THE HOMERIC CODEHEROIC MOTIVATION IN THE ILIAD.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVESAims:

To go into the Heroic code in more detail.

Objectives:

Students will discuss copyright issues with regard to internet images.

Students will produce a Glogster on a chosen part of the heroic code.

Students will briefly present their Glogster on the projector.

HEROIC HOMERIC PRINCIPLES

• Be the best I can possibly be.

• I am in competition with everyone else.

• Glory to my friends death to my enemies.

• My reputation is more important than my life.

• I must follow a very strict system of social manners.

ARETE

• Means “ Excellence of any kind”.

• It suggests the complete fulfilment of potential. “Worth”.

• The arete of a women is different to the arete of a man.

• For a Homeric hero it would be strength, courage, daring and success.

• For a Homeric women it could be wifely duties.

• Arete motivates heroes to follow the correct moral path.

AIDOS

• Aidos translates as „shame‟ or „loss of face‟.

• Heroes normally act for Kleos or Time but some scholars think that avoiding shame was a very important motivation.

• „shame‟ comes from not fulfilling your heroic duties.

• A true hero would much rather face death than shame.

KLEOS

• Means „renown‟ or „glory‟.

• Kleos only survives if a hero‟s deeds are still spoken of.

• Kleos is the closest a hero can get to immortality.

• Kleos is inherited and a son could continue and expand it.

• Achilles chooses everlasting Kleos over a long life.

TIME

• Time is the value attributed to a person by society.

• Time could be thought of as „esteem‟ or „honour‟.

• Time is a combination of honour and material wealth.

• Time can be demonstrated through gifts.

• Achilles is most angry about the loss of time when Agamemnon takes Briseus.

XENIA

• Translates as „Guest-Friendship‟.There are two essential rules to Xenia:1. The host must be respectful and give the guest food, drink and a bath. 2. The guest must be courteous and not a burden.• Guest-friendship was an official arrangement between wealthy families.• It could be inherited and passed between friends.• It had religious significance, Zeus was thought to masquerade as a guest.• Violation of Xenia is a serious offence. • Paris violates Xenia in a rather spectacular way, and pays the price.