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OCR World of the Hero Summary Notes
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World of the HeroWhilst the setting of the epic in the Mycaean period is not in question,
it is debated amongst scholars whether the poem was written in any
one time period, or whether it was added to over the course of time.
However, there is no definitive answer to be reached.
Homer: Composition of Epics
Though traditionally the Epics are ascribed to the works of a Greek Although the setting of the poems is in the Bronze age, there are
poet Homer in about 725-700 BC, not much is known about him. mentions to things that belonged to Homer’s time. Iron and bronze are
Many scholars argue whether one man wrote both epics, or whether mentioned, as well as a change in funeral practices (bodies burned
there were many composers. Whilst many places claim to be the not buried), and soldiers carried two spears not one. Trying to work
birthplace of Homer, it is still unknown about his origins. It is also out the date for which Homer wrote the poems thus includes a lot of
thought that because the bard in book 8 of the Odyssey was blind, so examination of written evidence in the texts. It is, however, generally
was he. agreed that the Iliad was written before the Odyssey.
Both Epics are composed in dactylic hexameters. Each line of a No matter when or where the poems were both composed, they are a
hexameter has six feet, and each foot consists of one long and two result of over a hundred years of bards singing them to crowds. We
short vowel sounds, or two long vowel sounds. This allowed for pace can assume from this that Homer expected the crowd to know about
to be varied. the stories of the Trojan War before listening to his Epic, as he goes
straight to the middle of the war, giving no background to what has
Both poems are set during the Trojan War. Evacuations at the site already happened.
where Troy was thought to reside show that the city was indeed
destroyed by fire in about 1200 BC, but this does not confirm the There are two main arguments for the number of authors of the
existence of Homer or the Trojan War. poems. A German scholar Friedrich Wolf in 1795 argued that Homer
could not write, and thus it would not have been possible for one
Until about the same date of the fire, a culture was known to flourish author to write the poems, as they were not written down until much
in the area which was based on rich palace centres. The most well- later, and likely consisted of many unconnected poems brought
known centre was that of Mycenae. This in the Homeric Epic was the together. The problem of knowing the author of these poems is known
home of Agamemnon. Many Archaeological excavations give great as the Homeric question.
evidence to the wealth of the Myenaeans.
Many believe there are multiple authors. This argument is based on
Although this was written many years after the supposed date of the the inconsistencies of points in the plot, as well as repetitions found
Trojan war, and the author would not have had access to the same within the poems. Others have claimed that the style and structure of
archaeological evidence that we do in the modern era, it is likely he the poem could not have been the works of random poems, but must
would have known of distant stories of the period. be the work of one man. The occurrence of epithets and formulae
were not needless repetition, but part of the structure of the
composition.
, ○ Heroes have a large stature and a huge amount of
strength.
○ Their armour is also a reflection of their greatness.
What makes a Homeric Hero? 9. Heroes are ferocious when they fight
○ Animal imagery is often used to describe heroes.
1. A Hero must be of Noble birth ○ They fight with the same ferocity when competing in
○ Noble birth was important for a hero. sporting trials.
○ They were often referred to using a patronymic. 10. A formula is often followed when the hero enters battle
2. Heroes must be mortal ○ The hero puts on his armour and each piece is
○ Only mortal men can be heroes, they have to have a described.
life to lose, and so have an opportunity to prove their ○ The hero fights valiantly, killing a number of named
glory. individuals.
○ Gods cannot be heroes as there is no adverse risk for ○ There is panic amongst the enemy.
them. ○ The hero calls upon the gods, perhaps swearing an
3. Heroes attract the attention of the immortals oath.
○ The gods only support heroes. ○ There may be a duel with a prominent member of the
○ Being helped by a hero does not mean they are weak, enemy forces.
but instead that they are destined for glory. ○ The hero makes a speech of triumph over the enemy.
○ However, some heroes are persecuted by the gods. ○ Spoils are taken, with particular reference to the
4. Heroes have epithets which reflect their heroic qualities opponent’s armour.
○ The more epithets a person has, the more heroic they 11. A hero is often skilled with words
are. ○ Winning an argument can be seen as a victory over an
5. Fighting is an obligation to one’s family, ancestors and opponent.
community ○ Appealing to public opinion also helped to enhance a
○ Heroes represent their homeland. hero's reputation.
