Summaries by Book - Homer\'s The Iliad PDF

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Detailed Summaries of Books 1-10 and 17-24. Books 11-16 are also touched on. ...

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Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 1 1. The Quarrel Between Agamemnon and Achilles - Achilles - son of Peleus - angry, killed many brave men, hero - Agamemnon - son of Atreus (King of Men - Achaeans) - Held Chryses daughter captive - angered the Gods, Chryses, Priest - Apollo rained arrows on the city for 10 days - killed many people and livestock - caused disease (pestilence) - metaphors??? - Achilles gathers the remaining people - prophet Calchas outs the King’s misdeed and explains how to fix it - Achilles vows to protect Calchas from the King’s wrath - King agrees to give up the girl - needs a replacement “prize” ? - Impatient - says he’ll take someone else’s wife of his choice - Rules by fear - insolence, greed - “just of gain” (p. 4) - The goddess Juno sends Minerva to stop Achilles from killing him - Threatens to leave - “Look fondly for Achilles… shall not find him.” (p. 4) - Nestor - “facile” speaker of the Pylians - ruler for 3 generations - OLD - Wise, respected - asks the two to reconcile… they do in a way - Tensions are still high - Send the girl back - city wide prayers for Apollo’s forgiveness - sacrifice - Agamemnon still takes Achilles’ wife (Brisels) as new “prize” - Disregards Achilles’ earlier compromise - defiance! - Achilles is devastated - prays to Immortal Mother? - Mother Thetis appears - will talk to God Jove for help ● Detailed description of ritual sacrifice (p. 9) FEAST - Thestis goes to Jove, son of Saturn - begs he aid the Trojans so the Achaeans lose and need her son Achilles - He’ll do it, but his wife, Juno will be mad - Juno presses him for info - saw him with Thetis - suspicious - He flicks her off like an annoying bug - ignores her - When she guesses his plan - he’s angry, defensive, threatening - Juno’s son Vulcan, cheers up the God’s dinner party and his mother - Says Jove is the strongest, so why argue? Just enjoy life.

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 2 2. Jove Sends A Lying Dream to Agamemnon - Lying Dream - Jove makes false dreams for Agamemnon to trick him into attacking Troy - Dream came as Nestor (King’s trusted counsel) - He thinks the Gods are on his side - they’re really against him ● Description of period clothing (p. 14 near the top) - Repeats the dream’s message word for word - Long list of prior owners of Agamemnon’s sceptre - powerful, holy - Agamemnon declares they all go home - disobeys God’s dream

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- Ethos - women and children wait for them Jove sends Minerva to change the men’s minds to stay and fight - * another repetition of a God’s message (p. 16 - Jove) - Minerva goes to Ulysses - who changes the King’s mind The men aren’t happy - they want to go home now! - Thersites (hated by Achilles/Ulysses) publicly calls out the King for his pointless and disgusting greed and for insulting Achilles - Ulysses threatens him to shut up - angered at disrespect to King Agamemnon beats him with his sceptre - People thank him for stopping the stupid insolence - Ulysses explains the story of why it’s been 9 years. Saturn sent a serpent that ate 9 birds and then turned to stone. It was sign of the Gods (p. 18) - 9 birds = 9 years -- win in the 10th vs Troy? - Ulysses encourages the men to see it through at this point “Be a prey to dogs and vultures” - if they don’t fight for Agamemnon light/fire metaphors/similes = men’s passion for war (p. 20-21) Gathered more troops - “They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as leaves that bloom in summer,” (p. 21) All of this fighting for Helen - Trojan war - Historical allusions Iris - sent by Jove to ready and warn Trojans of the coming threat “For fate lured them to destruction.” - Trojans led by Hector (p. 25-29) - Full description of the leaders of each side and how they achieved power and how many boats of troops they all brought to the battle - Achaeans vs. Trojans?

