great warrior Hector.The story of The Iliad takes place during the final year of the ten-year Trojan War. Achilles has been offended by Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, and he has withdrawn from the fighting. The Greeks are losing the war without Achilles, and Agamemnon begs Achilles to return to the fight. Achilles does return, but he is still angry with Agamemnon. During the battle, Hector kills Achilles’ best friend, Patroclus. Achilles is so angry that he kills Hector. Achilles drags Hector’s body around the city of Troy behind his chariot.The Iliad is a story of heroism, but it is also a story of the human emotions of anger, revenge, and grief.

What “The Iliad” is About

The Iliad is a Greek epic poem that tells the story of the Trojan War and the battle of Troy. The poem is traditionally attributed to Homer, and it is believed to have been written in the 8th century BC. The Iliad is one of the most important works of ancient Greek literature, and it has been a major influence on Western literature and culture.

The Iliad is a story about the Trojan War, which was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans over the beautiful Helen. Helen was married to Menelaus, but she ran off with Paris, who took her back to Troy.

The Greeks set sail to get Helen back from the Trojans, but it wasn’t going to be easy: Troy had walls around it that could not be scaled or breached by any means. They had to find another way in—and they did! They built a huge wooden horse and hid their soldiers inside it. Then they left it outside the city gates for all of Troy to admire. The Trojans accepted this gift and took it into their city where they began celebrating its creation—but unbeknownst to them, there were Greek soldiers hiding inside! When night fell, those soldiers came out of their hiding place and opened up a secret trapdoor leading into the city itself.

The Greeks then entered Troy through this secret door while everyone was sleeping; they slaughtered many people while they slept and burned down much of the city before leaving again just as stealthily as they had come in.

The Setting of “The Iliad”

The Iliad is set during the Trojan War, a conflict between the kingdoms of Greece and Troy. The war is fought over the beautiful Helen, who has been abducted by the Trojan prince Paris. The Greeks sail to Troy to rescue her, and the story centers on the conflict between the two great armies.

Themes in “The Iliad”

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem which tells the story of the ten-year siege of Troy by the Achaeans. The poem is traditionally attributed to Homer, and it is one of the oldest pieces of literature in the Western world.

The Iliad is full of themes, ranging from love and loss, to honor and glory, to fate and destiny. Here are just a few of the many themes in The Iliad:Love and Loss: The Iliad is full of love stories, both tragic and happy. The most famous love story in the poem is that of Achilles and Patroclus, which ends in tragedy. Other love stories include that of Paris and Helen, which leads to the ten-year war, and that of Hector and Andromache, which ends with Hector’s death.Honor and Glory: Achilles is the quintessential hero of The Iliad, and he fights for honor and glory. He is motivated by his own sense of honor, as well as by the desire to bring glory to his kingdom and his people. Hector, on the other hand, fights for the honor of his city and his family.

Fate and Destiny: The Iliad is full of references to fate and destiny. The gods often interfere in the lives of mortals, and they seem to have a hand in everything that happens in the poem. Achilles is fated to die young, and Hector is fated to be killed by Achilles. The fall of Troy is also foretold by the prophet Calchas.

Critical Reception of “The Iliad”

The Iliad is one of the most important ancient Greek epic poems, and has been incredibly influential since its composition. The poem tells the story of the Trojan War, and the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states. It is a story of heroism and tragedy, of gods and mortals, and of the conflict between fate and free will.The poem was composed around the eighth century BCE, and was probably first orally transmitted. It was written down some time in the sixth century BCE, and has been translated into many languages.

The Iliad has been studied by scholars for centuries, and there is a vast body of critical commentary on the poem.Overall, the critical reception of the Iliad has been extremely positive. The poem is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature of all time. It is praised for its grandeur and scope, its powerful characterization, and its beautiful language. The Iliad is also seen as an important source of information about the Bronze Age, and about the culture and religion of the ancient Greeks.

Conclusion

The story of the Trojan war is set in place, but without a single speck of historical accuracy. It is a creation of Homer’s imagination, based on oral epic poetry from his time. The plot itself centers on the ten-year military conflict between the Greeks and Trojans, started by Paris’ abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. This leads to Helen’s elopement, the call for help from her husband and former lover, which brings in all the Greek leaders to prepare ships and troops for war.

What can we learn about the Iliad? This book was written for the ancient Greeks, and what it has taught us through the years is that life, war, love, death, action and adventure are all a part of life. We live our lives just as the ancient Greeks did in Homeric times. The only difference is the way that we perceive things today, especially with the ability of technology.

Save Time On Research and Writing
Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper.
Get My Paper
We've found 21 essay samples about The Iliad
Prev
1 of 1
Next
Live chat  with support 24/7