The Iliad Essay, Research Paper
THE ILIAD
By Aubrie Campbell
The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War, which lasted 10 years. The Grecians eventually won the war, but the outcome could have very easily shifted due to a quarrel between King Agamemnon and Achilles. Pride and anger is what the two men were fighting about. This story is a very good example of how those two simple emotions can lead to tragedy.
Agamemnon was King of Argos. He was also the chief king among the Grecians. He was angry because his brother, King Menelaus of Sparta, had his wife, Helen, stolen by Paris of Troy. He called all the Kings of Greece and Isles of Greece to come together and make war upon the Trojans and bring Helen back. Among the many was Achilles.
Achilles was the son of Thetis, a sea nymph. He was the man who Troy feared the most because he was called the world’s greatest warrior. It was said that his only weakness was his heel. If he were to be hurt there, he would surely die.
The quarrel began when the Grecian warriors returned from sacking Thebes. Each warrior was dealt out shares of the loot and a woman. The woman King Agamemnon was awarded was the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo. Chryses came to the tents of the Grecians bringing a great ransom and asked for his daughter, Chrysies, back. Agamemnon ignored his pleas and sent him away. Chryses left and went down to the ocean and prayed to Apollo to avenge his tears. Apollo heard his prayer and, furious, came down from Mt. Olympus. He sat upon a hill and started to attack the Grecians with his arrows. This went on for nine days straight.
On the tenth day Achilles called all the Kings and Princes into assembly. He asked if any of them had done anything to offend the god Apollo. The only one that spoke was Calchas, a man who knew of the past, present, and future. He said that King Agamemnon had dishonored Apollo’s priest. He also told them that Apollo would not stop until Agamemnon restored the girl without ransom to her father.
King Agamemnon angrily stated that he did not want to give up his prize, for then he would be the only Grecians without one. Yet, because he would rather his people live, he would return the girl if she was replaced with another.
Achilles told him that all the prizes had been awarded. But if Agamemnon was to return the girl, the gods would be in their favor and they would win the war. When they won they would replace Chrysies three or four times. Agamemnon would not hear of this. His pride would not allow for himself to have less then the next man. He said that he would send the girl back, but she would have to be replaced or he would come after Achilles’ or Ajax’s or Ulysses’.
This angered Achilles, and thus began the quarrel that almost cost the Grecians the war. “You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain,” said Achilles. He also called him a “wine bibber” and “with the face of a dog and heart of a hind.” He spat out that he never receives such a large share or as good a prize of that of Agamemnon, even though he is the one doing most of the fighting. “We have followed you, Sir Insolence, for your pleasure not ours,” he stated, “and now you threaten to take my prize which I have been awarded!” Then he went on to say that he should return home for he would not stay here to be dishonored by an insolent fool.
Agamemnon was furious that Achilles would speak to him in this way. He told Ulysses to take Chrysies back to her father. Then, in retaliation, he told Achilles that he would send someone that night to come and take Achilles’ woman. Achilles shouted that he would not stand for this. He would never again raise a sword to help King Agamemnon.
After the girl was taken from his tent, Achilles went to the ocean and wept. His mother heard his cries and came to sit with him. He told her the entire story. He then asked her to go to Olympus and avenge him. He asked her to let the Grecians lose. “Let the Grecians be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships and perish on the seashore. May they reap what joy they may of their king, and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to me, the foremost of the Grecians,” he said. Thetis told him she would try her best to do what her son had wished.
Achilles and Agamemnon were fighting because of pride. Both thought themselves the better man and considered themselves dishonored by each other. For this, they each sought vengeance. Agamemnon uses his power to take Achilles’ prize from him. Achilles decides to not only stop fighting, but also to turn against the Grecians. He would rather them lose the war than be dishonored.
