CC-Iliad Summaries

conventions of epics

\-starts with a theme -window of the social & cultural patterns -invokes a muse -repetition, epithets

\-in media res -epic similie

\-catalogues/genealogies -extended formal speeches

oral transmission

the story may change depending on who is telling it. Someone may change things to better suit their audience as these poems were typically sung.

the gods sided with the greeks

hera, athena, poseidon, hephaestus, hermes

the gods sided with the Trojans

apollo, aphrodite, artemis, ares

BOOK 1

Poet invokes a muse to tell the anger of Achilles. Agammemnon disregards advise to return Chryses’s daughter. Appollo sends a plague when Chryses’ prays for it as his daughter has been taken. Agammemnon and Achilles argue. The gods quarrel and Hera is upset.

Key Themes: kleos, time, anger

Characters: Achilles, Agammemnon, Menelaus, Briseis, Chryses, Chryseis

BOOK 3

Hektor chastises Paris and he (Paris) agrees to fight. Paris challenges Menelaus to a duel. All the elders ,except Priam, judge Helen for the war but Priam says it is not her fault. Helen tells them who is who. Aphrodite rescues Paris from dying. Paris and Helen sleep together Menelaus is declared the winner by Agammemnon.

Key themes: time, kleos

characters: Priam, Helen, Paris, Menelaus, Hektor

BOOK 4

Hera exchanges a town with Zeus for the war on Troy to continue, Athene urges Pandarus to shoot an arrow at Menelaus. It grazes Menelaus but ,in doing so, begins the war again. Agamemnon goes through the ranks encourages soldiers. Meets Nestor, Idomeneus, Aiantes , Menestheus, Odysseus and Diomedes. Death of Diores, Peiros, Echepolos, Simoeisius, Democoon

Key themes: aristeia, War, divine intervention

Characters: Pandarus, Zeus, Hera

BOOK 6

The Acheans drive the Trojans back towards their gates. Menelaus catches Adrastus who begs for ransom. Menelaus seems to think about it (Inclined to show mercy) but Agamemnon states that no one will be spared. Helenus asks Hektor to ask his mother to make an offering to Athene in order to help them win this war.Athene denies. Glaucus and Diomedes meet and discover their grandparents were guest friends and exchange their armour to signify the continuation of this friendship. Hektor rouses Paris to join the fighting, Helen comments how she wishes she had a better husband. Hektor visits Andromache and Astyanax, Andromache wishes for him to refrain form fighting as she fears loosing him. In response, Hektor states he would dislike for women to state he is not fighting (his pride doesn’t allow him to stop fighting) Plays with his son and the family shows a loving moment. Hektor returns to battle whilst Andromache already begins to grieve.

BOOK 9

Agamemnon fears that they must sail home. Diomedes argues against what he believes to be cowardice, he believes they will win. Nestor wants everyone to calm down and to approach Achilles (reconciliation). Agamemnon offers prizes for Achilles in order to make him fight. 7 tripods, 10 talents of gold, 20 cauldrons, 12 horses,7 lesbians, Briseis. Phoenix, Ajax, Odysseus to take this offer to Achilles. Achilles is found playing the lyre, singing songs of glorious past soldiers whilst Patroclus was listening opposite. Achilles welcomes them as friends stating it is not them they are angry with. Each try to appeal to Achilles but he denies all of them and the offer. Phoenix asks Achilles to forgive and he recounts the story of Meleagar an angry prince who lost the honour due to his anger. Even after this Achilles’ anger (and pride) has not changed. The embassy return with bad news and they all go to sleep.

BOOK 10

Agamemnon and Menelaus can’t sleep. They wake up the other commanders to talk. Nestor proposes that people are sent off to spy. Diomedes and Odysseus are selected. They sneak towards the Trojan camp.In the Trojan camp, Hektor has a similar idea. Dolon will go scout for a reward of the chariot and horse of Achilles. Hektor promises this. Dolon is caught by Diomedes and Odysseus. Odysseus said Dolon will not be killed but even after Dolon uses supplication, he is still killed. Diomedes and Odysseus and go the camp and slaughter all of those there. They also take the horses of Rhesus there. both of them return in triumph to the Greek camp.

