Iliad: Week One Discussion (Books 1,2)

Recap

Book One Events and Observations:

-In the Greek, the first word of the poem is “rage”

-We are given a glimpse into what the future holds:

                -Bodies left unburied, eaten by animals (a very bad thing in Ancient Greece)

                -Zeus’ will will be done in the end

-We are introduced to the power struggle between Achilles and Agamemnon. Agamemnon has to      

  give up his prize (the woman Chryseis) to appease Apollo, so he takes Achilles’ prize (the woman    

  Briseis)

-As a result of this, Achilles and his troops, the Myrmidons (Greek for ant-people), withdraw from battle

-Thetis (Achilles’ sea-goddess mother) appeals to Zeus so that the Greeks will lose without Achilles’   help, thus gaining him honor

-Noteworthy quotation: Achilles to Agamemnon:

“I have seen more action

hand to hand in those assaults than you have,

but when the time for sharing comes, the greater

share is always yours” (1.193-5), Fitzgerald trans.

Some questions to get you started:

-Why is honor so important to Achilles?
-How does a society decide who should have power?

And...go. You can suggest answers to these questions, propose questions and/or observations of your own, and respond to what other people have to say. Also,  feel free to share any good resources you know of, and any quotations you found interesting/noteworthy. Please just be respectful of each other and keep the language PG.