The Iliad

When does fate and when does choice play a role in our lives, or in this world? That question may always be asked but in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad fate and choice happen often. Throughout The Iliad Homer creates numerous conflicts between not only the mortal Greeks and Trojans but the Gods as well. Though there is a difference between what fate is and what choice is; their similarities coincide with each other. Fate causes one to act in…...

When does fate and when does choice play a role in our lives, or in this world? That question may always be asked but in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad fate and choice happen often. Throughout The Iliad Homer creates numerous conflicts between not only the mortal Greeks and Trojans but the Gods as well. Though there is a difference between what fate is and what choice is; their similarities coincide with each other. Fate causes one to act in…...

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem that was set during the Trojan War. It tells of the battles and events between King Agamemnon and Achilles. Though it only covers a few weeks in the final year, it does give you a look into the events that led to the war. It also alludes to stuff in the future, like the death of Achilles, before it even happened. Even though it was told what happened during the war and…...

The gods in Homers Iliad were more physically and visually involved throughout the story than in the movie Troy. The Iliad describes the gods intervening on behalf of various characters or for their own reasons. In Homers Iliad the gods used manipulation to give them an advantage so that outcomes could play into their favor. Characters were emotionally manipulated, the climate was changed and certain characters in battle were given an advantage over others to win battles. The gods were…...

Homer’s Iliad, despite having been published over 2,700 years ago, continues to teach us about the nature of war today. Especially, the Trojan War depicted in both The Iliad and The Odyssey share an uncanny resemblance to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Both wars could have been resolved earlier but extended for a long period of time, sacrificing soldiers who didn’t know what they were fighting for because of people with power demanding more war. The Afghanistan War, the official…...

In the 8th century, a Greek poet decided to write a heroic poem named “The Odyssey.” The person who wrote such an epic poem goes by the name of Homer. The Iliad was a sequel to the Odyssey. The Iliad discusses war, the Trojan War because it was around those times, the Trojans and Achaeans, the gods and their goddess, and the violence that was around it. The Iliad portrays the fight by the Greeks to capture the city-state of…...

This paper compares and contrasts the characters of Aneaus and Turnus The subtlety in the differences between Aneas and Turnus, reflect the subtlety in the differences between the Aeneid and the Iliad. Although both characters are devout and noble, Aneas does not possess the ardent passion of Turnus. Unlike Turnus, Aneas is able to place his beliefs in the fated establishment of Latium before his personal interests. Although Turnus is not a bad person, the gods favor Aneas in their…...

The Iliad is very vast and complex in the way of its formatting and in the way, it tells its story. The Iliad's point of view to the setting being only just a few weeks before the end of the Trojan War, there's a lot of things that it doesn't talk about that you think Homer would have mentioned in this very poetic piece. For example: Where's the Trojan Horse in all of this? Why focus the funeral of Hector…...

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem written by Homer. the oldest extant works of Western literature and its written version is usually dated to around the 8th century BC. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy. And it tells the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles. The Iliad, as in any other Greek works, the gods take a huge and important role…...

The Iliad tells the remarkable story of the Trojan war. Further, the characters Homer has immortalized in his great epic transcend the violence and seriousness of war and thus creates a timeless appeal. This appeal does not ring more than in the case of the women of this narrative. The most important women in this narrative are Helen of Troy, Briseis, Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. These women whether mortal or divine, play a vital role in the male protagonist's decisions.…...

This section wishes to give an in-depth look at the role the goddesses played in Helen's destiny. This means that we will take our point of departure in the fight for the golden apple which leads to Helen being given to Paris. Here, we will also put forth two different arguments, one in which scholars argue that she was a hostage and the other which that she went willingly. To support these arguments, the Iliad depiction of the kidnapping will…...

Greek gods are anthropomorphic gods who posses various human characteristics . Based on these characteristics, Homer depicts them as very competitive beings who are constantly trying to prove themselves superior to others. In Iliad, some gods sided Achaeans while others sided Trojans but they shared something common which is , they all interfered in the war which resulted in various unexpected consequences. Therefore in Homer's Iliad, Greek gods intervene in the war to help their favorite mortals, control the fate…...

The construction of Achilles’ shield may be considered as one of the most fascinating sections of the Iliad. Within this section, Homer suspends the unfolding of the characters’ fate as he describes the decoration of Achilles’ shield. For Achilles, Hephaestus forges a shield containing the scenes of everyday life. Such a scene comprises his vision of the earthly life, which Achilles forsakes in order to avenge Patroclus’ death. The shield thereby stands in contrast to the other Homeric shields in…...

Introduction The Iliad was originally intended to be recited or chanted, rather than read. Its poetic style is vivid, taut, simple, direct, and full of repeated epithets and elaborate visual similes. The treatment is serious and dignified throughout, and the total effect is one of grandeur. Homer’s greatness also reveals itself in the action of the Iliad, in which, within the scope of a few weeks in the tenth year of the siege of Troy, Homer gives the impression of…...

“The Iliad” is known to be one of the most famous Greek poems written by a blind poet Homer. The influence of the poem on the Roman, Greek and European cultures was considered great and enormous. The Iliad is dated circa 8th century BC, although now some scholars such as Martin West and Richard Seaford prefer to date it in the 6th-7th century BC. “The Iliad” tells about events taking place during the last year of Lion siege (about 10th…...