This is a classic example of how the human being can be so consumed with pride and anger he becomes dangerous. This is demonstrated all the time when we hear of the pointless deaths of many people due to shootings in schools and churches, kidnappings, and murders. By asking his mother to let the Trojans win the war, Achilles was sentencing thousands of soldiers to death. If there is any lesson learned from this story, it is not to let pride and anger cloud your judgment or make you crazy. Many people have made grave mistakes by letting it control them.
P.S. This got an A
Другие работы по теме:
Homer Essay Research Paper HOMERThere is no
Homer Essay, Research Paper HOMER There is no question that the writer of the Iliad and the Odyssey was one of the greatest poets in the history of Western Europe, but aside from this, very little can be said about him. Ancient Greek tradition, as well as a study of language and the style of the poems indicates that he probably lived and wrote sometime in the eighth or ninth centuries B.C., but no more definite date can be determined.
Biography Of Homer Essay Research Paper Biography
Biography Of Homer Essay, Research Paper Biography of Homer (?-? BC) Beyond a few fragments of information, historians and classicists can only speculate about the life of the man who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey. The details are few. We do not even know the century in which he lived, and it is difficult to say with absolute certainty that the same poet composed both works.
The Iliad Basic Human Nature Essay
, Research Paper As humans we are gifted (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with certain inescapable traits. Homer does an excellent job showing the traits through the heroes of the Iliad. This essay will discuss how the basic human nature of a few of Homer s characters determines their fate.
Leadership Essay Research Paper LeadershipLeadership is used
Leadership Essay, Research Paper Leadership Leadership is used everyday by many different people, but mainly by the same people day after day. These people are know as Leaders, and in the stories of Beowulf and Iliad there are some great examples of good leaders and bad leaders.
Drama And Literature Of Early Greece Essay
, Research Paper In early Greece, most drama and poetry grew from Athenian celebrations honoringthe god of wine, Dionysus. Greek plays were performed outdoors to an all maleaudience. The plays were performed in theaters that were built into hillsides. All ofthe actors were also male, and they had a chorus which explained the play as itwent.
The Illiad Essay Research Paper The IliadThe
The Illiad Essay, Research Paper The Iliad The way Homer wrote this text is similar to warfare today, especially the feelings. There are some differences though. At the end of the passage, Homer wrote War is men s business; and this war is the business of everyone in Ilium, myself above all. That is stating that only men fight in wars.
The Illiad Essay Research Paper Book ReviewThe
The Illiad Essay, Research Paper Book Review The Iliad The name “Homer” is synonymous with great tales of heroic poetry. Although this genre of poetry hails the distinctness of being “Homeric” it is
Epics Essay Research Paper In order to
Epics Essay, Research Paper In order to be considered an epic, there are certain qualifications and standards that a piece of literature must meet. The themes and motifs incorporated in these stories are universal and the plot lines are both historical and entertaining. These epics are long poems that were originally expressed orally and later transcended into written works.
Homer Essay Research Paper The Odyssey is
Homer Essay, Research Paper ?The Odyssey? is one of only a few epics still in existence today. An epic is a long narrative poem which focuses on the lives and struggles of a great hero or heroes. Homer used many literary techniques to make his poetry more fully understood. He was very versed in his Greek gods and uses them as great heroes.
Agamemnon And Achilles Essay Research Paper Many
Agamemnon And Achilles Essay, Research Paper Many have speculated about the Trojan War. It s been written about in books like the Iliad and The Odyssey. A person could read in a book about this massive war between King Priam and Agamemnon, but did this massive war ever really happen? We have all heard of the mighty wooden horse in which the Greek forces broke into the mighty walls of Troy.
Comparison Of The Illiad
’s Achilles And Hector Essay, Research Paper Two of the main characters in Homer s The Iliad, Achilles and Hector, compare very differently in many ways. Although they were both war heroes, they came from different sides of the battle and fought each other under different beliefs. These two brave warriors fought to the death in Book 22, where Hector eventually lost to Achilles.
