... fellow comrades. Although concerned for his troops because they suffered heavy causalities, Achilles was still too proud to fight. It takes the death of his friend Patroclus to get him to fight. Although the death of Patroclus prompts Achilles to fight, it simply just redirected his anger from Agamemnon towards Hector, ... which was who killed Patroclus. Achilles mourns from the death of Patroclus, but his anger is only put on hold. He quickly avenges Patroclus" death by killing Hector and brutally dragging his body for display throughout the Achaean camp. Another change in ... the body...

• Word Count: 428
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... senses, he was horrified at what he had done and went to the oracle of Delphi to learn what he must do to atone for his crime. He had to be a slave for his cousin Eurystheus and do ten labors for him. The first labor was to kill Nemean lion. Hercules chased it out of its lair and squeezed it to ... death. Then he skinned the beast with it's own claws, and with the impenetrable skin of the Nemean lion slung over his head and shoulders, he reported back to Eurystheus. Next ... the birds and they flew away never to return. Then for the fifth labor he had to catch sacred hinds of Artemis....

• Word Count: 879
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Eteocles and Polynices, are skirmishing for the overthrow of Creon and the throne. Another prophecy creates disturbances for Oedipus and this leads him ultimately to death. This masterpiece was written when Sophocles was nearly ninety. Although at an old age, Sophocles creates some of his finest lyrics in Oedipus at ... Oedipus and also promises him a proper burial site on the soil of his kingdom. Oedipus reassures Theseus that Athens will be rewarded if this is done, but says he must not reveal any more for the time being. Creon and his attendants locate Oedipus and try to persuade him ...

• Word Count: 679
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... his physical ability displays to the Greeks how being mighty earns respect, and having enemies envy him builds self-worth. Odysseus, although not as credited for his strength as the "mighty" Achilles is, also exemplifies great physical abilities that gain him recognition, and victory. ... back in its sheath" (109). "He would not fight the orders of Athena" because if he did, he would not gain what he wants (109). Although spiritually he respects the gods" decisions, Achilles displays a fault in his proud spirit through his decision to stay out of ... the war. Rather than "safeguard the...

• Word Count: 1444
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... Greek army that went because Helen, wife of Agamemnon's younger brother Menelaus, was taken there. He is an arrogant person that only sees what is best for him and does not care for others. When Agamemnon gets back to the castle and meets his wife Clytaemnestra for the first time in ten years, she praises and welcomes him back. Although Agamemnon ... a flaw, but it is not the one to doom him. During the journey to Troy, in order for the Greeks to have favorable wind push their ships onward, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the god Artemis. Who would kill their daughter for...

• Word Count: 539
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... on the dominance shown by Clytaemestra after her act of vengeance, "Standing above the corpse, obscene as some carrion crow she sings the crippled song and is proud," (AG, 1470-3) as she directly denounces Agamemnon with a unparalleled pride. In the Libation Bearers, Orestes, too, show arrogance towards his murderous deeds. ... against his father's killers, Orestes exhibits a total lack of remorse. His guarding of the bodies until he receives an audience is proof that he is proud of his work, wants to brag of his deed to whoever will hear him. In The Medea, arrogance is an attribute of M...

• Word Count: 2363
• Approx Pages: 9

... Greek army that went because Helen, wife of Agamemnon's younger brother Menelaus, was taken there. He is an arrogant person that only sees what is best for him and does not care for others. When Agamemnon gets back to the castle and meets his wife Clytaemnestra for the first time in ten years, she praises and welcomes him back. Although Agamemnon ... a flaw, but it is not the one to doom him. During the journey to Troy, in order for the Greeks to have favorable wind push their ships onward, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the god Artemis. Who would kill their daughter for...

• Word Count: 539
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... his demand, but notice what his demand is. He does not pursue for the sake of truth, but for power, superhuman power, the power over life and death. Of power, of honor, of omnipotence is promised to the studious artisan! All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command. Emperors and kings are but obeyed in their several provinces ... that they seek a greater knowledge and through discovering a greater knowledge they become more powerful and it is power that corrupts the human spirit and leads to our ruin. Ever proud to the very end it is not until he faces the last ho...

