is the iliad worth reading

We have many wonderful plays by the great tragedians which expound on the events of The Trojan War. By: William Jackson. Its story was pervasive and lived among them. For the discussion of its worth to read, I plan to give reasons for reading it in full vs reading and studying secondary works. Zeus, who—along with the rest of the gods—takes a personal interest in the war, assists the Trojans to teach Agamemnon a lesson. Jaynes idea accounts for the intervention of the gods as a way in which these early men accounted for the voices they heard within their own brains. I remember that on my first reading of Homer, I sometimes felt like I was wandering in deep fog. Some are in prose, which some readers find easier to read than verse. Homer's Iliad: reading group; Homer's Iliad: reading group. avg. Applying this question to what I have learned thus far at Carthage College, I have found many lessons to … June 1, 1997; See the article in its original context from June 1, 1997, Section 7, Page 22 Buy Reprints. But you'll get much more out of it if either (a) you are an ancient Greek or (b) you get a good … For example, while Helen’s capture may not have been the cause of the Trojan War, it probably represents that this was a common occurrence during the time which may have caused conflict between cities. During the battle, the Achaeans capture a pair of beautiful maidens, … Load 5 more questions. 1. Answer. Perhaps anything worth doing is difficult. John Breeden, my good friend and partner at the Tech Writers Bureau, is a literate guy who definitely appreciates fantasy and adventure. The first of these discusses why the Homeric epics are still worth reading, nearly 3,000 years after their creation. The Odyssey can be (and often is) read without first reading The Iliad, but The Iliad gives a … It’s worth the read for sure. Many of the Greeks and Trojans are helped by gods or goddesses; but this is usually a matter of some self-interest on the gods’ part. He also is happily married. (The stories between the Gods honestly feel the most human of the story). Unanswered Questions (8) quotes about Ajax? This is great stuff for an 11-year-old. You already know the basic stories. Much is missed with those who only read summaries. Still, it could be worse. Achilles wins his point, but at a terrible price. But the human characters, especially Hector and Patroclus, I really loved. Late-era Shakespeare is around 500 years ago now, so The Iliad would be five times this length. Given that it set the basis of Western literature (along with the other works I mentioned) even if its influence is not blatantly apparent, it still helped form the minds of almost every writer after it. You will read each moment in detail and spend dozens of hours with the characters and their motivations. Finally, the influence is even seen in film. 782 Words 4 Pages. I do recommend reading it if you have a deep interest in Greek myth and storytelling or you are heavily passionate about literature. April 16, 2018. There is pottery and art that have shown depictions of battle during the Bronze Age found near this area as well. On the other hand, there are many English translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey, some of them only a few decades old. The Iliad is meant to be read (or heard), not summarized. Homer was composing The Iliad sometime during this century. The Iliad is thought to be created around as early as 1200 BC and the time period of 750-650 BC is when it was first written down. Whatever your preference there is something to suit you if you want to discover what you missed in school. Another choice would be to find good quailty, reliable video lectures on youtube or on you platform of choice. There is an unseen influence as well. It comes from the Greek word for Troy -- Ilios or Ilion. Your email address will not be published. That is why for someone not as passionate about literature I would probably suggest just using a secondary source. Achilles has made an explicit choice for honor over a long life: What are the responsibilities of living in community? It was known then as a masterpiece and influenced many artists, poets, dramatists, and politicians. And the great revenge scene where Odysseus reveals himself to his wife’s suitors and proceeds to kill everyone in the room. The Iliad …       For years on years, and long-extended days. Others use more modern language. Also, the cataloging of deaths, generals, and ships do greatly bog down the pacing and enjoyment factor. A relatively simple one is … Related Links. Odysseus prefers his home, however, and the gods finally send him.       