The Illiad and The Odyssey

1. The Illiadand The Odyssey

2. PLOT AND SUMMARY The Illiadis a Greek epic poem written by Homer The story begins nine years after the start of the Trojan War (between the Greeks and Troy). The Illiadreviews the battles of the past nine years, but the main FOCUS is the turning point of a ten-year war told through the few weeks of quarrel between King Agamemnon VS. Achilles (the greatest Greek hero to fight in the Trojan War)

3. PLOT AND SUMMARY So what happens? Greek leader Agamemnon captures Chryseis. The Trojans offer the Greeks wealth for the return of Chryseis. Most of the Greek army is in favor of this but Agamemnon refuses. Chryses (Chryseis’ father) prays for Apollo's help, and Apollo causes a plague throughout the Greek army. After nine days of plague, Achilles, a leader fighting for the Greeks, calls an assembly to persuade Agamemnon to return her.

4. PLOT AND SUMMARY Agamemnon agrees, but takes Achilles’ captive, Briseis, as compensation. Angered, Achilles declares he and his men will no longer fight for Agamemnon, but will go home. Odysseus takes a ship to return Chryseis. Apollo ends the plague. Agamemnon takes Briseis away from Achilles.

5. PLOT AND SUMMARY Achilles asks his mother, Thetis, to ask Zeus to make the Greeks be fought to breaking point, so Agamemnon will realize how much they need Achilles. Zeus agrees and sends a dream to Agamemnon, urging him to attack the city. Agamemnon heeds the dream but decides to first test the morale of the Greek army by telling them to go home. Odysseus stops the troops from leaving. The two armies prepare to battle each other.

6. PLOT AND SUMMARY The clash between Achilles and Agamemnon highlights the vital importance of personal honor Both put their wins over the well-being of the Achaean forces. Agamemnon, as chief of the Achaean forces, believes he deserves the highest available prize—Briseis—and is willing to antagonize Achilles, the most crucial Achaean warrior, to secure what he believes is properly owed to him. Achilles would rather defend his claim to Briseis, his personal spoil of victory and thus what he believes is properly owed to him, than defuse the situation.

7. THE GODS The poem is also about the motivations and actions of the gods. Homer explains that Apollo was responsible for the conflict. The gods in the poem interact with mortal affairs in two ways: They act as external forces upon the course of events Ex. Apollo sends the plague upon the Achaean army. They represent internal forces acting on individuals Ex. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, persuades Achilles to cut Agamemnon with words and insults rather than hissword.

8. THE GODS • These Olympic Gods advise and manipulate the humansin the Trojan War • The major Gods: • Zeus • Hera • Artemis • Apollo • Hades • Aphrodite • Ares • Athena • Hermes • Poseidon • Hephaestus • The minor Gods: • Eris • Iris • Thetis • Proteus • Scamander

9. THE GODS The gods of The Iliad, and in general of Ancient Greece,have human traits , even exaggerated human traits. They are less invincible and noble than we might expect of Gods. They have the power to determine peace and violence, life and death.

10. THE GODS • But • they also lie, scheme, make pacts, whine, have childish • squabbles, double-deal and appear petty • they base their support for one side or the other not on • principle but on the heroes they happen to favor • Examples: • Zeus promises to help the Trojans not out of any profound moral • consideration but because he owes Thetis a favor. • Zeus hesitates to make a promise because he is afraid of annoying • his wife. • When Hera does become annoyed, Zeus silences her by • threatening to strangle her. • When the war doesn’t flow in the direction that the gods desire, • they whine to Zeus.

11. THE GODS Divine Intervention : How do the Gods interfere? Zeus manipulates the battle, from showering the Achaeans with blood to enabling Hector to become the first Trojan to cross the Achaean fortifications. The Achaeans recognize his presence and realize that in fighting the Trojans they pit themselves against the king of the gods. Diomedes interprets Zeus’s acts of favoritism to mean that Zeus has singled out the Trojans for ultimate victory. Poseidon urges the Achaeans to redistribute their arms more efficiently between stronger and weaker soldiers. Hera’s collaboration with Poseidon and her deception of Zeus and Aphrodite contrast with the brute force that Zeus uses to put the Trojans ahead. Zeus predicts the eventual fall of Troy, which occurs after the end of the poem.

