Curriculum Online - Topic 1: THE WRATH OF ACHILLES

This topic is based on Homer's Iliad, Books I, VI, XVI, XXII, XXIV .

Two types - Primary (oral) Homer - Secondary (written) Virgil; Tfiin

Definition - a long narrative poem , in exalted style, a boutheroes

Metre - Homer used the dactylic hexameter (i.e. six feet). A dactyl is a metrical foot ( from the Greek word meaning finger).

Homer's epic is oral. Therefore the storyteller controls the speed o f delivery. Certain techniques are required to

The special techniques used include:

The story o f Troy is referred to in the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid.(A summary is available in the first-year guidelines).

For the story of the Iliad, see the Introduction to the Iliad by E. V . Rieu. the Iliad accounts for only fifty days of a ten-year war

Take sides in the war

Greek side - Athene, Hephaestus, Here ,Poseidon
Trojan side - Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis
Zeus was neutral but he supported Achilles against Agamemnon and showed great sympathy for Hector and Priam

Invocation to Muses - convention

Comic effects in Book I

Intervention of gods - role of destiny

Book I
- Apollo started the feud
- Athene stopped Achilles killing Agamemno
- Thetis intervened on Achilles' behalf
Book VI
- The Trojan womenasked Atheneto intervene in the war
Book XVI
- Glaucus and Diomed exchanged armour - did the gods intervene?
- Achilles asked the gods to save Patroclus but the latter died
- Zeus did not prevent the death of Sarpdon
- Apollo took away the body of Sarpedon
  - Death of Patroclus
  - Apollo knocked off Patroclus' helmet
  - Euphorbus pierced his shoulder with a spear
  - Hector pierced his stomach with a spear
Book XXII
Apollo lured Achilles away from the Trojans
Death of Hector - the gods were involved
- Zeus ' scales weighed against Hector
- Apollo deserted him Athene (as Deiphobus ) led Achilles to Hector
- Athene caught the spear that was thrown at Hector and gave it
- back to Achilles
- Achilles hit Hector in the neck and pulled out the spear;
- took armour and body away (broke with convention)
Book XXIV
- Apollo saved Hector's flesh from pollution
- Zeus sent Hermes with Priamto to get the body back
- Niobe's children were killed by Artemis and Apollo (a story within a story)

Briareus (Aegaeon) was a giant with a hundred arms
the Chimaera had a lion's head , a serpent's tail and the body of a goat
immortal horses - Xanthus and Balius . (see also note in glossary of Rieu edition).

Patroclus crying - water;child
Myrmidons are like wolves ; blocks of stone; wasps
Greeks killing the Trojans - wolves harrying lambs
Hector attacked Patroclus - lion attacking a wild boar
Trojans were likened to a herd of deer
Hector allowed Achilles come to him - like a coiled snake allows a man approach him
Achilles chasing Hector - like racehorses
Iris splashing into the sea - like a fisherman casting his rod
Priam must eat a meal - like Niobe
armour - like a star.

The Iliad is regarded by the Greeks as Homer's major work
Alexander the Great brought a copy of the Iliad with him on his campaigns .
For the influence the Iliad had on music, art and literature see the first-year guidelines.

Achilles killed by Paris Agamemnon killed by his wife, Clytemnestra (sister of Helen)
Menelaus returned to Sparta with Helen
Odysseus was delayed by his wanderings
Aeneas went to Italy. He founded a new settlement, which later became Rome.

Camps, W. A.: An Introduction to Homer, Oxford University Press, 1983
Connolly, Peter: The Legend of Odysseus, Oxford University Press
Griffin, J.: Homer (Past Masters series), Oxford University Press, 1980
Homer: The Odyssey (Penguin Classics)
Thorpe, H.: Homer (Inside the Ancient World series), Bristol Classical Press, 1986
Virgil: The Aeneid (Penguin Classics)