If I return, I quit immortal praise Odysseus and Penelope are a couple worthy of each other, and his homecoming is a worthy climax to the story. You do yourself a great disservice if you neglect these famed authors of classical literature for watered … This was likely used either as hyperbole for literary purposes or was simply some idiom lost to time. type to search. Of course, to preserve the flavor ot the originals and give the reader a sense of Homer, the … Don't worry about not "getting" everything; every story worth reading is worth rereading. In this section, we consider definitions of the term “epic,” the Iliad … Sometimes gory. You get both psychology and supernaturalism, human story and myth of the Gods, and a background for every Greek drama, comedy, and poem. Required fields are marked *. John Breeden, my good friend and partner at the Tech Writers Bureau, is a literate guy who definitely appreciates fantasy and adventure. Andromache, Hecuba, Helen, and The Trojan Women show what happened to many of the women figures of The Iliad. Close Reading In The Iliad; Close Reading In The Iliad. The Greek concept of the afterlife is pretty grim and the only consolation is to be remembered well after death. Starting with a general influence, we can see a few hundred years after it was composed that it had already been written down, memorized by school children, and was being performed throughout Greek society. Yes, definitely. The Iliad by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, ... such aids are no substitute to doing the actual reading. Lastly, the heroes of the text most certainly did not exist, but it is likely they were based on archetypes of real people. The Iliad is really an ensemble piece without a single main character. If today’s leaders would really read Homer there might be less warfare today. But he is second best at everything. Performance 5 out of 5 stars. 3 people found this helpful Overall 5 out of 5 stars. How many have you read? Course Rating: Review by Anonymous / (Posted on 13/04/2019) The course is very dynamic and lively, the tutor incredibly well-informed, and the Iliad is simply … The use of patronyms is common for all other characters, but Odysseus is the only Greek who is identified through his son, being sometimes called the father of Telemachus. The one character who stands out throughout The Iliad is Odysseus, whose story is continued in The Odyssey. If you have the intellectual wherewithal to be curious and to make this post, then you're very well equipped to handle one of the oldest extant stories we have. Course Dates: 04/03/21 - 01/04/21 Time ... Be ready to do voluntary work between as the course is not quite long enough - but worth every moment you give it. The suffix “ad” means “associated with,” hence the Iliad is a story associated with Troy. But he said that Homer’s stories had been made so boring at school that he hasn’t read them. Ajax and Philoctetes show what happened to some of the Greek soldiers. So Agamemnon’s disrespect is a more-than-mortal insult. Instead, I will attempt to discuss its history, its influence in the literary tradition, decide whether it is worth reading in full, and finally, giving a brief rating at the end. The Iliad was not written down by him, but composed as an orally performed epic poem, similar to a song or chant. Suggestions for Further Reading; Writing Help. Athena, on the other hand, seems to genuinely like Odysseus and sticks by him. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The one thing that is greatly exaggerated is the size of the army and the length of the war. I had trouble following who was who, and which god was on which side, and I just didn’t care. Tech Writers Bureau © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Captcha Technology Evolving to Combat Test-Aware AI, Supreme Court sidesteps decision on Microsoft’s Irish email servers. It is easy to dismiss Achilles as childish for sulking in his tent after Agamemnon’s insult. We have never truly known if he was a real person. Menelaus and Paris, Achilles and Agamemnon, or Andromache and Hector) using these sources will give enough basis for where authors received influence. There he must confront the scores of suitors who are plaguing his wife. But Achilles is a champion in a warrior society where honor is everything. When Agamemnon insults Achilles the warrior decides to sit out the battles. But the human characters, especially Hector and Patroclus, I really loved. Despite the focus on Achilles, the closest thing to a hero in The Iliad is Hector, son of the Trojan king and brother of Paris, the jerk who started the war. By the end of Book 2, Homer has introduced all of The Iliad’s major characters on the Greek side—his catalog of the Trojan troops at the end of Book 2 leads naturally into an introduction of the Trojan leadership in Book 3. With these readings solidified in your mind, references or symbols to The Iliad will pop out in nearly everything you read, watch, or play. What 11-year-old boy wouldn’t love gods, man-eating monsters and a hot stake in the eye? Chronology. Alexander Pope. Show More. On my first reading of The Iliad or the Poem of Force, I had been working on a paper. There are different layers of the city of Troy that have been uncovered suggesting not just the general rebuilding and tearing down of the city, but destruction likely only to