Theme Analysis Essay Research Paper Theme AnalysisIn
Theme Analysis Essay, Research Paper Theme Analysis In Homer’s Iliad, war is depicted as horrible, bloody, and fruitless. There are no clear winners in The Iliad. Many people die in vain because of arrogant and emotional
Hector Vs Achilles Essay Research Paper Two
Hector Vs. Achilles Essay, Research Paper Two of the main characters in the Iliad are Achilles and Hector. Other than being great warriors, they have little in common. There are fundamental differences in their character. Hector, a great leader and family man is a protector of the people. Achilles, on the other hand is self-centered warrior, his motivation for fighting is for glory and remembrance.
Iliad Paper Essay Research Paper How does
Iliad Paper Essay, Research Paper How does Achilles change? Why does the change take place? Which personality is the true Achilles? Initially, Achilles is selfish and petty. He refuses to fight in the war because Agamemnon takes Briseis. His selfishness causes the death of many Argives. Without the strength and power of Achilles, no other Greek warrior is able to repel the powerful Hector.
Achilles Vs Hector Essay Research Paper Achilles
Achilles Vs. Hector Essay, Research Paper Achilles vs. Hector: The Climax of the Iliad the meeting of two unique warriors. In the Iliad is a very interesting epic with features two main central characters that are similar in some ways but totally different in other ways. In this epic you will be introduced to Hector and Achilles.
The Development Of The Warrior Achilles In
The Iliad. Essay, Research Paper The Development of the Warrior Achilles in the Iliad. From the initial callousness and stubborn temper of Achilles in the first books of the Iliad to the eventual humanization’ of Achilles in his interaction with the grieving father of Hector, whom Achilles himself slew, the Iliad can be seen to chronicle the maturation of the Greek hero during the terrible battles of the Trojan War.
MortalityAs Seen In Homer
’s Iliad Essay, Research Paper Zeus views mortality as the ability to pass to the domain of Hades, by which Zeus has no control over. The reader knows that even Gods are not immortal according to this definition, for Kronos long ago passed into Hades’ kingdom. Gods do not pass on as easily or as frequently as immortals, but as each immortal dies the Gods are reminded of the existence of the underworld.
Dante And Homer Essay Research Paper Dante
Dante And Homer Essay, Research Paper Dante makes many references to Homer and the Iliad throughout the Inferno. The fates of favorite characters are described during the course of Dante?s
The Impact Of Women In The Iliad
Essay, Research Paper The Impact of Women in The Iliad Women have always been recognized for their strong influence on the actions of men. Because of his love for Delia, Samson told his secret of his power and ended up losing it. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth urged Macbeth to commit murder. More recently, Eleanor Roosevelt strongly influenced the decisions that Franklin D.
Iliad By Homer Essay Research Paper ILIADThe
Iliad By Homer Essay, Research Paper ILIAD The Iliad is an epic poem written by Homer .Homer is traditionally believed to be the author both of the Iliad and the Odyssey , the two major epics of Greek antiquity. It is believed that Homer was a blind bard and dictated the epics. Nothing further is known about Homer as an individual , and in fact it is a matter of controversy whether a single person can be said to have written both the Iliad and the Odyssey .Linguistic and historical evidence , however , suggests that the poems were composed in the Greek settlements on the west coast of Asia Minor sometime in the second half of the 8th century BC
The Iliad Essay Research Paper The IliadFrom
The Iliad Essay, Research Paper The Iliad From the beginning of time and continuously through the ages there has always been the struggle between good and evil. Through the Odyssey Homer presents a clear view of both good and evil. Odysseus, the hero and main character of the Odyssey, is portrayed by Homer as the unequivocal essence of goodness and all that is right.
Beowulf And Achilles Essay Research Paper Beowulf
Beowulf And Achilles Essay, Research Paper Beowulf is a story about a man named Beowulf who desired fame and fortune in life. The Iliad had a character named Achilles who is similar to Beowulf because he also desired glory. But they are two completely different stories written at different times and different places by different people.
