Summary
Summary The Iliad - characterization and themes
Notes on the key themes in the Iliad with examples - concept & behaviour of a hero, life in Troy & the Greek camp, portrayal of war, death & mortality, menis and reconciliation
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
Seller
Follow
Content preview
The heroic world – characterization and themesWhat makes a Homeric hero
- Must be of noble birth – heroes often referred to using a patronymic (name of father given
with/instead of name of character – son of Peleus for Achilles)
Some heroes have a divine parent – Sarpedon is son of Zeus
- Must be mortal – because they can lose their life it is the ultimate opportunity to prove their glory
- Attract the attention of the immortals – gods support only heroes
Help from an immortal is not a sign of weakness – evidence of divine patronage and heroic status
Both sides have divine assistance
Immortals even look after the bodies of those they support
Some heroes are persecuted by immortals – Hera and Athena determined to destroy hector &
troy
- Have epithets that reflect their heroic qualities – ‘swift-footed Achilles’ ‘hector of the glinting helmet’
- Fighting is an obligation to one’s family ancestors and community – heroes represent their homeland
Matter of honour for homeland that they should return as heroes
Heroism of ancestors enhances a hero’s pedigree – Odysseus wars a boar tusk helmet that has a
long provenance
o Appears to take on some of glory from previous owners when wearing it
- Heroes fight for their own glory as individuals – Achilles is there to win himself kleos (hero’s fame &
reputation)
Heroes often fight in duels against people who have wronged them – Menelaus fights Paris
They are never seriously wounded – would prevent them from pursuing kleos
If they die they usually have enough time to make a speech – Sarpedon
- Should be courageous
- Look impressive – huge of stature and strength
Sarpedon – likened to an oak tree being felled when he dies
Imposing appearance particularly evident when being armed before battle
Armour is a reflection of greatness – Achilles’ armour is made by Hephaestus, only he can lift his
spear, his horses are immortal
- Ferocious when they fight – anima, imagery often used (lions, bulls, boars, hunting dogs)
Fight with equal determination in sporting contests – respect opponents but winning & getting
reward is the objective
- Formula is often followed when hero enters battle
Hero puts armour on – each piece is described
Hero fights valiantly – kills a number of named individuals
Panic amongst enemy
Hero calls upon gods – sometimes swears an oath
May be a duel with prominent member of the enemy
Hero makes a speech of triumph over enemy
Spoils taken – particular reference to opponent’s armour
- Often skilled with words – appealing to public opinion and gaining support enhances their reputation
Main weapon of odysseys in his pursuit of glory
Using words to frighten an opponent before battle & mocking them is acceptable
- Self-control – limits to which a hero should observe
Patroclus exceeds his brief – not destined to kill hector and take troy and seems presumptuous for
trying
Achilles loses all restraint in his determination to avenge the death of Patroclus
- Honour amongst heroes – agreement that the dead hero’s body will be returned to his family for
burial
Achilles explicitly says he excuses himself from that custom
, Heroes abide by laws of Zeus – xenia (guest friendship – agreement between host and guest
where a host looks after and respects the guest and the guest respects the host) can override
killing in battle
o Diomedes and glaucus
- Maintain civilised behaviour – communal eating as a mark of civilisation (associated with gods and
sacrifice)
Achilles having a meal with Priam – sign of his return to civilised behaviour after the anger which
had led him to inhuman action
- Showing emotions is heroic – the greater the hero the greater the capacity for feeling powerful
emotions
Achilles not diminished by extreme grief at death of Patroclus
Timē
- Timē – honour
- Hero will measure their status through the number and value of gifts he receives
To a Homeric hero gifts were a tangible measure of the honour owed to them
- Agamemnon as commander-in-chief gets first pick
Being forced to return Chryseis is a blow to his public honour
Causes the wrath of Achilles by inflicting the same public humiliation – taking Briseis
- B23 – public honour and valuable prizes are the goals of the competitors
Different attitudes to in b1 – Antilochus and Menelaus are willing to give up their prizes &
Odysseus and ajax accept the decision of a draw
- Achilles’ own timē is o his mind even though he is not prepared to fight
- A hero who feels belittled/that their reputation is being questioned will act derisively to retrieve their
honour since public honour is so crucial
Kleos
- Kleos – glory
- Without kleos a heroic status is impossible
- Performing deeds that will earn kleos is something that a hero will have a conscious aim of
- Fame is important – with great fame comes immortality
Achilles choses a short famed life over a longer life lived in obscurity
Life in troy
- View of physical appearance of troy is limited – homer more intent on portraying the families and
state of mind of those who inhabit it
- Trojan heroes have same values as the Greeks and worship the same gods
- Trojan allies – likened to ewes in a rich man’s farm waiting to be milked and bleating
Ewes of simile bleat incessantly because they can hear their lambs – reflecting the vulnerability of
women and children who the men are trying to protect
- Dolon says that the allies sleep without watchmen since they have no families to protect
- City walls – represent the only thing between life in the city and the Greeks
Only thing between life and death
Walls are high – serve as a vantage point
- Going into walls – synonymous of getting the latest news
- Walls feature in dramatic death scenes – fighting takes place outside the gates
Patroclus killed by hector in b16
Similar scene in b22 when hector is killed
- Walls feature in b24 – Cassandra sees Priam approaching with hector’s body
- Homer presenting a picture of domesticity within the walls – imminent destruction more shocking if
life continues with a daily routine
- Not much said about the trojan men – either heroes or part of the indiscriminate hordes
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller clempitrat. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75057 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now