○ It is honourable that they fight for their homeland, and ○ Words could also be used to mock an enemy before
that they should return as heroes. battle.
○ The heroism of a man’s ancestors could enhance his 12. Self-control
pedigree as a hero. ○ Whilst heroes can act rashly when fighting for glory,
6. Heroes fight for their own individual glory they have to observe limits.
○ Heroes often fought against enemies in duels if they 13. Honour amongst heroes
felt they had been wronged. ○ Although heroes fight to the death and show no mercy,
○ They fight for kleos, and if they are killed, they would there is an agreement that a dead hero’s body should
have been killed by another hero. be returned to their family for burial.
○ Before they die, heroes normally make a speech. ○ Heroes also abide by the laws of Xenia.
7. Heroes should be courageous 14. Heroes maintain civilised behaviour
8. Heroes look impressive ○ Communal eating was a mark of civilization.
, ○ Heroes would eat meat. compensation. In a shocking move, he insists on taking Briseis, the
15. Showing emotion is heroic prized possession of the proud Achilles, in exchange. The demand
○ It is said the greater the hero, the greater their capacity triggers a heated confrontation between the two formidable warriors,
escalating to the point of potential bloodshed.
for powerful emotions.
Achilles, seething with pride and humiliation, vehemently refuses
Agamemnon's demand. In a tense exchange, he threatens to
Book Summaries - Iliad withdraw from battle, vowing to lead his people, the Myrmidons, back
to their homeland of Phthia. The looming conflict is averted by the
timely intervention of Athena, a goddess sent by Hera, who, through
Book 1 guidance and a persuasive speech from Nestor, prevents the
catastrophic duel.
The poet initiates the solemn invocation of the muse, humbly seeking
divine guidance to effectively narrate the turbulent tale of Achilles'
Agamemnon reluctantly releases Chryseis but dispatches heralds to
consuming wrath. It is emphasised that Achilles, a towering figure,
forcibly take Briseis from Achilles' tent. Frustrated and angered,
stands as the preeminent hero among the Greeks embroiled in the
Achilles turns to his mother, Thetis, a sea-nymph, seeking divine
protracted Trojan War.
intervention. He recounts the unjust conflict with Agamemnon and
implores Thetis to beseech Zeus, the king of the gods, for retribution.
The narrative unfolds nine years into the conflict, a pivotal moment
when Achaeans, in a triumph of war, seize a Trojan-allied town. In the
Thetis, in turn, assures Achilles that she will discuss the matter with
spoils of victory, two captivating maidens, Chryseis and Briseis, are
Zeus. She explains that Zeus owes her a favour and plans to
claimed. Agamemnon, the commanding leader of the Achaean army,
approach him after his return from thirteen days of feasting with the
selects Chryseis as his coveted prize, while Achilles, a formidable
Aethiopians. Meanwhile, Odysseus, a key figure in the Achaean
warrior, takes possession of the esteemed Briseis.
camp, navigates the ship carrying Chryseis back to her father. Upon
landing, he facilitates her reunion with Chryses and performs a
Chryses, a priest devoted to Apollo and father to Chryseis, sacrificial ritual to appease Apollo.
courageously pleads with Agamemnon for the return of his cherished
daughter. Offering a substantial ransom, Chryses beseeches the
Chryses, overjoyed at the sight of his reunited family, offers fervent
Achaean leader for mercy. However, Agamemnon callously rejects
prayers for the removal of the plague from the Achaean camp. Apollo,
the heartfelt plea, inciting Chryses to turn to the divine for justice. In a
acknowledging the sincerity of Chryses's plea, grants his request.
desperate plea to Apollo, Chryses seeks retribution for the wrongs
Odysseus then returns to his comrades, marking the end of the
done to his daughter.
immediate crisis.
