...heroes, Odysseus possesses pride which causes him to do very unwise things. The Iliad is another epic poem written by Homer entertaining us with a story about Achilles. Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Achaean army. The most significant flaw 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. The plot of the Odyssey is Odysseus’ 10 year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mythical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus fight off suitors or fakers trying to steal Penelope's hand from Odysseus and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends with Odysseus winning a contest to prove his identity, killing the suitors, and retaking the throne of Ithaca for himself. The plot of the Iliad is about the final year of the Trojan War, a conflict in which Greek warriors sailed the Aegean (Turkey) and surrounded the fortress of Troy for ten years, three millennia ago. The plot also includes the greek hero...
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...and courage are depicted in such text. The story of the Iliad by Homer describes fifty latter days at the Trojan War. The book is a classical epic poem that vividly describes brass armaments and mortal blows in combat. It also glorifies battle, violence, bloodshed, relates vicissitudes of fortune and the prominence of god intervention in human affairs. The book is a great war book in a sense that the story takes place in a war environment, it has leaders, heroes, who demonstrate courage throughout the book. A-Presence of a war For a Great War text to exist, it must be a war. There was definitely a war in the Iliad by Homer: the Trojan. This War began after the abduction (or elopement) of Queen Helen of Sparta, spouse of King Menelaus, by the Trojan prince Paris. This was an insult to the king. Then all the Achaeans (Greeks) got together to fight the Trojans in order to take Helen back from the Trojans. Everything started because of a selfish act from Paris. Nine years of war, thousands of people dead from both sides, just because one person decides to please himself, regardless of the consequences. War is described in a complex way by Homer. On one hand he is condemning the war by painting a very morbid and perverse image of it. Indeed, Homer starts the Iliad by describing all the pain felt by the Achaeans and the deaths, of thousands of men in the war, as a result of Achilles’ anger who refuses to fight for the Greeks any further because insulted by Agamemnon who took his...
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...Toscano Honors IT 10/05/07 Achilles: The Tragic Hero The great hero Achilles, in Homer's The Iliad, was known to all Greeks for his strength, courage, and his ability to kill countless Trojans at impeccable speed. Also well known is the “Rage of Achilles,” which caused thousands of Greeks to lose their lives. Some critics have claimed that Achilles fits the Aristotelian model for a tragic hero: a noble character with a fatal flaw that eventually brings his downfall. However, I would argue that Achilles fits his own category for a tragic hero. Unlike the standard tragic hero that the audience sympathizes with, Achilles tends to lose audience support after his continued refusal to swallow his pride and save his dying comrades. Achilles' pride, greed, sense of honor, and hard-hardheadedness, eventually leads to the death of many of his friends, among them Achilles “beloved” Patroclus, as well as numberless other Greeks. Although Achilles never lost his life and the Greeks did not lose the war, it is tragic nevertheless. Achilles has remarkably few traits that would be seen as admirable by people in the world today. Achilles is primarily motivated by greed, thirst for honor, and an outrageous sense of his own self-importance. Initially, Achilles does not seem like he is in the wrong for holding a grudge against Agamemnon. Agamemnon shamed him in front of all the Greeks by publicly ordering Achilles war-prize, Briseis, to be taken for Agamemnon's own use. It seems...
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...and cultures are often reflected in the literature of the time. Homers epic poem, The Iliad is no different, it is a source for us today to obtain an idea of how the people of Ancient Greece thought and lived. The Iliad is more than a poem about the Trojan War; it is a poem about life, death, struggle, and traditions. The Iliad today is knows as the greatest epic in western civilization. Historians know very little about this time in Greek history and even less about its people. The poem is used to explain, how dark-age Greece peoples understood and thought about the collapse of this great civilization before them that left ruins and artifacts all around Greece. I will argue that The Iliad demonstrated that the people in Greece during the dark ages rejected and Trojan system, politically, economically, and socially. I will also argue that the idea of Greek Unity was seen as an important aspect for dark-age Greece. Throughout the Iliad there is a common theme of us v. them, the Greeks v. Trojans, this mindset gives insight into how dark age Greeks see the war. It creates a comparison of differences between the two civilizations. Culturally they are the same believe in the same gods, have the same ideals but something keeps the Trojans from being Greek, from being accepted. Troy represents a prosperous state politically, economically, and socially they are unified as Trojans. While the Greeks are seen as warriors and loosely unified, independent yet strong as a whole. These differences...