have been caused by conflict. Reading her essay made me throw my paper out and start anew. So, I will discuss what we know of Homer (which technically is also pretty much nothing). How to Write Literary Analysis; Suggested Essay Topics; Sample A+ Essay; How to Cite This SparkNote; Summary Plot Overview Summary Plot Overview. It poses the question of what it actually means to be a hero, what is worth dying for, and how to reconcile with someone we see as an enemy. Plus, he has a goddess on his side. He is stranded with a beautiful goddess, Calypso, who loves him and wants to make him immortal. At 10.261 … When it comes to plot and character, its influence begins in drama. LitCharts Teacher Editions. They are merely a broad stroke of the brush to what this piece of art actually conveys. I really enjoy classic literature and was looking into reading the Iliad, but I am worried it might be boring to reread the same story again if they are too similar. If you’re interested in a more in-depth history of this period, I recommend checking out Barry Strauss’ The Trojan War: A New History. It is useful to have some sense of the order of events in the Greek world. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading The Iliad. I first encountered Odysseus in the fifth grade and was immediately hooked. Iphigenia in Aulis shows what happened just before the Greeks’ departure for Troy. Your email address will not be published. It’s a shame to turn kids away from something so exciting. So reading him can be somewhat rough going without a well-annotated edition. Jaynes sees the Iliad as a book dealing with pre-modern minds. What makes a good leader? It’s possible that he was a woman or a group of people or that the word Homer is just in reference to the oral tradition of the time. Hector is the protector of his city and a loving husband and father. I haven’t even started on the good stuff. Besides the compelling human characters, gods play a part in The Iliad, and the gods just didn’t interest me at all. Here, if I stay, before the Trojan town, Studying the events of The Iliad and the conflicts between certain characters (i.e. But as an adult it is shocking. Besides the compelling human characters, gods play a part in The Iliad, and the gods just didn’t interest me at all. It is seldom that I encounter such a powerhouse. (Most of them cannot be answered from the story-line summary provided in part 2.) Homer recounts battles and deaths in unsparing detail and with graphic descriptions. I had trouble following who was who, and which god was on which side, and I just didn’t care. People knew this 3,000 years ago and we’re still fighting? How much control do we have over our destinies? If you are not reading the Iliad, but are using these notes only for the background information and the synopsis, you will probably not be able to make much use of Part 6. In discussing influence, I want to show how The Iliad influenced various writers, plots, characters, and forms of storytelling. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to provide any history of this period since it occurred during what is known as the Ancient Greek Dark Ages, and there is very little information we have on it. Many parts of it are bizarre and horrifying to the modern reader, but it can certainly be enjoyed within its context. Place and people names and some cultural references were changed based on different tellings from the initial creation until it was written. Not only is it old, but its style and culture are so far removed from ours that it truly must be read with a different purpose and mindset. Barry Strauss’s book that I mentioned above is a good choice, as it not only provides actual history/archaeology but summarizes the important events of The Iliad. Those fortunate enough to encounter them either in their schooling or on library shelves have heard these ancient moralists speak with remarkable freshness and force to the basic issues of human character … It is thought to have been formed sometime between 750 BC and 650 BC (see edit below for correction), however it was likely only performed via a flexible oral “song” during this time. Yes, it’s a dense work, but it is ultimately worth it if you are willing to put in the effort. He is the best all-around man, the man everyone wants at his side when the chips are down. Look around your local library or bookstore. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. There are scores of translations of Homer, in verse and prose. The Iliad shows us “heroes” in many different molds, with their strengths and their flaws. The title, The Iliad, is likely a word your students haven’t heard before. The Iliad is one of the earliest surviving works of Western literature; its influence is only rivaled by that of The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Bible, and The Odyssey. You will also be able to better pick up on the symbolism and character development within these works as well. And Penelope is faithful to him, fending off scores of suitors during his long absence. 