Epic Essay Essay Research Paper What an
Epic Essay Essay, Research Paper What an epic says about its culture is that that was the way they lived like in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Faerie Qveene, and Iliad (Comical Version). The three are epics from their own time and culture they are the same in some ways and different in other ways.
The Aeneid
– Summary Essay, Research Paper The Aeneid – Summary The Aeneid begins and ends with parallels to the Iliad, inviting us to consider Virgil’s poetry in light of Homer’s. The Aeneid is both a tribute to the Homeric style–by imitating it–and an attempt to better it. And perhaps, Virgil is not quite being fair to himself when he invites that comparison; Virgil does not have the Iliad’s tragic irony, and Aeneas is not as powerful a main character as Achilles.
The Iliad And Song Of Roland Essay
, Research Paper The Iliad and Song of Roland: Attitudes Toward War The Iliad by Homer and Song of Roland are two enjoyable novels that both deal with the basic nature of war. They are set in different eras of history, but they both manage to depict the image of war and conquest very well. With that said, they do indeed share obvious plot characteristics.
Gods In Literature Essay Research Paper Whenever
Gods In Literature Essay, Research Paper Whenever one refers to the literature from which the Greek god?s came from, such as the Iliad, it?s referred to as mythology. And yet, the literature of the Christian God, the Bible, is not. Both pieces of literature were written around the same time period, and yet, in modern day, the Bible represents a way of life for some religious organizations while the Iliad is simply read for pleasure.
Greece Heroism Essay Research Paper Greece HeroismIn
Greece: Heroism Essay, Research Paper Greece: Heroism In ancient Greek times heroism was much different than it is now. Today, all you have to do to become a hero most of the time is rich, after you do this the
Achilles Essay Research Paper The Iliad may
Achilles Essay, Research Paper The Iliad may be seen as an account of the circumstances that irrevocably alter the life of one man: Achilles, one of the greatest warriors. Throughout the course of the poem Achilles goes through many ordeals that change his character immensely. Starting with his quarrel with Agamemnon and withdrawal from battle, to the death of Patroklos, and with the slaying of Hektor.
Hamlet Essay Research Paper Homer The
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Homer The Homeric poems are a representation of reality- nature, animals, and men. We may reach Homer by inquiring into the picture he gives us– by seeing how true and imaginative it is. One researcher, Paolo Vivante, concludes that By Homeric imaginatition I mean that sympathetic insight whereby objects and events were first rendered by the poet in significant and revealing outlines (1).
Zeus As Keeper Of Order Essay Research
Paper Throughout The Iliad, Zeus presides as the supreme god of all gods, consistently maintaining the divine order of things and making known the absolute power he possesses so that his will may be done. This is clearly shown in the epic through the confrontation with his wife, Hera, when she accuses him of plotting secret plans.
Pride In The Iliad Essay Research Paper
*You better respect this essay , it took me longer to do it than you will?! Pride in the Iliad The period in which the events in The Iliad took place were different than the times of today. Back then, the most important aspect of life for a person was to be a hero and to be remembered. One?s pride would come before everything else.
The Iliad And The Odyssey A Comparison
Essay, Research Paper The Iliad and The Odyssey: A Comparison Although both works are credited to Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey provide two remarkably different views on the nature of the Olympian Gods, their relationship to humanity, and the general lot of mortals throughout their all too brief lives.
Beowulf And Iliad Essay Research Paper Beowulf
Beowulf And Iliad Essay, Research Paper Beowulf and The Iliad Picture this. Inside the hall, mighty shields and glistening swords await the visitors? arrival. Skillfully crafted armor
Source Analysis The Death Of Hector Essay
, Research Paper The Death of Hector is actually just one part of a larger work. The Iliad was written during the Dark Ages of Greece by a blind poet named Homer. It