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...Davele Zephyr Magistra Semidey English, R1 15 January 2013 It’s About How One Handles Their Mistakes Sophocles once wrote that, “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride”. This quote means that everyone messes up at some point, however the ones who acknowledge their mistakes and strive to improve upon them are considered honorable, unlike those who ignore their mistakes due to a fear of tainting their prestige. Both epic poems, The Iliad by Homer and The Aeneid by Virgil affirm this idea because throughout each book, characters that learn from prior mistakes are successful when faced with challenges, whereas those who practice prideful thinking eventually reach a shameful downfall. In The Iliad, one prominent leader who fights during the Trojan War that demonstrates admirable qualities was Achilles. Seen in Book 18, this great Greek fighter acknowledges his arrogance for withdrawing himself from the war and sending his comrade Patroklos, to his death. Achilles and Patroklos shared a mentor-mentee relationship where Patroklos admires this great warrior, however by Achilles displaying such selfishness, his heroic status diminishes. After recognizing the disgrace of his actions, Achilles assures his fallen comrade, Patroklos that he will redeem his status by avenging Patroklos’s death. This decision justifies Achilles as an honorable person because after admitting his mistakes, he goes on...
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...Inga Wahlers Professor Anderson LITR201 19 December 2014 The dictionary definition of moral is a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. Moral has played in many Greek stories, history, and everyday life. However, how does one know if they have fulfilled their duty respectfully and correctly? One must not know on their own criteria or conscious due to vanity of his low self-esteem. If duty obligates you to perform a task, we can do it but how would we reflect it? Responsibility even today seems like a tough challenge for us to overcome. Responsibility and duty affect one’s self in more ways than possible and can be evidence for others as false identity of that person if they do not fulfill it or an idol for one to follow and admire....
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...Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid are two great classical epics of Greek and Roman mythology. Both poetries convey heroism, pride, love, fate and duty. However, Homer focuses on his hero Achilles at the end of the Trojan War and Virgil focuses on his hero Aeneas after the Trojan War; eventually becomes the founder of a new Roman civilization. Besides the fact that they fight on the opposite sides of the Trojan War, the major difference between these two heroes is their ideas of who they are. Achilles stands as a symbol of self-serving person, while Aeneas is a symbol of self-sacrificing. Homer portrays Achilles as a selfish and revengeful warrior. Achilles decides not to fight for Greek when king Agamemnon takes his battle prize Briseis away. However, Achilles allows Patroclus to wear his armor. He also instructs Patroclus to drive Trojans back from Achaeans’ ship but not to take over the city as it is only Achilles to win. His selfishness and self pride forbids Patroclus to try to win the battle, even if they can without Achilles’ help. He wants to show King Agamemnon that without Achilles’ help, Achaeans can’t win the battle. Unfortunately, Patroclus disobeys Achilles and pursues the Trojans all the way to the gates of Troy. Apollo wounds Patroclus from behind, which helps Hector to kill him. Achilles becomes revengeful, even though disobeying his instruction makes Patroclus die. To take his revenge, not only Achilles kills Hector, he drags Hector’s body behind the chariot...
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...introduced to the Iliad as no more then a friend of Achilles but dies as one of the great Achaean heroes of the Trojan war. Like many Greek Heroes it is because he dies that he achieves his heroism in the eyes of the ancient Greeks. His death leads to him being immortalized within the pages of the Iliad along side the likes of Achilles, Hector and Ajax. Patroclus death comes in the 16th book of the Illiad and with his final moments being an exchange of words between him and his killer Hector of Troy (Iliad,16.870-897). The exchange between Hector and Patroclus is one where heroes mock each other explaining why the other one is the fool. Before death takes Patroclus from the world he is given a gift, he is able to see into the future and gaze at the death of Hector. This is a privilege not granted to many heroes even Hector the greatest of all the Trojans is not granted this when Achilles forces him to Hades. Patroclus achieved what all heroes want a glorious death. Death on the battlefield is what a great shoulder need in order to instill his name into history. Even Achilles the greatest of the Greeks was told that he would be forgotten if he did not fight and die in the Trojan war. Through his death Patrolclus was able to achieve his heroism, as he went into battle knowing that he could die, wearing Achilles armour and was even fool people into thinking that he was Achilles. In the end a great death is the only sure way to become a hero in ancient Greece. The Iliad began with Achilles...
