... be a costly affair, which led to the death not only of Hector the Trojan leader, but also, first, of Achilles' companion Patroclus. It is with these events, varied, tragic, and profound, that the Iliad is concerned. The poem begins with the poet calling on the Muse to sing of the wrath of Achiles and its consequence. Apollo ... 's priest Chryses comes to the Achaian camp and asks to ransom back his daughter Chryseis, who has been captured. ... comfort and fame. Finally his ego wins out, he chooses to live a short and glorious life, as opposed to his other option of a long and easy one. Ac...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... of more Trojan deaths. There is something to be said about the intervention of the gods in the Iliad. Throughout the poem, Homer depicts the gods as taking an active role in the decision-making process of humans. Indeed, often the seemingly irrational behavior of mortals mirrors the petty behavior of the gods. Scholars have argued that the blame for the war should lie with Helen or Paris. I submit that in a sense ... no reason to disregard this message and did what anyone else in his position would have done, which was to take the suggested action. As depicted by Homer in the Iliad, it ...

• Word Count: 2432
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... receive honor and glory for his heroic actions. Patroklos, Achilles" dear friend, dies a death that is the most interesting of them all because it raises the question of who is responsible for his death. Although the gods take an active role in the lives of the characters in Homer's The Iliad, Patroklos" death is directly caused by his decisions and choices made to receive honor. Patroklos is ... to consider. Death is one of the most apparent and moving themes to consistently appear throughout The Iliad. Each death is described in full, graphic detail to emphasize the individual people ...

• Word Count: 1195
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and also gives him the offer to return back home with him the next day. Lastly Achilles proves himself to be no better than a savage. He proves himself to be a savage first when he refuses to return Hector's body to his parents, and then proceeds to drag it behind his carriage by the ankles. He doesn't drag the body for a short while, but Achilles makes ... laps around the gates of Troy. Achilles deliberate mutilation of Hector's body shows the reader that he is not much of a compassionate or honorable man. Before the war began it was prophesized that Troy would eventually fall at the h...

• Word Count: 1297
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... or the Greeks for nine books. During that same time he breaks the second rule/requirement of an Epic Hero. After Agamemnon disgraces Achilles by taking his war prize, Briseis, from him, Achilles is filled with complete rage. Achilles even draws his sword to take arms against Agamemnon, but is stopped short ... by 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 ... because he either breaks or completely destroys all three rules/requirements for a character to ...

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

... and chooses to retreat back to his own ships of Myrmidons and refuses to fight for the Achaean cause against the Trojans. Not only is Achilles plagued and troubled by problems with his fellow soldiers, but he ultimately must face the fact that he has chosen to live a short and glorious life, as opposed to his other option of a long and blaze life. Achilles ... knows that he must ultimately die in the heat of battle and gain great fame for doing so. Furthermore, Achilles eventually returns to ... of Troy, slays him and desecrates his body by dragging him excessively as somewhat of an ar...

• Word Count: 592
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School