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 3 3. Alexandrus, so called Paris, Challenges Menelaus - Alexandrus (Paris) - Trojan hero (“skin of a panther” p. 30) - Hides behind his men - Hector taunts him - The Achaeans are from Argos/ Trojans are from Troy - Agree to one final fight - Paris vs. Menelaus - then peace! - Priam blesses the peace offering to the Gods - divine treaty - Actual sacrificial text (p. 35) - Added clause, “Then I will stay here and fight on till I have got satisfaction.” (loophole!) - Venus interferes - helps Paris “win” the final battle - Achaeans don’t think that’s fair - say Menelaus wins - Helen goes to Paris - lays with him (he’s her ex-husband) - The Trojans and Achaeans hunt Paris down together

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 4 4. A Quarrel in Olympus - Juno and Minerva help Menelaus from afar - Venus interferes - Jove says Menelaus should win - Juno’s offended - wants Priam and Ilius destroyed - Jove refuses - Sends Minerva with message for Trojans and Achaeans - Minerva whispers to Trojan Panderus to shoot Menelaus (p. 40) - Repetition - “... to our dismay and to his own great glory,” (p. 42) - Trojans attack while Achaeans are busy with Menelaus’ wound - Rile and organize the troops - Achaeans are calm/trained/united - Trojans are diverse, rowdy, disorganized, bloodthirsty - Repetition - “Darkness veiled his eyes,” (p. 47) = death - Apollo roots for the Trojans - Juno and Minerva help the Achaeans - aid in battle - It doesn’t matter which Gods help; hundreds of men still die on both sides

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 5 5. The Exploits of Diomed - Diomed - Achaean (son of Tydeus) - Minerva watches over him; vs. 2 Trojan sons Phegeus/Idaeus - Minerva and Mars leave - let the battle play out - let Jove decide - Diomed gets hit in the shoulder - the Trojans are encouraged (p. 51) - Minerva lets him see gods and men - instructs him to wound Venus - Pandarus - failed to kill Menelaus and Diomed - Teams up with Aeneas and a chariot - charges Diomed! - Diomed slays both - wins their divine Trojan horses - Venus saves her son Aeneas though - takes him from the battle - But Diomed shoots her through the hand - then goes for P. Apollo - Opens war between the Danaans (Achaean side) and the Gods - The Gods (Mars) urge on Trojans - ally captains rile Hector - Aeneas returns - battle rages - death on all sides - Antilochus - (Nestor’s son) Achaean defense against Aeneas and Menelaus - Diomed recognizes that Mars is aiding Hector - Achaeans fall back - Juno and Minerva join the battle - teach Mars a lesson - Mars told Juno/Minerva he’d fight the war with the Achaeans before the battle - now he’s backing the Trojans! = hypocrite, two-faced (p. 64) - Minerva gives Diomed the go ahead to attack Mars - Diomed spears Mars - he flees to Olympus - Cries to Father Jove who has no sympathy - sees fault on both sides - Heals Mars only because he’s his son (with Juno) - All Gods leave the battle once Mars is gone from it

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 6 6. Glaucus and Diomed - Achaeans fall full force on Trojans - they fear Diomed’s rage - Trojans call for sacrifice to MInerva for protection - Now Diomed doesn’t want to fight Gods - refuses! (p. 68) - Glaucus is a Trojan and Diomed an Achaean - find peace (their fathers were friends - p. 70) - Hector rallies the women for sacrifice - then goes to find Paris - Paris is with Helen - leaves to join battle - Hector (chief of the Trojans) - finds his wife and son - His wife’s entire family was killed by Achilles - she begs Hector not to go - if he dies, she’ll have no one. - Hector (ruler of Ilias) - prays his son will succeed - says goodbye - Son is afraid at first because of gleaming armor - Hector and Paris charge on - thinking Jove’s on their side

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 7 7. Hector and Ajax Fight - Minerva and Apollo fly to aid their respective sides - call for a single combat to end the current massacre - Hector vs. Achaean hero Ajax - Achaeans have trouble finding a victor - men are scared - need riling - 2 heralds stop the fight - night is coming - they can pick up later - Both sides rejoice in night of peace - feast, toast, relax - Gifts exchanged between sides - Nestor addresses the Achaeans - Trojans also discuss and send a message - Trojans won’t give up Helen, but they’ll pay and return stolen goods - Both sides ask for a day of rest to take care of their dead - Achaeans agree to ceasefire, but not to giving up Helen - Achaeans build a wall, trench, and gate around ships - they don’t pray - Gods are impressed… but also angered - Men feel wrath oncoming - pray and make offers to Jove before bed

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 8 8. Jove Forbids the Gods to Interfere - Jove watches battle from above - threatens gods to stay out of it - Diomed alone defends Nestor - hard pressed by Trojans, the Achaeans flee due to Jove’s unleashed wrath - Diomed and Nestor go after Hector - forced by Jove to retreat - Juno says this is unfair - can’t defy Jove though (too weak to win)