BOOK 16

Patroclus goes to Achilles to ask to use his armour and chariot since things are going really badly. Achilles says that Patroclus should only drive the Trojans, nothing else. Trojans set fire to a ship. Patroclus puts on Achilles’ armour. Achilles sends out the Myrmidons. Achilles prays to Zeus. In Achilles chariot, Sarpedon turns to face Patroclus and they duel. Zeus wants to save his son ,Serpedon, from his fate as Sarepedon is killed by Patroclus but Hera convinces him otherwise. Zeus decides to glorify Patroclus before he dies by making Hektor retreat. Fight for Sarpedon’s body. Zeus gets Sarpedon’s body home for burials. Apollo strikes Patroclus in the back, Euphorbus struck Partoclus in the back between the shoulders. Hektor then stabs him with his spear. Patroclus dies whilst telling Hektor that Achilles will defeat him.

BOOK 17

Menelaus defends Patroclus’ body. Euphorbus goes to Menelaus and tells him to step away because since Euphorbus striked Patroclus then he deserves the body/time. Menelaus kills him. Apollo (in human form) tells Hektor to fight and collect Patroclus’ armour. Menelaus sees Hektor approaching with the Trojans and retreats in order to find Ajax. Ajax helps him (Menelaus) defend the body even though the armour has now been taken off. Glaucus chastises Hektor for having Achilles’ armour and comments that Ajax is stronger than him. In response, Hektor says he will fight Ajax. Zeus allows Hektor to have temporary strength but comments that he will never return home. Ares filled Hektor with courage and strength. Hektor urges them (the Trojans) on even saying that he will split the spoils with the one who drags Patroclus. The Trojans and Acheaens battle. Hippothoos begins to drag the body but then he is killed. Aneas (urged by Appllo) urges on the Trojans. Ajax prays to Zeys. Menelaus sends Antilochus to Achilles. Patroclus’ corpse is moved by Meneluas and Meriones.

BOOK 18

Antilochus told Achilles about Patroclus dying. Achilles is hit with strong grief e.g. rolling around. Antilochus grasps his hands fearful he may commit suicide. Thetis and the nymphs mourn. Achilles declares he will fight. Thetis promises him new armour. Iris (sent by Hera) tells Achilles to show himself. Hearing his voice the Trojans retreat. A Trojan assembly is called. Polydamas says they should hide out (siege) and wait out the war. Hektor refuses and encourages the people to fight. Patroclus is mourned for. Zeus questions Hera in which she responds then she will continue to cause trouble for the Trojans. Thetic goes into Hephaestus’ house and he agrees to forge the armour. Thetis takes it.

BOOK 19

Thetis gives Achilles the armour while he hugged Patroclus’ body. Achilles’ want for war increases. Thetis preserves Patroclus’ body. Achilles end the quarrel with Agamemnon, Agamemnon responds blaming Zeus, fate, Fury and Ate for his decisions. Goes on a tangent on her Ate fooled Zeus as well. Odysseus suggests the gifts all of them eating first before fighting and for Agamemnon’s gift to be brought into the assembly. also comments that Agamemnon should be more open to making amends in the future. Sacrifice to the gods. Briseis and comments how Patroclus treated her kindly. Achilles fasts. Zeus tells Athene to sustain Achilles. Achilles arms for battle.

BOOK 22

Priam and Hecuba try to persuade Hektor to not go and fight. First, Priam who begs him saying that his doom is at the hands of Achilles. Also mentions his two sons that Achilles killed. Advising him to “Take refuge behind the walls,”. The old man plucked his grey hair from his head and then Hecuba begins to wail and weep (breast scene). Hektor thinks about what to do next but them by thinking of what others will saying about him he would rather be killed or kill Achilles. Achilles approached Hector which scares Hektor. They run around the walls of Troy thrice. Zeus comments on who might die and Athene warns him to not influence Hektor’s fateful death. They keep running. In Olympus, Zeus puts the deaths of Achilles and Hektor on a gold scale and Hector’s sank towards Hades foreshadowing his death. Athene goes to Achilles and tells him Hektor will die by both of their hands. Athene turned into Deiphobus (Hektor’s favourite brother) and offered to help him fight. Achilles is happy. Hektor offers an oath to not mistreat each others bodies. Achilles in response “Curse you, Hektor,” he lauched a spear but misses. Hektor taunts him for this and throws his spear and he misses as well. He turn around to reieve another spear from “Deiphobus” but realises it was a trick. This armour being his orginally, Achilles is aware of its weak spots and attacks Hektor in the opening at his throat. Hektor begs for Achilles to accept any ransom he is given. Achilles refuses. Hektor says that Paris will kill Achilles and dies. Achilles drags Hektor’s corpse in the dust by the end of his chariot. Hecube begins mourning and Priam “groaned in anguish”. He announce that he will try and retrieve Hektor. Andromache finds out he is dead and begins mourning as well.

