Hanzel M. Camello.
STEM 11-A
Literary Text Analysis
Text: Iliad and Odyssey
Author: Homer
Genre: Epic Poetry
Setting:
Iliad: Troy, the Greek Camp and the Battlefield
Odyssey: In Ithaca and the seas between Greece and Turkey
Characters:
Main Characters in the Iliad
Main Greek Characters
Achilles- the central hero of the Iliad and the greatest of the Greek warriors.
Agamemnon- the king of Mycenae and commander-in-chief of the Greek forces
fighting against Troy.
Ajax Telamon- a son of King Telamon, this courageous Greek warrior is a huge
man of giant strength.
Diomedes- the young king of Argos, he is known for fighting bravely and
speaking his mind in council meetings.
Helen- the extraordinarily beautiful wife of King Menelaus of Sparta.
Menelaus- he is the king of Sparta, younger brother of Agamemnon and
husband of Helen.
Nestor- king of Pylos, guides the Greeks with his advice.
Odysseus- king of Ithaca, known for his bravery and his clever mind.
Patroclus- the devoted friend and constant companion of Achilles, he is a
courageous warrior and commander of the Myrmidons.
Main Trojan Characters
Andromache- she is the devoted wife of Hector
Cassandra- the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba and the sister of
Hector and Paris, she has the gift of prophecy but was cursed by a god so that
no one believes her.
Hector- he’s the eldest son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba he is the prince of
Troy and the best and the bravest of the Trojan warriors.
Hecuba- she is the queen of Troy, wife of King Priam and mother of Hector.
Paris- a prince of Troy and younger brother of Hector, he is known for his beauty
than his bravery.
Priam- the king of Troy, husband of Hecuba and father of many, he is no longer
a young man but still a courageous leader.
Main Characters in the Odyssey
Alcinous- the king of the seafaring Phaecians and the father of Nausicaa
Antinous- he is one of the leaders of the suitors who wants to marry Penelope.
Argos- he is Odysseus’ old dog.
Eumaeus- he is an old and loyal swineherd of Odysseus, he also helped
Odysseus to overcome the suitors.
Eurycleiae- she’s a trusted old servant of Odysseus.
Eurymachus- he is one of the leaders of the suitors who wants to marry
Penelope.
Laertes- he is the father of Odysseus.
Menelaus- he is the king of Sparta and a comrade of Odysseus.
Nausicaa- daughter of king Alcinous of Phaecians.
Nestor- he is the king of Pylos and a comrade of Odysseus.
Odysseus- he is the central hero of the story and the king of Ithaca.
Peisistratus- son of Nestor who helped Telemachus on his journey to Sparta.
Penelope- the wife of Odysseus
Philoetius- he is a loyal cowherd of Odysseus and he also helped Odysseus to
overcome the suitors.
Telemachus- the son of Odysseus and Penelope and was tasked to look for his
father.
Plot:
The Plot in the Iliad
Exposition
At the beginning of the book, Achilles and Agamemnon are having a argument. This
argument results in Achilles withdrawing from the war.
Rising action
The rising action is Hector’s assault on the Achaean ships which the return of
Patroclus to fight and his death. This will then result in the return of Achilles.
Climax
Achilles return to fight helps turn the tide of the war. He fights with the Greeks and
wants to ensure the fatal fall of the Trojan army.
Falling action
The Trojan army starts to retreat as the city of Troy is falling. Achilles is trying to find
Hector to get revenge.
Resolution
The Trojan army retreats as the Greeks outnumber them. Achilles then fights Hector,
the mightiest warrior in the Trojan army, and kills him. Achilles dies by getting shot with
an arrow in the heel.
The Plot in the Odyssey
Exposition
In the beginning of the story instead focus on Telemachus, back home on the island of
Ithaca, trying to rule in his father’s absence. We learn about the suitors who are hanging
around Odysseus’ home, hoping that news will arrive of their king’s death so they can
move in and tussle for the widowed Penelope’s hand in (re)marriage. On the council of
gods Athena convinces Zeus to rescue Odysseus from Calypso. He agrees. Hermes
goes to Calypso’s island and releases Odysseus. Poseidon stops preventing the warrior
from reaching Ithaca. Athena descends from the heavens to assist Telemachus with
finding his father Odysseus.
Rising action
On the other hand Telemachus secretly traveled to Pylos and Sparta that was
instructed by Athena to seek information about Odysseus from the comrades of his
father in the battle. On the other hand, Odysseus leaves Calypso’s island and starts his
journey home. On his way, he got washed up on the island of the Phaeacian.
Climax
Odysseus was found by Nausicaa and she helped him and brought him to her father.
He was welcomed by King Alcinous and offered him food and shelter temporarily, he
also helped Odysseus to travel back in his country but before he leaves Odysseus
finally introduced himself and tells his story to the on how he struggle to his journey
back to his home. After Odysseus’ storytelling, the king ordered his men to give him gifts
to honor his bravery.
Falling action
In Ithaca, when the suitors found out that Telemachus traveled to find his father, they
planned in assassinating him when he comes home and so Athena warned Telemachus
at Sparta the horrendous plan of the suitors of his mother. When Odysseus set his sail,
Athena appeared before him, she told the suitor’s plan on Telemachus to him and she
instructed him to disguise himself when he step his foot at Ithaca and hid his treasure in
a cave.
Resolution
Odysseus and Telemachus finally reunite each other at his servant’s home, then they
plan on how to put an end of the chaos caused by his mother’s suitors at their home.
Then Telemachus went home and Odysseus disguise himself first then they began with
their plan and slay each of his wife’s suitors. Then Penelope and Odysseus reunite
together after 20 years of suffering.
