ILIAD:
(European
Classical Literature)
-Homer:
INTRODUCTION:
The Iliad is an epic written by the ancient Greek poet
Homer. This poem is about the Trojan war, this war was between Troy and Sparta
(Greece). The epic was written between the mid-8th century BCE. The
Iliad is considered as the earliest work in Western literacy tradition. There
are stirring of bloody battle, the wrath of Achilles and constant intervention
of gods. It explores the theme of wrath, glory, home coming and fortune. This
historical epic provided subject and stories for many other later Greek,
Renaissance and Roman writing.
CHARACTERS
OF The Iliad:
ACHAEANS
(ancient name of Greece)/ SPARTA->
1.
Menelaus: King of Lacedaemon, son of
Atreus, brother of Agamemnon and husband of Helen.
2.
Helen: Helen was daughter of Zeus and
wife of Menelaus.
3.
Agamemnon: King of Mycenae, son of
Atreus, brother of Menelaus and commander-in-chief of Achaeans forces.
4.
Achilles: Prince of Phthia, leader of
Myrmidon contingent. He was son of Peleus and Thetis. He is by far the greatest
warrior in the Trojan war.
5.
Patroclus: Beloved friend of
Achilles.
6.
Odysseus: King of Ithaca, son of
Laertes.
7.
Briseis: she was daughter of Briseus.
Captive in Achaean camp. Given as the prize gift to Achilles for valor.
8.
Chryseis: Daughter of Chryses.
Captive woman of Agamemnon.
TROY
(ILIUM)->
1.
Priam: King of Troy, father of Hector
and Paris.
2.
Hecuba: Queen of Troy, daughter of
Dymas and wife of Priam.
3.
Hector: Prince of Troy, son of Priam
and husband of Andromache. He was great warrior of Troy.
4.
Andromache: Daughter of Eetion and
wife of Hector.
5.
Paris: Prince of Troy, son of Priam and husband of
Helen. He is also known as Alexander.
SUMMARY
(NOTES) OF ILIAD:
Iliad is an epic composed between the mid-8th
century BCE. This book especially deals with the last 10th year of the Trojan
war. After 9 year of cold war between Achaeans (ancient name of Greece) and Troy, a
fierce war took place between them. This war took place due to abduction of
Helen, wife of Menelaus by Paris, Prince of Troy. In the 10th year of Trojan
war, tension was running high among the Achaeans. The priest Chryses came to
ask her captive daughter, Chryseis back but Agamemnon refuse to release her.
Being refused by Agamemnon, Chryses prayed to God Apollo to send a plague
against the Achaeans. God Apollo granted his wish
and send plague against Achaeans.
Due to the plague, Achaeans
were in state of losing the war. After 9 days of plague the Achaeans assembled
and demanded Agamemnon to release the girl. But Agamemnon presented a condition
that he want Briseis in exchange of Chrysies. Achilles was in love with Briseis
and did not want to give her. This annoying incident made Achilles enraged and
he refused to fight for Achaeans. . Further he prays his mother, Thetis to curse
Achaeans so they could be defeated by Troy. Achilles mother granted the wish of
his son and requested Zeus, King of God to grant his son request. Zeus helped
Trojan. The next morning Trojans being led by Hector made a counter attack. This
violent fight took place for several days. The Trojans had upper hand and Achaeans
were at the stage of losing the fight. At this point of time, Achaeans realised
the importance of Achilles that how much they are depended on him.
Patroclus, Achilles best friend decided to go the battle
field in Achilles place. He wore Achilles armour and went in the battle field
in place of Achilles. Troy thought that Achilles is back in the battle field
and got terrified. Troy made a plan and with the help of god Apollo, Hector killed
Patroclus. Hector thought that he killed Achilles. When Achilles knew about the
death of his best friend, he became infuriated and he vowed to take revenge. He requested his mother to get a new set of armour. His mother gave him special armour graced by God of
Fire.
The next day Achilles re-joined the battle and killed many
Trojans. Further he had one-to-one fight with Hector and he killed Hector. After
killing Hector Achilles was not satisfied. He took the dead body to his camp
and for next few days he continuously abused Hector’s dead body. The god
instructed him to hand-over the body of Hector to his family. At the same night
Trojan King, Priam visited Achilles camp completely unarmed. His requested
Achilles for his son’s body. Achilles agreed without any argument. The two sat
together and experienced the moment of humanity. Achilles also granted a grace
period to Trojans so that they could complete funeral rituals. Thus, the poem
ends with the funeral of Hector.
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