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“We other gods must not set ourselves against Jove, for he is far stronger than we are,” -- Neptune (p. 89) Juno urges Agamemnon to rile Achaeans - pray to Jove - Jove sends eagle with fawn in talons to sacrifice - promise of Achaean safety - Achaeans fight with more encouragement Teucer (Achaean archer) - hits everyone but Hector - Hector is being protected by Apollo Jove switches back to aid Trojans - gods are angry at the flip-flop - Minerva and Juno suit up to fight his decision and go to battle - They are stopped by Iris Jove returns to Olympus and warns Gods that interference will bring his wrath Cease fighting til morning - Hector tells Trojans to guard and watch til morning

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 9 9. The Embassy to Achilles - Achaeans are frightened - Agamemnon wants to surrender; Diomed wants action! - Nestor says stay calm and fight - send for Achilles (make amends) - Agamemnon send Ulysses and company to Achilles with gifts, promises, truce - Achilles refuses (too hurt) - due to go home the next day - Phoenix (mentor) - urges Achilles to go; fighting would lessen his honor - Achilles has the honor of Jove - his pride keeps him from the battle - Why does Agamemnon offer gifts for this fight? No honor, only greed - “Jove has laid his hand over the city to protect it, and the people have taken heart.” -- Achilles’ warning (p. 108) - Achilles says all Achaeans should just go home - Diomed keeps men willing to fight - they are scared

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Books 11-16 (Speech) 11. Agamemnon Turns the Fortune of the Day 12. The Trojans and Their Allies Break the Wall 13. Neptune Helps the Achaeans 14. Agamemnon Proposes that the Achaeans Should Sail Home 15. Jove Awakes 16. Patroclus Fights in the Armours of Achilles -

Book 16, p. 187-188 - Patroclus’ plea to Achilles - “Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomed, son of Tydeus, has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylus again has been struck

with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds, are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done, to the banning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak well of you unless you now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity; knight Peleus was not your father not Thetis your mother, but the grey sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are you. If however you are kept back through knowledge of some oracle, or if your mother Thetis has told you something from the mouth of Jove, at least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I may bring deliverance to the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your armour; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the field, so that the hard-pressed sons of the Achaeans may have breathing time - which while they are fighting may hardly be. We who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tents to their own city.”

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 17 17. The Fight Around the Body of Patroclus - Menelaus guards Patroclus’ fallen body - “Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles - as for his armour, Hector already has it,” (p. 206) - Hector puts on Achilles’ armor (p. 208) - Offers half of spoils to any man who brings him Patroclus’ body - Jove supports Achaeans in defense of Patroclus, but still favors Trojans - Sends Apollo to encourage Aeneas and Trojans - “... Danaans; for these last, too fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand by one another.” (p. 210) - Automedon guards Achilles’ immortal horses with the help of Jove - Jove sends Minerva to urge Achaeans in fight for Patroclus - Turns to Trojans at the last minute - but allows Menelaus (eagle metaphor p. 216) to send Antilochus to Achilles to tell him of Patroclus’ death - Ajax defends, while Menelaus and Meriones sneak Patroclus’ body away

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 18 18. The Grief of Achilles Over Patroclus - “Then Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him…” (p. 218) - Thetis goes to Vulcan on Olympus for new armor for Achilles to finally join the battle - going for Hector the next morning - Juno secretly sends Iris to send Achilles for Patroclus’ body NOW - Minerva sends unarmed Achilles bathed in godly light to battle (p. 222) - Hector inspires Trojans to stand ground outside the city

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Thetis repeats earlier speech to Vulcan on the goddesses she gathered about her (p. 226) BEAUTIFUL ARMOR - Detailed with images of lands surrounding river Oceanus - Lavish, abundant, safe, comfortable, victorious

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 19 19. Achilles is Reconciled with Agamemnon - New armor strikes fear into others and fills Achilles with courage and strength - Gathering of ALL Achaeans - Achilles sets aside his anger first - Agamemnon blames his actions on Gods; but atones for them (p. 231-232) - Break for dinner, women, sacrifice to Jove and the Sun, and Achilles’ gifts - Achilles is annoyed, he just wants revenge - can’t eat - Agamemnon - “... I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis, neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise.” (p. 234) - Achilles gets Briseis back -- she weeps for “Patroclus, dearest friend…” (p. 235) - Achilles fasts due to grief - loss of best friend, home, family - Jove - “Go then and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no hunger.” (p. 236) -- He sends Minerva - Battle prep - Juno makes the horse Xanthus speak - foretells of Achilles’ death; which he already foresees (p. 237)