BOOK 23

Achilles mourns Patroclus again. He decides to further ruin Hektor’s corpse and leaves it head first in the dirt. A funeral feast is had. Achilles refuses to eat until he has laid Patroclus to rest. Achilles goes to sleep and Patroclus appears in his dream. Patroclus accuses Hektor of abandoning and neglecting him, he asks him to lay his body on the pyre so that he can go. He also asks for their ashes to be combined in one urn. Agamemnon sent out men from every hut to fetch wood. Achilles planned a great funeral pyre for Patroclus and built it. Still Aphrodite protected Hektor’s body. The pyre wouldn’t burn so Ahcilles prayed to the winds and Iris head and gave the winds his message to them so the pyre lights. Once the pyre stopped burning Achilles went to sleep but was woken up by people around him. The Chariot race goes on. Idomeneus and Ajax the lesser quarrel on who they see win. Achilles commands them to calm down Diomedes’ team came 1st. Antilochus 2nd. Menelaus 3rd. Meriones 4th. Eumelus 5th. Achilles gave Eumelus second place prize. Antilochus is unhappy so instead Achilles gives Eumelus a bronzeplate that he owns. Antilochus plactaes Menelaus and gives him his mare. The unclaimed 5th prize was given to Nestor. The boxing match- Prizes- Winner- a 6 year old broken in mule. Loser- two handled drinking cup. Epeius Vs Euryalus. Winner-Epeius. Wresting. Ajax vs Odysseus. Achilles promises them equal gifts. foot race. Odysseus 2nd. Ajax 3rd. Antilochus. Antilochus praised Odysseus for his age and Achilles give him another half-talent of gold. Armed combat. Diomedes won even though the match was stopped because it was violent. The throwing competition. Polypoetes won and got pig-iron that can last 5 years. Archery. Apollo made Teucer’s arrow fall because he didn’t give him a sacrficie but Meriones promised that sacrifice so the arrow managed to shoot the pigeon. The chapter concludes with Achilles honouring Agamemnon but saying how he is known at being superior at javelin so he gives Agamemnon the cauldron and the spear to Meriones instead of actually having a javelin competition.

Book 24

Achilles mourns again thinking of moments of Patroclus’ life.At dawn he attached Hektor to his chariot and dragged him 3x around Patroclus’ mound. Apollo prevented his corpse from epbeing effected. The gods argue over how Hektor’s body is being treated by Achilles urging Hermes to steal the corpse but Hera, Poseidon and Athene disagreed. After 11 days of this, on the 12th Apollo speaks. He talks of how pious Hektor was and those that love him and how this is wrong. Hera is angry responding with how Hektor is a mere mortal but Achilles is a demi-god. Zeus warns her abut her anger and agrees that they cannot be honoured equally. He says he will advise Thetis on what to do. Iris summons Thetis to Zeus. Thetis is welcoming warmly and is asked to go and tell her son to accept a random for Hektor’s body. Thetis obeys immediately. once Achille sis told her agrees and says whoever brings a random can have Hektor. Iris is sent by Zeus to Troy where she tells Priam to go and pay the ransom for his son’s body. Priam summons his wife telling her what the message from Zeus tells him. Hecuba tells him not to go and that it is a bad idea. Priam states how he will not be convinced otherwise. He takes 12 robes, 12 singe-sided cloaks, coverlets, white mantles, tunics, 10 talents of gold, 2 bright tripods, 4 cauldron, a beautiful cup. After leaving his house he shouts of the Trojans and shouts at his sons as well calling them “useless”. He complains about how may good sons that have been taken from him and Priam commands them to help him prepare to depart. They make libation before they head out to Zeus asking for a sign to god. In response Zeus sends a black eagle which is a strong positive omen. Zeus sends Hermes to guide them. Hermes disguises himself and help Priam. They come to Achilles hut and Hermes advises Priam to supplicate Achilles. Priam goes in to supplicate Achilles talking about his father. Together they weep. Achilles for his father and Patroclus. Priam for Hektor. Achilles released Hektor’s corpse to him but he stay and eat a feast. Achilles declares a truce for Hektor’s funeral. As Priam sleeps, Hermes wakes him up to leave and undetected they escape the camp. There is a lament for Hektor and his funeral is had.