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...the 700-800 B.C in Greek, oral stories such as The Iliad were often told based on heroic individuals. The Iliad was recited by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is about a Greek hero named Akhilleus who quits fighting for the Greek after Lord Agamemnon humiliated his pride and took away his prize, lady Briseis. Akhileus’ anger turn into flame and he plead to his mother, Thetis, to make the Greek be defeated by the Trojan. After several battles, the Greek has lost a great amount of warriors and they had lost everything to the Trojan. Lord Agamemnon is terrified and he declares to everybody to go home, but Nestor convinces Lord Agamemnon to bring Akhilleus back by offering Akhilleus valuable gifts. Agamemnon agrees and sends Odysseus, Phoinix, and Aias to convince Akhilleus to return to the battle. Each of them gives Akhilleus a lengthy sermon; however, anger is still has not faded in Akhilleus’ mind and he is thinking about sailing home. When it is Aias’ turn, he angrily speaks to Akhilleus and expresses his disappointment. Aias’ speech is very effective than the others is because he uses ethical, logical, and emotional appeals and choice of words to convey his message to Akhilleus. In Aias’ speech, he uses examples of ethical appeals to inform Akhilleus to do the right things or to perform the right actions. This part of Aias’ speech is an example of ethical appeals, “A normal man will take the penalty for a brother slain or a dead son… Fury and pride in the bereaved...
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...The opening prologue of Homer’s famous Iliad speaks of the quick-tempered Akhilleus, about his inability to solve conflicts peaceably and the consequences he faces because of this. “Anger be now your song, immortal one,/Akhilleus’ anger, doomed and ruinous,/that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter loss [. . . .]” (Iliad, I:1-3). Throughout the epic, Akhilleus struggles with his own barbaric nature. He also struggles with Troy’s prince Hektor, his opposite in personality. Akhilleus is the embodiment of barbarism. He is intemperate, prone to violence, and arrogant. Hektor becomes Akhilleus’ fiercest enemy after he kills Akhilleus’ closest companion, Patróklos. Hektor is the civilized man in The Iliad. He has self control and he is considerate...
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...his daughter. This modern-day myth shares a very powerful cultural truth-value that we can see in ancient myths such as The Iliad and The Odyssey. The characters in these stories are driven by a strong love for somebody else and will do anything for those they love. This is true in society today, as we would do anything for those we love. In Taken, we only see this portrayed in one character. In these other myths, however, we see a multitude of heroes perform grand acts for those they love. In The Iliad, Menelaus brings together the Achaean armies to attack and conquer the mighty city of Troy for one reason: Love. His beloved wife, Helen, had been taken away by Paris of Troy to be his wife. In an effort to save his wife, he traveled across dangerous land and oceans to Troy where the Greeks fought in a war for 10 years. If not for love, a 10 year war because of a single man’s desire would seem absolutely absurd. However, we all can sympathize with Menelaus because we would do the same for somebody we loved with all of our hearts. This truth-value has been a part of every culture and even shows up another time in The Iliad. Achilles, the great Achaean warrior, refuses to fight because of a petty disagreement with fellow Greek Agamemnon. The Greeks get pushed back to the coast without the help of Achilles in battle. Achilles wants to help, but his pride holds...