Apollo responds with divine wrath, sending a devastating plague upon
However, the aftermath of the plague heralds a more profound and
the Greek camp. The ensuing suffering compels Achilles, a central
enduring suffering. Achilles, nursing his wounded pride, abstains from
figure in the unfolding drama, to convene an assembly of the Achaean
active participation in the ongoing battle, exacerbating the challenges
army. Seeking insight, he consults Calchas, a powerful seer, who
faced by the Achaean army. Twelve days into this disheartening
reveals that the plague is a strategic act of vengeance orchestrated by
period, Thetis fulfils her promise to Achilles, approaching Zeus with a
Chryses and supported by Apollo.
plea for Trojan assistance.
Agamemnon, upon learning of his role in the divine retribution, reacts
with anger. He grudgingly agrees to release Chryseis but demands
, Zeus, initially hesitant due to Hera's support for the Greeks, eventually Agamemnon takes charge, rallying the Achaean forces. He
agrees to Thetis's request. The revelation of Zeus's intervention assembles prominent figures such as Odysseus, Nestor, and
infuriates Hera, his wife, who vehemently opposes his assistance to Diomedes, urging them to draw upon their pride and recount the
the Trojans. Hephaestus, Hera's son, intervenes, persuading her to remarkable deeds of their fathers. The battlefield resonates with the
avoid igniting conflict among the gods for the sake of mortal affairs. clash of weapons, resulting in significant bloodshed. While the major
Thus, the divine drama unfolds, with tensions and dynamics shaping characters remain unscathed, Great Ajax and Odysseus emerge as
the fate of both gods and mortals. formidable forces, claiming the lives of several minor Trojan figures.
Book 2 The gods actively intervene, with Athena providing assistance to the
Achaeans, while Apollo aligns himself with the Trojans. Despite
Zeus sends a false dream of encouragement to Agamemnon, who is earnest attempts, all efforts to establish a truce end in utter failure,
ready to fight, but first tests his troops. They are keen to return home. perpetuating the relentless cycle of warfare on the plains of Troy.
Odysseus persuades them that they should stay and fight. There
follows a catalogue listing all of the troops. Book 5
The Greek Diomedes fights and kills many Trojans, including
Book 3 Pandarus. He fights with Aeneas, but is prevented from killing him by
The armies are advancing. Paris offers to fight in single combat, and Aphrodite. Diomedes angrily attacks Aphrodite, and Apollo rescues
Menelaus takes up the challenge. King Priam and the Trojan council Aeneas. The god Ares joins the battle, and Diomedes wounds him.
watch from the ramparts. Priam asks Helen about the Greek warriors.
This duel begins; Paris is losing and so Aphrodite removes him and Book 6
takes him back to Helen.
With the gods conspicuously absent, the Achaean forces once again
assert dominance over the Trojans, forcing them to retreat towards
Book 4 the safety of their city. Amid the chaos, Menelaus contemplates the
idea of taking a ransom for the captured Trojan, Adrestus, whom he
Meanwhile, the celestial beings engage in their own ethereal conflicts.
has successfully subdued. However, Agamemnon, displaying a more
Zeus, asserting Menelaus's triumph in the duel, advocates for
ruthless stance, urges Menelaus to execute Adrestus immediately.
adhering to the mortal agreement to bring an end to the war.
However, Hera, deeply invested in the Achaean cause, harbours an
insatiable desire for nothing less than the total destruction of Troy. Nestor, perceptive of the shifting tides, implores the Achaeans not to
Despite Zeus's initial stance, he succumbs to Hera's fervour and waste time stripping weapons from fallen enemies. Instead, he
orchestrates Athena's departure to the battlefield, subtly manipulating advocates for a relentless focus on maximising enemy casualties
events to reignite the conflict. while the advantage is still in their favour. The Trojans, sensing their
impending downfall, entertain thoughts of seeking divine intervention.
Helenus, the soothsayer, advises Hector to return to Troy and implore
Athena, assuming the guise of a Trojan soldier, covertly influences
Queen Hecuba and other noblewomen to pray for mercy at the temple
Pandarus, the skilled archer, to target Menelaus. In a cunning
of Athena.
manoeuvre, she adjusts the trajectory of Pandarus's arrow, ensuring
that Menelaus is only wounded. Athena's objective is to create a
pretext for renewed fighting in favour of the Achaeans. Following this counsel, Hector dutifully visits Troy, instructing his
mother and the noblewomen on the necessary prayers. He also
confronts Paris, his brother, who has withdrawn from battle due to
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