Iliad (European Classical Literature) summary and

notes of English Honours semester 1.

englishveda.com/2020/04/iliad-european-classical-literature.html

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.

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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.

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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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