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...The concerns and importance of basic human needs and emotions is deeply explored in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad Book XXIV”, the key concerns shows the similarity between all people, and how humanity is the same at its roots no matter the difference of culture and time. The conflicts that arise in “The Iliad” all come back to the notion of honour and pride and how people want to be perceived; honour is an idea woven throughout personal, social and cultural beliefs. War is the motif of honour, it is celebrated in “The Iliad” and in Petersen’s film “Troy”; the men are measured by their bravery and honour towards their King’s and their country in war. The Imagery used in “The Iliad” and “Troy” is constantly made up of war related concepts; “battlefield”,...
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...The story of the Odyssey starts with Odysseus, a Greek war hero in the Battle of Troy. He is trying to make his way back to his home in Ithaca. His wife, Penelope, is waiting for him to return home from war. She does not know if her husband is still alive, but still remains faithful to him. Even with all of the suitors that have bombarded Odysseus’ home trying to take his place, Penelope still remains loyal to her husband. Their son, Prince Telemachus, is still at the home with all of the suitors. He desperately wants to remove them from the home, but does not have the will power or fighting experience to take down all of the men. Many men want to take over the palace, especially Antinous. He plans to kill Telemachus and control the palace. Odysseus meanwhile is alive on the island of Ogygia. He is bound here under the control of Calypso. The Greek goddess, Athena, wants to help Odysseus out. She goes to his son Telemachus disguised as Laertes. She persuades him to approach the suitors in a meeting, and also prepares him to journey to Pylos and Sparta. Nestor and Menelaus tell him that his dad is still alive but stuck on Calypso’s Island. Zeus sends Hermes to save Odysseus from the island. Hermes talks Calypso into letting Odysseus build a ship and leave. While sailing, Poseidon sends a storm to stop him from getting home. Athena saves him once again and lands on Scheria. He spends the night recalling all the adventures he had experienced on his trip. After he tells his...
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...Who is Aeneas and how does he connect Homer (Iliad) to Roman Mythology The Story of Aeneas has been the basis of Roman Literature. He is portrayed and often referred to as the first Hero of Rome. But who is Aeneas? Aeneas was a nobleman and a demigod as well (Demigod is a mythological being who is partly divine and partly human). His father was Anchises, a member of the Trojan Royal Family. His mother was Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure, who is also known as Venus in roman Literature. Aphrodite was intrigued by Anchises when she saw him on the hills of Mount Ida that she seduced him and decided to bear his son, Aeneas. Aeneas was raise by nymphs until he was sent to live with his father at a young age (5 in roman mythology, 10 in Greek Mythology). Anchises was sworn to secrecy about his son being a demi god however he decided to break this promise, and after doing so, Anchises was struck by lightning and left blind as a punishment. As the Greeks invaded Troy, Aeneas is seen as being hesitant and not joining the war immediately. As Roman mythology states, Aeneas joined the war after the Greeks stole his cattle. Another reason why Aeneas did not join the war immediately was a personal conflict he had with King Priam of Troy. Aeneas did not receive the appropriate glory for being a member of the royal family, and had a dispute with Priam about this. Aeneas later on married Creusa, who was the daughter of Priam, where they had a son named Ascanius. As the...
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...because everyone in the world as their own definition of a hero. On the website of The My Hero Project by Ashley from Fredericksburg it is stated, “ When asked "What is a hero?," Christopher Reeve replied that he used to believe a hero was someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences. Now he believes that ‘A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ ” A hero does not have a specific definition that could be set in stone for each individual to comprehend. As in the Iliad with Achilles and in the epic of Beowulf, both were heroes in different ways. Whether it be them being main characters or being a male. Beowulf's’ heroic strengths and weaknesses versus the strengths and weaknesses of Achilles’ will be further described. Although the characteristics between the two are widely different, they are both fueled by pride and glory. The only reason Achilles goes to Troy is to enhance his own glory. On the other hand, Beowulf is not as persistent, but the value of glory in his society implies that glory was very important for him as well as Achilles. Although they both became Kings, they were not kings when they did the deeds they are most famous for. In the epic of Beowulf, he himself says; “I’ve never known fear, as a youth. I fought/In endless battles. I am old, now,/ but I will fight again, seek fame still/ If the dragon hiding in his tower dares/ to face me.” (52). Within...
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