Introduction

The Iliad focuses on the major events that occurred in the final weeks of the ten-year long Trojan War
and the Greek siege of the city of Troy. There were certainly other works also steeped in this oral
tradition that described earlier conflict and battles of the Trojan War, but The Iliad is the best known.
With its gripping tale of bloody battles, political maneuverings, and incessant intervention of the gods,
The Iliad is one of the most loved tales in all of human history.

Background of the Writer

[ ] The Greek poet Homer was born sometime between the 12th and 8th centuries BC, possibly
somewhere on the coast of Asia Minor.

[ ] He is famous for the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, which have had an enormous effect on
Western culture, but very little is known about their alleged author.

[ ] He Greek epic poet credited with the enduring epic tales of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

[ ] When Was Homer Born?

Much speculation surrounds when Homer was born because of the dearth of real information about
him. Guesses at his birth date range from 750 BC all the way back to 1200 BC, the latter because The
Iliad encompasses the story of the Trojan War, so some scholars have thought it fit to put the poet and
chronicler nearer to the time of that actual event. But others believe the poetic style of his work
indicates a much later period. Greek historian Herodotus (c. 484–425 BC), often called the father of
history, placed Homer several centuries before himself, around 850 BC.

[ ] Where Was Homer Born?

Once again, the exact location of Homer’s birth cannot be pinpointed, although that doesn't stop
scholars from trying. It has been identified as Ionia, Smyrna or, at any rate, on the coast of Asia Minor or
the island of Chios. But seven cities lay claim to Homer as their native son.

[ ] Homer enriched his descriptive story with the liberal use of simile and metaphor, which has inspired a
long path of writers behind him. His structuring device was to start in the middle–in medias res– and
then fill in the missing information via remembrances.

[ ] The two narrative poems pop up throughout modern literature: Homer’s The Odyssey has parallels in
James Joyce’s Ulysses, and his tale of Achilles in The Iliad is echoed in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fall of
Gondolin. Even the Coen Brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou? makes use of The Odyssey.

[ ] Homer’s real life may remain a mystery, but the very real impact of his works continues to illuminate
our world today.

Characters and Their Significant Roles in the Story

[ ] Achilles- The central character of the Iliad and the greatest warrior in the Achaian army. The most
significant flaw in the temperament of Achilles is his excessive pride. He is willing to subvert the good of
the whole army and to endanger the lives of those who are closest to him to achieve emotional
blackmail. Chief virtue: a fighter. His humanity stems from his great passion.

[ ] Agamemnon -The well-meaning but irresolute king of Mycenae; commander-in-chief of the

[ ] Odysseus The shrewdest and most subtle of all the Achaians and a brave warrior besides, as he
demonstrates on many occasions. Epithet: "Seed of Zeus." Chief virtue: intelligence motivated by
persistence, which is his humanity.

[ ] Patroklos- Achilles' close friend and warrior-companion.

[ ] Diomedes He ranks among the finest and bravest of the Achaian warriors; he is always wise and
reasonable and is renowned for his courtesy and gallantry. He is, perhaps, Homer's vision of the perfect
young nobleman. He is sometimes called "lord of the battle cry."

[ ] Aias (Ajax)- Son of Telamon, he is often called Telamonian Aias; his reputation is due primarily to
brute strength and courage, which are his virtues in the poem. Epithet: wall of army.

[ ] Aias the Lesser- A distinguished warrior, but insolent and conceited. He is the son of Oileus and is
often called Oilean Aias.

[ ] The Achaians: Warriors

Helen Originally married to Menelaos, she ran away to Troy with Paris and became his wife. Supposedly,
she is the most beautiful woman in the world; however, she is also self-centered.

[ ] Hektor (Hector) Prince of Troy and son of Priam and Hekuba. Hektor is commander of all the Trojan
and allied forces. He is the greatest of the Trojan warriors and one of the most noble characters in the
Iliad. He is always conscious of his duty and his responsibilities to his people and does not let his
personal interests interfere. He is a devoted and loving husband and father.

[ ] The Trojans: Warriors

He seems
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[ ] The Trojans: Warriors

He seems content to allow the Trojans to fight for him. He is reprimanded for this by Hektor more than
once. His reputation is that of a "pretty boy." His smoothness and glibness are not admired by the
warriors of either side, and they often accuse him of cowardice.