• Word Count: 1091
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Eteocles battle each other for the thrown. They are both killed in battle. The next in line for the thrown is Creon. Once he is king, he gives a proud and proper burial to Eteocles, but puts out an order to everyone in Thebes that no one is to burry Polyneices because he was seen as a traitor. He was ... to be left in the spot where he died for the dogs and vultures to eat his corpse. Antigone is troubled by this ruling because she has pride for her brother ... and husband to Antigone, enters the story. He pleads with his father to spare the life of Antigone, but is not successful. Creo...

• Word Count: 878
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... as elegant literary techniques found in the text of Medea. I think Euripides suggesting that a human being is unsuccessful if he or she allows himself to be governed by only emotion or by reason. Instead, one must learn to maintain a balance of these two aspects of life. It seems that when Jason ... well, achieved their goals readily. Apart they are both failures of sorts. But Medea does succeed in her revenge, though she pays a terrible price. She is not a typical Greek woman because she posses a powerful role and has a dangerous reputation for cleverness. This is unusual in a society...

• Word Count: 957
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... A man has many defining characteristics - some positive and some negative. At times, a potentially positive characteristic may cause his eventual downfall. This concept can be directly related to the story Oedipus Rex. Aristotle stated, "the tragic hero falls into bad fortune because of some flaw in his character of the kind ... his determination when in search of Laius" murderer. He stated that he would avenge the King's death as if Laius were his own father. He cursed the murderer, announcing "May he drag out an evil death-in-life in misery." These characteristics of pride and determ...

• Word Count: 583
• Approx Pages: 2

... accompanied by several servants at the three crossroads. The old man was Laios, who was Oedipus's father, on his way to Delphi. Since both men were proud, they refused to step aside so the other could pass. Laios attacked Oedipus. As a result, Oedipus killed them all, excepted on of the servant. ... action was this search of the murder. It started with Oedipus promising that the person responsible for Laios death will be driven out of Thebes. Oedipus sent for Teiresias, the blind seer. Teiresias at first did not want to tell Oedipus about the murder, and told Oedipus to leave things as ...

• Word Count: 1308
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... accompanied by several servants at the three crossroads. The old man was Laios, who was Oedipus's father, on his way to Delphi. Since both men were proud, they refused to step aside so the other could pass. Laios attacked Oedipus. As a result, Oedipus killed them all, excepted on of the servant. ... action was this search of the murder. It started with Oedipus promising that the person responsible for Laios death will be driven out of Thebes. Oedipus sent for Teiresias, the blind seer. Teiresias at first did not want to tell Oedipus about the murder, and told Oedipus to leave things as ...

• Word Count: 1308
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... accompanied by several servants at the three crossroads. The old man was Laios, who was Oedipus's father, on his way to Delphi. Since both men were proud, they refused to step aside so the other could pass. Laios attacked Oedipus. As a result, Oedipus killed them all, excepted on of the servant. ... action was this search of the murder. It started with Oedipus promising that the person responsible for Laios death will be driven out of Thebes. Oedipus sent for Teiresias, the blind seer. Teiresias at first did not want to tell Oedipus about the murder, and told Oedipus to leave things as ...

• Word Count: 1308
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... anguish to his closest people because his "prize" is taken from him. This is Homer's so-called hero? If the definition of heroism were in question, the answer would be debatable. However, it's not - there's much more at stake here. What is the rage of Achilles? His rage is a conflict of almost a dual personality. His sensitive or emotional self constantly gets him ... no turning back this relationship. Rage swells. Achilles dwells on this. He's disheartened he was treated like some "vagabond". This further drives his anger uncontrollably. "Achilleus has made savage the proud-hearted spi...

• Word Count: 2114
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... would have honor. Pentheus unmoved by this turned to his servants and ordered them to scour the city, hunt down Dionysus so that he could be given the death that he deserved. Teiresias seeing that there was no way to persuade Pentheus told Cadmus that it was time for them to leave and worship ... but his mother was holding his head. She thought that it was the head of a lion. Agave then raced towards Thebes with her prize. She is proud of herself because she believes that she has caught and killed a cub of a lion with her bare hands. Calling to her father, Cadmus, she tells him ... that...

• Word Count: 3013
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... dangerous. They were the first democratic society in a tumultuous world of kings and emperors, and they were proud of their ideology. Considering their fervent believe in rule by many, its not surprising that many Greek dramas revolve around an individual hero or a king's fall from power because of pride ... the Sophocles's book, Oedipus is presented to us as being extremely arrogant. His city is in the midst of a mysterious plague which can only be lifted when a murderer is exposed and destroyed. Oedipus claims that he, who solved the riddle of the sphinx, will quickly put the matter to...

