What, exactly, is The Iliad about? When do the events occur? How does the story not end? (Not a trick question)
As you read, try to find patterns that emerge
from parallel passages in the texts; for example, in Book 1:
quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles
interview between Achilles and Thetis
interview between Zeus and Thetis
quarrel between Zeus and Hera
Later,
The deaths of Sarpedon, Patroklos, and Hektor
The characters of Patroklos and Hektor
The characters of Helen, Andromache, and Hekabe
Akhilleus' wrath and Akhilleus' grief for Patroklos
What does each book have to do with
the "rage of Akhilleus"? Does he show excessive behavior (that is, excessive anger, excessive grief,
etc.), or is he justified in feeling and doing what he does?
Who is responsible for the death of Patroklos? Hektor? What is unusual about their deaths? Why?
How many references to fate can you find? What seems to be the attitude toward fate?
What elements of the epic show religious attitudes and practices?
Describe them. What is the
nature of the relationship between people and their gods?
What attitudes toward leadership can you detect? Who is a good leader?
Who isn't? What
conclusions do you think the audience would draw about leaders?
What attitudes toward the roles of men in society can you detect? Who
represents a positive role
model? Who doesn't? What conclusions would the audience draw about how
a man is supposed
to behave?
What attitudes toward the roles of women in society can you detect? Who
represents a positive
role model? Who doesn't? What conclusions would the audience draw about
how a woman is
supposed to behave?
How many different instances of deception can you find? To what do they add up?