Humor in the iliad is most often associated with the gods but does occasionally show up among the humans, most often in connection with nestor. Agamemnon offers great treasurethe return of briseis, future plunder, one of his daughters, and seven citiesto achilles if he will fight again and. It is a curious fact about the iliad that, for all its focus on the theme of death, it rarely shows characters longing for immortality. The next morning thetis delivers achilless new armor, gives him strength, and promises to keep patrocluss body from decaying. Agamemnon fears they must sail home, but diomedes argues against such cowardice. Use sparknotes and no longer weep, ace every single test you take. Homer, iliad book 17 theoi classical texts library.
Menelaus sees the death of patroclus, and he goes to defend the body. Summary and analysis of book 17 of homers iliad, with a focus on the struggle for the body of patroclus and the importance of ancient greek. Chapter summary for homers the iliad, book 14 summary. Menelaos gets in a fight with euphorbosthe first man to spear patroklos in book 16over patrokloss body. Brave menelaus son of atreus now came to know that patroclus had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armour to bestride him. The iliad begins with the poet calling on the muse to sing of the wrath of achilleus and its consequences. Home english literature classic books the iliad book xvi navigate here note book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book vii book viii book ix book x book xi book xii book xiii book xiv book xv book xvi book xvii book xviii book xix book xx book xxi book xxii book xxiii book. Although we know little about the time period when it was composed and still less about the epics composer, the iliad s influence on subsequent generations of poets and writers is incalculable. Heres where youll find analysis about the poem as a whole. Euphorbus strikes at him and misses only to be killed by menelaus.
Book 17 of the iliad describes the fight over patroclus body that breaks out after his death in book 16, highlighting the importance of funeral rites in ancient greek culture. Chapter summary for homers the iliad, book 17 summary. It is a portrait of the warrior at home, war forgotten as he watches his son play and talks with his wife. In book iv, however, agamemnons reaction to menelaos flesh wound is humorous.
Most commentators consider this scene to be the most moving in the iliad. The iliad is narrated from a thirdperson omniscient point of view. Book 17 of the iliad describes the fight over patroclus body that breaks out after his death in book 16, highlighting the importance of funeral rites in ancient greek. There is little reason to believe that achilles would have made up his mind without such a powerful catalyst for his decision. Nestor calms everyone and says its time to approach achilles. The interactive nature of the quiz makes it a handy way to help you work. Thus disguised, he encourages the two aeantes great ajax and little ajax, when they are named as a pair and gives them new strength before he flies away.
First, the priest chryses comes to ask their leader, king agamemnon, to release his daughter, whom agamemnon was holding captive. The iliad is an ancient greek epic poem by homer that was first published in 762 bc. Iliad is greek for poem about ilium, which is an alternate name for the city of troy, the setting of the trojan war. Calling his myrmidons and the commanders of the army together, achilles foreswears his rage toward agamemnon and intends to immediately go into battle. Chapter summary for homers the iliad, book 16 summary. Book 17, line 5 the trojan euphorbus comes to take the body but king menelaus will not yield. Joseph campbell condensed his understanding of story into a theory he called monomyth, also known as the heros journey or the. Menelaus intends to strip him of his armor but apollo inspires hector in the shape of a trojan to stop. Murray 1 and the son of atreus, menelaus, dear to ares, failed not to mark that patroclus had been slain in battle by the trojans, but fared amid the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze, and bestrode the dead, as over a calf standeth lowing plaintively its mother, that hath brought forth her firstborn, ere then knowing naught of motherhood.
This is one of the few times when this happens, and it is interesting that hektor says it out of excitement wanting the moment to last forever instead of despair at a moment passing. See a complete list of the characters in the iliad and indepth analyses of achilles, agamemnon, and hector. Hector, his attention focused on the fleeing horses of achilles, is made to look at the scene by apollo. He and euphorbus trade insults, and menelaus reminds him that he killed euphorbus brother hyperenor. The end of book vi is the famous scene between hector and andromache and their infant son, astyanax. Consisting of 15,693 lines of verse, the iliad has been hailed as the greatest epic of western civilization. In the tenth year of the trojan war, tensions are running high among the achaians a superancient name for the ancient greeks. Read an overview of the entire poem or a line by line summary and analysis. The iliad quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. Chapter summary for homers the iliad, book 7 summary. He demonstrates a certain cowardice when, twice in book 17, he flees great. Review book 17 of the iliad with this quiz and worksheet combination.
Agamemnon, seeing blood, thinks that his brother has been mortally wounded and begins a long speech of lament and revenge. Little ajax knows then that some god has spoken to them, and the aeantes spirits rise. Homers epic poem the iliad tells the story of the trojan war and the epic heroes and gods. Apollos priest chryses comes to the achaian camp and asks to ransom back his daughter chryseis, who has been captured. He still has faith in zeuss promise of their victory. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the iliad. Homers epic poem the iliad tells the story of the trojan war and the epic heroes and gods, including achilles, hector. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. This study guide and infographic for homers the iliad offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text.
Poseidon comes down to the battlefield and takes the form of calchas the seer. Brave menelaus son of atreus now came to know that patroclus hadfallen and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armourto bestride him. Homers epic poem the iliad tells the story of the trojan war and the epic heroes and gods, including achilles, hector, odysseus, athena, ares. Agamemnon also speaks, again blaming the gods and madness for his actions but promising achilles the. The iliad begins with the poet calling on the muse to sing of the wrath of. Homers epic poem the iliad tells the story of the trojan war and the epic heroes and gods, including achilles, hector, odysseus, athena, ares, paris. Menelaus observes the death of patroclus and runs to guard his body like a mother cow lowing over a calf. Iliad study guide contains a biography of homer, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
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