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The Anger of Achilles!

Structure! Achilles as the central character and driving force behind the progression of the Iliad c! The Trojan war serves as a background; the war over ten years but Iliads span around 50 days! Begins directly with the events leading to the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon that leads to Achilless withdrawal from the war! The poem follows the rage of Akhilleus: how it begins, how it cripples the Akhaians, how it becomes redirected toward the Trojans! Structurally, the Iliad reaches the plot climax with the ght between Achilles and Hector rather than the fall of Troy and closes after catharsis has been reached between the audience and Achilles (rather than with the Greek victory). !

Opening lines! Muse, sing the rage of Peleus son Akhilleus, deadly rage that brought the Akhaians endless pain, that hurled down to Hades many strong souls of heroes and made their bodies meat for dogs and vultures, fullling the plan of Zeus! Announces the topic - rage! Locates the rage Akhilleus! Delineates the consequences brought the Akhaians endless pain, that hurled down to Hades many strong souls! Links to higher forces fullling the plan of Zeus! Notes the origin quarrel between Agamemnon and Akhilleus!

Book 1! Agamemnon is forced to return Chryseis and takes Akhilleus war prize Briseis instead! This dishonours Akhilleus who then refuses to ght in the war Akhilleus established as proud! Akhilleus is so enraged by Agamemnons actions that he is ready to kill him stands poised to draws his sword! Fight over honour between Akhilleus and Agamemnon! Akhilleus is established as mighty and temperamental!

Prowess as a Hero! Much of his prowess as a hero is due to the fearful nature of his anger - terries opponents! Patroklos is able to garner success by impersonating Achilles - donning Achilless armour he roused their hearts and ghting force (XVI.275)! Later, Achilles actual return to battle is enough to make the Trojan forces consider retreat into the city - Poulydamas counsels Hector to return to town... to escape godlike Achilles (XVIII.268). !

Dangers of Anger! Capacity for violence is depicted in his killing of Tros - despite the Trojan begging for mercy! Book 21: Akhilleus mercilessly slaughters has no intention of sparing any Trojan, throws so many corpses into the river that the channels become clogged! Book 24: continues abusing Hektors body drags him around Patroklos tomb! Tendency towards destructive rage used to illustrate the dangers of thoughtless violence! Temper that leads to Achilless refusal to ght! His withdrawal which directly results in Patrokloss death! Book 18: Antilochus brings news of Patroklos death Akhilleus weeps, beats the ground and covers his face with dirt, Akhilleus states he will avenge Patroklos by killing Hektor! This capacity for ruthlessness is further illustrated in Achilless defeat of Hector! The merciless killing of Hector which eventually results in Achilless own death! Achilless obsessive concern with victory and inclination towards heedless violence is explored and used as a cautionary tale!

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! Achilles! ! !

The Heroic Code!

Book 1! Honour is one of the dominant aspects of the ancient Greek value systems! Agamemnon and Akhilleus both prioritise personal glory over the well-being of the Akhaians! Agamemnon: deserves the highest prize even at the expense of his most valuable warrior! Akhilleus: would rather defend his claim to his war prize than diffuse the situation! Book 9! Agamemnon offers Akhilleus gifts to return to battle material wealth translates into honour! Akhilleus rejects the offer and says he will return to Phthia to live a long, prosaic life instead of a short glorious one he does not simply want an apology (which is not given) or recompense, he wants restoration of the honour and glory for which he has worked so hard and given so much! Achilless Situation - prophecy at birth that he would die young but be remembered gloriously (extreme version of heros problem)!

Book 24! Akhilleus shows more aspects of heroism as he grows as a character he demonstrates empathy by returning Hektors body and giving the Trojans reprieve as they mourn! Homers heroes are wholly mortal, unhappy, short lived and limited in their abilities!

! Paris! !

Book 3! We see that Paris does not t the identity of hero! After challenging Akhaian warrior to battle the sight of Menelaus causes him to ee. ! He blames his loss and cowardice on the Gods by saying they helped Menelaus! He retreats to his marriage bed while the Trojan army ghts for the woman that he stole! Hektor is more devoted to the heroic code criticises Paris disgracing the Trojans! The dual between Paris and Menelaus is embarrassing; Paris has to be rescued by Aphrodite!

Book 6! Paris is withdrawn from battle as he says he is too grief stricken to participate! Hektor and Helen heap scorn on him for not ghting, he then arms himself to go into battle!

! Hector! ! !

Book 6! Mortal hero could die at any time, gods childish behaviour controlling human fate! This makes it important for the humans to live nobly and make life meaningful in its own right this is what Hektor explains to Andromache! Kleos (glory) is the central issue of the battle! Book 22! Willing to suffer the consequences of his action - refusal to return to safety after witnessing the deaths that occurred due to his orders! ingrained sense of personal dignity - rejection of negotiation in favour of the honourable battle! Decency - attempt to secure a mutual guarantee to treat the losers corpse with respect ! Heroism and courage - charging Akhilleus after he learns the gods have abandoned him! Akhilleus drags Hektors body through the dirt not honourable, a disgrace! Hektors earlier moment of glory where he stripped Patroklos of his armour leads to his death as Akhilleus knows the armours weak points! Akhilleus proves superior to Hektor in strength and endurance but is inferior in integrity