36,733 views made by Joshua Converse. Based on archaeological findings, it is generally concluded that it did. There are also various plays that show the events after the Greeks left Troy, but I’ll save that for when I read The Odyssey. The Iliad is about the Trojan War, but it is primarily about the war as it is affected by Achilles' wrath, or anger. The Iliad is an absolutely ancient work, and because of this, analyzing it academically or just reviewing it would not serve any importance. Homer’s body count exceeds that of Shakespeare and Quentin Tarantino combined. On Reading Pope's Homer. With that, I will be giving The Iliad a 3.75/5.00. So much for the challenges in Iliad. I am currently reading the Iliad but I am having a bit of trouble with names, most names of the gods are roman but some are in greek and it gets confusing cause I am familiar with the greek ones butt not with the roman ones, … When discussing history, I want to give some background on the time of the writing and the time it took place. Seeing as one simply does not critique The Iliad...my goal in doing this review was to simply say that after reading the Iliad and also listening to the Iliad, I would have to recommend Audible's version as most enjoyable. The Odyssey story follows the Iliad story a bit like a sequel, BUT the Iliad covers only a few days of the Trojan war; most of the well known episodes of the war (including the wooden horse and the conquest) are _not_ contained in it. Achilles is the main character, and his inaction, or withdrawal from the fighting, is crucial to the plot. It was embarrassing how she could say in hundreds of characters what I needed hundreds of words to make clear. In The Godfather (SPOILER warning for the first film) Sonny’s death mimics Patroclus’ death and the events that follow even mimic Achilles’ rise from complacency to that of revenge. One of the main reasons to read it is that the events will solidify themselves in your mind far more than using a secondary source. The Iliad is most definitely entertaining at times, but from a modern view so far removed from that time period, it has to be read from an entirely different perspective and purpose. But he is a little too cool and cautious, a little too reliant on the gods’ will to be the hero. But I am sure that reading The Iliad is worthwhile and that once a person starts to read it, it becomes progressively easier. A study guide that offers historical, cultural, and literary context to the ancient epic can significantly enhance the reading experience. All of these questions are asked in The Iliad, an Some retain the archaic tags and repeated phrases that are artifacts of the original oral composition, which I happen to enjoy. References to material objects, in the poem, off er a good analogy for the eff ect of Homeric words: many artefacts fi t a late eighth-or early seventh-century context, but some are much older. Though Homer's Iliad, which is an epic poem about the Trojan War, is taught less frequently than The Odyssey, it is also an essential piece of classical, ancient Greek literature.Together, these two works form the foundation of centuries of literature that followed. Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus (whose wife, Helen, is who they are fighting over), Odysseus, the two Ajax, and a score of other warriors, are all well-defined characters who demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses in counsel and battle. Classically, he was believed to be a blind bard. Homer contrasts Penelope with Helen, who ran off with Paris, and Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, who murdered him when he came home. Page 1 of 3 1 2 3. The story covered by “The Iliad” begins nearly ten years into the seige of Troy by the Greek forces, led by Agamemnon, King of Mycenae.The Greeks are quarrelling about whether or not to return Chryseis, a Trojan captive of King Agamemnon, to her father, Chryses, a priest of Apollo.When Agamemnon refuses and threatens to ransom the girl to her father, the offended Apollo … Wives are commodities in Homer’s Greece, but Odysseus loves Penelope and is usually faithful to her. probably familiar with battles that have taken place in the past century More than wealth or life itself. He is a cunning tactician, but he is not the greatest warrior, nor the wisest counselor, nor the most powerful leader. Originally Answered: Is The Iliad worth reading? Knowing the military and societal structure of other Bronze Age cities, there is almost no possibility that the siege of Troy lasted 10 years or that the army consisted of the numbers presented in the text. There is nothing glorious about Homeric warfare. Centuries later it would have been written down by Ancient Greeks, memorized from the text, and recited as it once had been. I also want to give a feel for how truly old this work is. Story 5 out of 5 stars. Many readers think of "The Iliad" as a daunting text.

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