12. THE GODS Characters use the Gods for blame and excuses Agamemnon speaks of the powers of Zeus and Fate, blaming them for his stubbornness in the quarrel with Achilles. He notes that many have held him responsible for the destruction that his insult to Achilles has caused, but he insists that his earlier “savage madness” was driven into his heart by the Gods. Another force repeatedly invoked here and throughout The Iliad is Fate.

13. Homer’s Message? How do the Gods determine Fate? Do the gods control Fate or are they forced to follow its dictates? To invoke Fate or the gods is to suggest that certain aspects of our world lie beyond human control Is this Homer’s Message? the importance of living nobly and bravely with such fickle gods controlling human fate, one cannot predict how or when death will come; one can only work to make life meaningful in its own right Odysseus will challenge the gods and these ideas

14. Homer’s Message • At the conclusion of The Illiad… • Achilles and Priam remain enemies • Achilles’ first loyalty is still to Patroclus • The city of Troy is destined to fall violently at the hands of • the Achaeans • while Achilles and Priam remain enemies, their animosity • has become a nobler, more respectful one. Achilles knows that he is fated never to return home He realizes one day his father will be mourning his son just as Achilles has made Priammourning a child taken from an enemy. This realization that his own father will suffer what Priam is now suffering finally melts Achilles’ rage, bringing a sense of closure to the poem.

15. Modern vs. Ancient Storytelling Homer chooses to conclude The Iliad not with the death of Achilles or the fall of Troy but rather with the withering of Achilles’ mighty wrath. Instead of a major fight-to-the-death scene, the story ends on a moment of human emotion as Achilles’ rage softens. Since audiences already know who wins and how the plot is played out, the focus of the poem becomes the emotional change of a character.

16. Modern vs. Ancient Storytelling An important difference between ancient and modern fiction. Modern fiction creates dramatic tension by keeping the reader wondering how a story will end. This often depends upon the characters and the choices they make. In contrast, ancient narratives often base themselves on mythological tradition, and ancient audiences would have listened to a given story already aware of its outcome. Tension in this scenario arises from the question of how the story’s events will affect a character’s mindset. Ex. Hector, who continues to fight valiantly for Troy even though he knows in his heart—as he tells Andromache—that he is doomed to die and Troy doomed to fall. Ex. Achilles eventually rejoins the battle despite his knowledge that the glory of fighting will cost him his life. The drama comes not from waiting to see how the story ends but from waiting to see how the characters respond to an end already foreseen.

17. Odysseus’s Role in The Illiad • Odysseus was one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. • He and Nestor were the most trusted counselors and advisers • He is responsible for the idea and implementation of the Trojan Horse • He always championed the Achaean cause • Ex. when Agamemnon tested morale of the • Achaeans by telling them all to go home, • Odysseus persuaded them to stay and fight • After many of the heroes left the battlefield • due to injuries (includingOdysseus and • Agamemnon), Odysseus persuaded • Agamemnon not to withdraw. • When Hector proposed a single combat duel, Odysseus reluctantly volunteered • to battle him. • After Patroclus had been killed, Odysseus persuaded Achilles to let the men eat • and rest rather than follow his rage

18. Starting The Odyssey Odysseus is a man of the men, world-renowned for his self-restraint and diplomatic skills; he is considered cunning and wise. The Odyssey begins as the Trojan War ends and Odysseus is finally able to travel home after ten years of being away. When he left to fight the war, he left his wife, Penelope, and his newborn son Telemechus. As you read The Odyssey, see how the same themes and ideas from The Illiadsurface What is Odysseus’ character like? What is his relationship with the Gods? How does he represent values of the Greeks at the time? Does he change through the course of the poem?