The Thematic Ideas and Topics of The Iliad

1. The Thematic Ideas and Topics ofThe Iliad

2. Gender Theme • Cowardly men are usually thought of less than brave men, and stronger men, in whatever sense of the word, usually conquer weaker men. Women served as “booty”, or war prizes, and motivation for great feats, much like today.

3. Iliad Gender Quotes • “Home from war? You should have perished there, brought down by that strong soldier, once my husband. You used to say you were a better man, more skillful with your hands, your spear. So why not challenge him to fight again?” • “The girl- I won’t give up the girl. Long before that, old age overtake her in my house, in Argos, far from her fatherland, slaving back and forth at the loom, forced to share my bed!” • “I’d have her mine, at home. Yes, if you like, I rate her higher than Klytaimnestra, my own wife! She loses nothing by comparison, in beauty or womanhood, in mind or skill.”

4. Song Gender Quotes • “I want her paler than the moon, with eyes that shine like stars.” • “My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my battle scars.” -A girl worth fighting for

5. gods Theme • No matter if the gods did them good or bad, people still worshiped them because they decided their fate.

6. Iliad gods Quotes • “And there it rested… His handsome, well-wrought cup. No other man would drink the shining wine from its growing depths nor would Achilles pour the wine to any other god, none but father Zeus.” Lines 265-270, Book 16 • “…someone to tell us why Apollo rages so hard, whether he blames us for a vow we failed, or sacrifice. If only the god would share the smoky savor of lambs and full-grown goats, Apollo might be willing, still, somehow, to save us ofr this plague.” –Lines 74-78, Book 1

7. Song gods Quotes • “Hear our praises, Hear Your people sing, Hear our hearts cry, Your love is everything.” • “Cause we’re all about You, And the world You promised, And all we have will give you praise, Cause we’re all about You, And the world can’t stop us, Living your way, Always” • “And the walls will fall down, And religion will break, And the nations will hear this shout, Can you hear the sound of faith?”

8. Courage Theme • In the eyes of the Greeks, courage was the defining attribute that allowed one to achieve honor and status. • The Greeks saw courage in one who was willing fight for what was right and was make sacrifices for it.

9. Iliad Courage Quotes • “No time for rest. My heart races to help our Trojans – they long for me, sorely, whenever I am gone.” • “No man will hurl me down to Death, against my fate. And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it, neither brave man nor coward.” • “Who knows if I will ever come back to them? – or the deathless gods will strike me down at last at the hands of Argive fighters.”

10. Song Courage Quotes • I’m standing up, Imma face my demons I’m manning up, imma hold my ground 2. Admittedly I probably did it subliminally for you 3.No more drama from now on, I promise to focus on handing in my responsibilities as a father so I solemnly swear to always treat the roof like my daughters and raise it

11. King Theme • Homer portrays a king as a man that is “quick at every treachery under the sun- the man of twists and turns.” Odysseus is a great example of a king that Homer believes fits the mold.

12. Iliad King Quotes • But I would die of shame before our Trojan men and noblewomen if like a coward I avoided battle, nor am I moved to. Long ago I learned how to be brave, how to go forward always and to contend to honor.

13. Song King Quotes • Seas would rise when I gave the world • Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes • I ruled the world • And I discovered that my castles stand on pillars of salt and pillars of sand. -Viva la Vita

14. Love Theme • Much like in today's society, the Greeks viewed love in two ways: lust, and genuine love. They mistook their sexual desires and affections and called them love. But there was also the protective love, that drove men to fight for their wives and families.

15. Iliad Love Quotes • I tell you, that first time when I swept you up from the lovely hills of Lacedaemon sailed you off and away in the racing deep-sea ships and we went and locked in love on Rocky Island. That was nothing to how I hunger for you now-irresistible longing lays me low • No no, let the earth come pulling over my dead body before I hear your cries, I hear you dragged away. • Patroclus…I will never forget him. Not as long as I am still among the living, and my sprining knees will lift and drive me on. Though the dead forget their dead in the house of Death, I will remember, even there, my dear companion.

16. Song Love Quotes • Is this love, or sexual desire? We’re gonna start a fire. • Just lose control and let your body give in to the beat of your heart as my hand touches your skin. • So obsessed, oh you make me such a mess, why can’t this just last forever?

17. Soldier Theme • To the Greeks, a soldier was a brother fighting for honor and glory. He is absolutely loyal to his commander. Many soldiers fight only for fame, but some fight because it is necessary to protect their home and family.

18. Iliad Soldier Quotes • “But I should die of shame before our Trojan men and noblewomen if like a coward I avoided battle, nor I am I moved to.” Book 6, page 149. • “We all followed you to please you, to fight for you, to win your honor back from the Trojans.” Book 1, page 82. • “I’ve hacked my passage through other soldiers to win their wives as prizes.”

19. Song Soldier Quotes • “And on that day, when you need your brothers and sisters to care, I’ll be right here.” • “Standing on guard for the ones that we’ve sheltered.” • “The strongest among you may not wear a crown.” From Citizen Soldier, by Three Doors Down