Gilgamesh, Metamorphoses, Iliad, and Odyssey are four ancient mythology literatures that were valued as almost sacred texts by the civilizations that owned them. Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian ancient text about the local Babylonian king Gilgamesh who reigned in 2700 B.C. The story (or legend) was written initially in the Sumerian language on stone tablets; nevertheless, this story has been reproduced beyond Mesopotamia and hence had versions of the following languages also: Akkadian, Hurrian, and Hittite. In Gilgamesh could be found…...

The Iliad is a treasure-house of beautiful objects of art swords, cups, robes, bows, beds, shields. The poem's most beautiful symbols are, first  of all, absolutely useful objects. No object has purely enhancing value. The epic poet's delight in naming things is always accompanied, in Homer, by the process which all together relates them to the larger setting. One function of the artifact, of course, is to convey its user's identity: that is, the artifact shows his skill specific kinds…...

The movie Troy is generally a violent film and the Iliad, one of the greatest works of the ancient Greek epic poet Homer, is sliced and lacerated hardheartedly in it. Archaeological records and all of its evidences are also no match for the assault that is presented before it. By looking at the archaeology and the story of Iliad and the movie Troy, one can see certain evidences or modifications made by the directors which are different from Homer’s. First…...

Some people believe that the Iliad is a poem about death. However, some argue that the most important theme is war. Other themes of human experience such as jealousy, honor, or pride are seen in the poem, but I think the main idea of the poem is anger or rage and the results that occur from it. Death is a recurring subject in the Iliad along with graphic descriptions. Every man knows he will die at some point especially when…...

Eros, meaning “erotic love” in Greek, has had tremendous power over men and women for centuries, causing small and large conflicts. In Homer’s Iliad, it is the very thing that sparks the war between Greece and Troy. This theme of erotic love shows itself over and over again in the epic poem, showing the detriments of allowing desire and sexual attraction to overcome reason. Beginning in the first book, erotic love is responsible for starting the rage of Achilles. Agamemnon…...

The Iliad and the Odyssey were poems written by Homer about events in Greek mythology. The Iliad detailed the final year of the Trojan war, which pitted the Greeks against the Trojans, and this poetic story described the outcome of the war. Homer’s Odyssey describes the adventures of Odysseus (Ulysses, as he was known in Roman mythology) as he tries to return home, to Ithaca, following the Trojan War. But there is one them that is present in both of…...

Talking about fate as about the only force that determines the human actions means to refer to a term that vexes and limits the human condition. The fate is given by the reaction of gods, but it is placed above people and gods. The gods participate to the human existence to help or to oppress them. The success doesn't depend on the individual value, but on the support provided by Immortals, without any justification. Zeus is presented as the incarnation…...

The characters in homer’s Iliad have from time to time afforded a first class battleground for scholars and students alike. Through parallels, contrasts, and counter positioning of characters and actions, the principle characters have been analyzed and objectified as embodiments of certain ideals permeating the Greek society. Helen, like Klytaimestra, Pandora, Medea and Phaedra; has been portrayed as the exemplar of the females sub-ordination to the irrational - particularly sex (Thorton. 84). In her, the destructive specter of a mind…...

The Ancient Greeks are a proud people who placed a supreme importance to their accepted ideals of heroic honor. In some instances, fulfilling the duty of the code of honor was considered more important than saving their own lives (Perry 66). The Greek believed that an honorable man is able to keep or defend his woman. The Greek male are often portrayed as courageous and heroic and for him to lose a woman is a blight to his manhood (Perry…...

From beginning to end of Homer's The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as a man stagnant in his ways. He is arrogant, impatient, unforgiving, vengeful, and extremely stubborn, and these awful attributes never cease. Achilles' lack of compassion perplexes the present situation involving the Achaens and the Trojans by making it difficult to figure out which side is truly good and evil--both sides have good reason to fight. Even though Achilles is set in his ignorant ways, he does manage to…...

Why Schedule XXIV is called the furious book of Iliad? * Since the body of Hector was being kept and tortured by Achilles even it is already dead. Due to the fact that of his anger he wishes to revenge to Hector despite the fact that he can not combat any longer. a.What infliction does anger do to a person? * I makes the individual do something horrible without understanding, what will occur next. 5 . Reserve XXIV a. Do…...

Why was arête (‘virtue’) an important theme in Homer’s Iliad? Select two characters with which to make your points. Virtue or arête was an important quality in Homeric society and one which features very heavily in the Iliad. Arête is achieved by one’s actions, generally in battle and is a combination of qualities such as courage, honour (‘time’) and sacrifice.([good] Homeric heroes possessed these qualities and they were recognised by the audience of the epics.( Outwardly, the heroes of the…...

In Homer’s, The Iliad, Book 1, “The Rage of Achilles,” one of the main concepts presented is the idea that the gods desire honor and glory. It is very evident that both Achilles and Agamemnon are in competition for more power and dominance. This idea is demonstrated primarily through the two prize women, Briseis and Chryseis, daughter of Chrsyses. While the Trojan war was going on, both Achilles and Agamemnon had a fight amongst themselves, rather than focusing on the…...