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 20 20. The Gods Hold A Council - Juno allows Gods to interfere - they rush to battle and choose sides - Apollo encourages Aeneas to step up and kill Achilles - But Minerva protects Achilles along with Juno - AENEAS VS. ACHILLES - Neptune takes Aeneas away - he doesn’t stand a chance against Achilles and the divine help he gets - “I will go up against him though his hands be as fire - though his hands be fire and his strength iron,” -- Hector (p. 245) - Apollo warns Hector to fall back for now or he’ll die - Can’t do that, his need for revenge is too great - “... darted toward Achilles like a flame of fire,” (p. 246) - Apollo hides Hector in a darkness to protect him - Last paragraph on p. 247 - Metaphor - Fire = Achilles’ rage - Metaphor - Strength of horses compared to a herd of cattle

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 21 21. The Fight Between Achilles and the River Scamander - Again fire metaphor (p. 248) - “the flame comes on and on until at last it overtakes them…” -- referring to Achilles’ power to divide and conquer the Trojans - Revenge - developed many Trojan enemies over the years - Ex. story of Lycaon begging for his life - Achilles kills him - fish food metaphor (p. 250) - Battle takes place at the river Xanthus - “My father is Peleus, son of Aeacus; Aeacus is son of Jove…” (p. 251) - Achilles kills hundreds of Trojans - River begs him to stop - “I am choked with dead, and yet you go on mercilessly killing.” (p. 252) - Neptune and Minerva rescue Achilles from River’s anger - encourage him - Juno sends her son Vulcan with flame to beat back the waters of Scamander and rescue Achilles so he can defeat the Trojans - “You shall now suffer for what you then did to me,” (p. 255) - Battle among the Gods over the mortals? - Apollo - “... meet them and protect them…”, “... spurred on Agenor,” (p. 258) - Impersonates him to lead Achilles back to river in chase - TRICK - Trojans - “... poured pell-mell into the town,” (p. 259)

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 22 22. The Death of Hector - Hector’s parents warn him not to fight Achilles (p. 261) - Priam - “... you will meet death at the hands of the son of Peleus.” - Laothoe - “... spurn not this breast, but have pity upon me too…” - Hector - “Better fight him at once, and learn to which of us Jove will vouchsafe victory,” (p. 262) - Achilles chases Hector at full speed around the city - Minerva urges Hector to stand and fight in form of his brother Deiphobus - Apollo removes his protections from Hector - Hector asks Diophoebus to help - realizes it was only Minerva - Achilles spears him through the side of his neck - Drags his body back to achaean ships - “Thus was the head of Hector being dishonored in the dust,” (p. 268)

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 23 23. The Funeral of Patroclus - “I will drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw, - 12 noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you,” -- Achilles (p. 271) - “He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have closed him in them, but there was nothing, and the spirit vanished as a vapour,” (p. 272)

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“... covered him with the locks of their hair which they cut off and threw upon his body,” (p. 273) Venus and Apollo guard Hector’s body from dogs and nature Iris brings Gods of Wind to start the fire to burn Patroclus and offerings Chariot race - Diomed comes in 1st place (in Patroclus’ honor for prizes) - 2nd place - Antilochus - coached by Nestor - 3rd place - Menelaus - 4th place - Eumelus Boxing match - Epeus beats Euryalus for a mule Wrestling - Stalemate of Ajax of Telamon vs. Ulysses Running - Ulysses wins; Ajax falls in cow dung (p. 285)

Notes - Homer, The Iliad, Book 24 24. Priam Ransoms the Body of Hector - “Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector; but the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven,” (p. 288) - Except Juno, Neptune, and Minerva - Juno allows body to be stolen back - sends Iris to fetch Thetis so she doesn’t alert Achilles of the plan (p. 289) - Jove intervenes - sends Iris to Priam to go with ransom - Sends Thetis to Achilles with the plan - Jove’s bird - “... the dusky hunter that men also call the Black Eagle.” - (p. 294); sign to Priam of safe passage to Achaeans - Also sends Mercury in disguise to guard and guide Priam - “Priam, marvelled at the strength and beauty of Achilles… Achilles marveled at Priam,” (p. 300) - Make a pact to “stay fighting for 12 days” for Hector’s funeral rites (p. 300) - “... look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our people,” (p. 301)...