[ ] The Gods

Gods differ from mortals primarily in their immortality. They are unaware of the fear of death and
sometimes seem unable to grasp the pain and horror that fighting and dying bring to mortal warriors.
The gods have ichor, an immortal fluid, rather than blood; they eat ambrosia and drink nectar. They live
on Mt. Olympos, though in the Iliad Zeus often watches the battle from Mt. Ida. The gods can and do
change shape and interact with humans. Occasionally, the gods fight humans and suffer wounds, but
this doesn't cause the gods any real harm, because the gods cannot bleed or die. The Greek gods are all
anthropomorphic: They look like humans, although they are taller, larger, more beautiful, and they often
exhibit human emotions such as anger, envy, and deceit.

[ ] Zeus The supreme god and king of Olympos.

[ ] Hera -Sister and wife of Zeus. She was the goddess of women and childbirth.

[ ] Athena- Daughter of Zeus; she sprang directly from his head and became the goddess of wisdom

[ ] Aphrodite- Daughter of Zeus; goddess of love and sexual desire.

Setting

[ ] It takes place on the battlefields of the city of Troy. The people of troy know the feeling of war very
well they battle between the Trojan’s and Acherons.

[ ] The war has been going on for over 9 years, and the feud has not yet ended. It has always been
thought that if you could take the city of troy you would be give great honor when you return to your
homeland.

[ ] The book starts off with the begging feuded between the great Achilles and king Agamemnon, he
threatens to take captive of one of his chief’s of Achaian. Achilles was ready to strike but he decided to
take an oath and not fight so he could let king Agamemnon see how valuable he was on the battlefield
wail he watched his men suffer.

[ ] Later that night Zeus sent king Agamemnon a message in his dream that it is the time for the Achaians
to attack. But the men of Achilles thought differently after hearing about the quarrel that he had with
Achilles, so they called him a coward and took no regard to what he said. Hector leader of the Trojan’s
prepares his men for war but before he sends Helen too the front lines were Menelaos and Paris will
fight for her hand in marriage. Both sides will soon embark on one of the most largest battle ever.

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Plot of the Story

[ ] In the introduction it is illuminated to the ongoing epoch that is the Trojan War which has been raging
already for ten years Apollo input to plague on the Aegean army after Agamemnon keeps one of his
priests daughters a surprise and this dates back to the origins of the war itself in which Paris Prince of
Troy took Helen from King Menelaus the Greek army the achæans are closing in on Troy warriors the
Trojans have refused to back down and are determined to drive off their invaders during the rising
action Agamemnon takes Briseis from Achilles the mightiest of all akkyun warriors Zeus agrees to punish
the achæans for Achilles who is refusing to fight because of his pride and honour they've been
besmirched mortals and gods fight and are who indeed and devil gods even take sides sometimes
switching back and forth gods cannot die but when they are wounded.

[ ] They have been returned to Zeus houseless mortals do die in these battles which are brutal and
arduous Zeus forbids the other gods to interfere in the war with Zeus's help Hector son of King Priam
and brother Paras break through to the Achaean ships hoping to burn them

[ ] Patroclus achilles closest friend tries to persuade his comrade to fight instead achilles unable to get
over his injured pride gives Patronus atomic tells him to leave Kean's into battle himself hack your kills
patrollers and then takes the armored Achilles had given his fallen friend and wears it around as a sign
of disrespect achilles learning his beloved friend has been killed joins the battle at last and the gods even
return to fighting.

[ ] The climax of the Iliad Achilles chases and then kills Hector in single combat in doing so he resigns
himself to a faith of glory in exchange for life itself he will soon die having a Venice's friend during the
falling action achilles rage is hardly sated he essentially holds Hector's body hostage.

[ ] Priam Hector's father begs Achilles for his sons body so he can give it a proper burial his humility
strikes a chord with Achilles and he returns Hector's body to his father during the ilion's resolution
Hector is buried in Troy the characters in life and death can now achieve the honor of closure not just a
battle but through the important ritual of burial.

[ ] Somewhere between two hundred and too many. there's only a few characters need to care about.
On the Trojan side, those are Hector, Paris, and Helen. On the Greek side, we've got Achilles, Patrocles,
Odysseus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Diomedes, Ajax the greater and Ajax the lesser along with a few
others.

[ ] Troy was called Ilias, which is why the book is called The Iliad translated literally, it'd be called "Troy
Story."

Theme
Anger, Strife, Alienation, and Reconciliation as Homer asks the Muse to sing of the "wrath of Achilles."
This wrath, all its permutations, transformations, influences, and consequences, makes up the themes of
the Iliad. Achilles wrath is initiated by his sense of honor.