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The Iliad
Background of the Epic Poem and The Iliad.
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Pre-Reading Discussion
• What do you think of when you hear the word “epic”?
• List examples of epic movies, books, tv shows.
• What makes something “epic?”
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Characteristics of an Epic Poem
long narrative poem• In medias res
– Epic poems begin in the middle– Listeners were already familiar with the people and
places– Jumps right into the action
• Invocation to the Muse– Muses – nine goddesses in Greek mythology– The poet must be inspired to tell his tale– The Odyssey and The Iliad begin this way
• Homeric Epithets– Descriptive words or phrases used to describe
people– Quick way to describe people ex. “brilliant Achilles”
and “Hector breaker of horses”
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Bkgd. On The Iliad
• Details the Trojan War – 12th and 13th Centuries (1300-1101 BCE)
• Trojan War (10 year war): Greeks versus Trojans
• Took place in modern day Greece and Turkey • Written down by a man named Homer in the
8th Century (800-701 BCE)• The Iliad is only about the last two months in
the 10th year
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Homer the “blind” poet
• Is credited with writing down the two oldest epics: The Odyssey and The Iliad
• Legend has it that he was blind
• Ultimate spokesman of the tradition of Greek Poetry
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Qualities of the Epic Hero• Bravery, superhuman
strength, success in battle• Driving desire to
immortalize himself through various deeds
• Desire for eternal glory and fame
• Courage in the face of death
• High birth or of semi-divine origin or national status
• Achilles = Epic Hero?
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Before the The Iliad begins….
• Wedding between Thetis and King Peleus (Achilles’ parents)
• Everyone invited except one: Eris – the goddess of discord
• Angry, she throws an apple into the wedding
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Before the The Iliad begins….
• On the apple: “for the fairest one”
• Three goddesses believe they are the fairest– Hera– Aphrodite– Athena
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Before the The Iliad begins….
• Zeus doesn’t want to decide
• Paris is chosen to pick and is offered the following– Hera: King of Europe and
Asia– Athena: wisdom and skill in
war– Aphrodite: the most
beautiful woman
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Before the The Iliad begins….
• Paris is granted Helen of Troy – problem: married to King Menelaus
• Visits Menalaus’ home as a guest and kidnaps her
• Menalaus’ brother is Agamemnon: King of Mycenea and leader of Greek Army
• Guess what happens next
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Nine Years and 10 Months Later
• The Iliad Begins• Greeks versus Trojans• Achilles versus Hector• Other famous Greeks:
Agamemnon, Helen, Odysseus, and Patroclus
• Famous Trojans: Andromache, Paris, Priam
• Gods take sides