• Word Count: 1999
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... and clever handling especially if we keep the Greek society in mind and Aeschylus does that with skill. Clytemnestra is introduced in the play, following the death of her daughter, Iphigenia. Agamemnon according to societal pressures had to sacrifice his daughter in order to appease the gods. From the start of the ... and authority. Clytemnestra had the courage to take matters into her own hands and plan her own destiny. Since she felt that her daughter's death was not justified, she was determined to avenge it. At this point we feel that Clytemnestra was justified in planning her hatefu...

• Word Count: 1325
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... help them. King Oedipus relates to their pain and says, "tell me, and never doubt that I will help you in every way I can; I should be heartless were I not moved to find you suppliant here"(Sophocles 961). Oedipus suffers more for others, than he does for himself. He is a hero to the people of Thebes; ... no idea at first that he is the husband and son of Jocasta. Oedipus is the son of Laius. He vows to avenge the murdered king's death by capturing his assailant. Ironically, Oedipus has no idea that the man he killed at the crossroads was his biological father and that the assailant he s...

• Word Count: 862
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... infuriated that Agamemnon takes advantage of his royal authority and steals Briseis from him, wounding his pride and honor. This is not the first time Agamemnon has shown himself to be a haughty leader. Filled with hubris (excessive pride), he even dared to challenge the gods. Although a ransom had been ... Book 6 As Homer continues to narrate the fighting, he spotlights the victories of the Greeks in general and Diomedes in particular. Even though Athena is not present to help him, Diomedes continues his murderous rampage, unchecked by the Trojans. Aias, Odysseus, Agamemnon, and other...

• Word Count: 1928
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... young warrior who thinks out and makes good descions, one who commands respect because of his actions, and one whose polis would be proud of him for his bravery. But his journey to manhood was not complete until he and his father met face to face. During their discussion of how to handle the suitors you can still ... and Athena was the goddess that was watching over the two men. Although she was the main god discussed in this book, you can tell that she is not the most important god during this journey. Every god in this book had to answer to Zeus, as in true Greek mythology, and most al...

• Word Count: 1174
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... in the north of Italy, and perhaps in Greece. Virgil died in 19 B.C., before he finished revising The Aeneid; it was published after his death. The poet Virgil is the main narrator, although Aeneas himself assumes the narration in Books II and III, when he gives a retrospective account of his ... various characters reveal a veiled future to mortals and are the epic's strongest form of foreshadowing. Also, when Turnus kills Pallas, Virgil foreshadows Turnus's own death. The Aeneid and Iliad stand at adjacent corners of the world's literature. In numerous ways of thought and plot, they ar...

• Word Count: 8864
• Approx Pages: 35
• Grade Level: High School

... a god who makes him change his mind. The antagonistic relationship between Agamemnon and Achilles appears to be on a subconscious level because both men are very proud and on a quest for being immortalized in history. Agamemnon does not appear to take Briseis in spite of Achilles. Agamemnon feels that it is his lawful right to ... sword on Agamemnon, which breaks rule two. The third, and possibly, the most important rule/requirement of an Epic Hero was that he did not show cruelty or injustice on the battlefield. Before Achilles and Hector begin to fight Hector asks Achilles that if he...

• Word Count: 1561
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... him fairly. Aeneas showed self-control. Romans preferred war. It was in their nature to fight. They were raised to battle. Romans were not well rounded; their main or only study growing up was physical training and military science. Aeneas was very much Roman in this way. Aeneas ... god who makes him change his mind. The antagonistic relationship between Agamemnon and Achilles appears to be on a subconscious level because both men are very proud and on a quest for being immortalized in history. Agamemnon does not appear to take Briseis in spite of Achilles. Agamemnon feels that it is hi...

• Word Count: 2104
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... the two are of the same level, mortal or immortal, but one is obviously more powerful then the other. Even though Achilles may be stronger, Hector still has good reason not to be scared. He knows that no matter what he does, Achilles is going to kill him soon. Again, knowledge of the future prevents ... . Prometheus becomes defensive after Oceanus gives him advice. He tells Oceanus, "let me be, and have no care for me," (334). Even though these two have been together as friends for a very long time, Prometheus is too proud to stop criticizing Zeus and admit that he may have been wrong. He...

• Word Count: 1523
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School