The Reflection Of Themes In Homer's The Iliad

The Iliad sets the tone of this epic story by beginning with fighting that magnifies throughout the entire text. King Agamemnon has kidnapped Chryses’ daughter and refuses to give her back even after Chryses has begged him. Agamemnon, rudely, responds to his request calling him “old sir,” telling Chryses if he does not leave, he will make his daughter work until she is old and tired. After hearing this, Chryses leaves afraid for his and his daughter’s life. Chryses prays to the god Apollo that he would punish the Achaians for the pain they have caused him. Apollo agrees and hurls his silver arrow down to reprimand and kill the people continuously for nine days. On the tenth day, Achilleus and the Achaians have grown tired of this plague and

Achilleus was astonished by this insult that he would give Briseis to Agamemnon without question. Achilleus begins to question why they are fighting the Trojans if they have never done anything to him. In the end, he decides to not participate in the battle against the Trojans and go home. Before he departs, Agamemnon declares again that he will go and take Briseis. Athene hears this and comes down from the sky to convince Achilleus that fighting and killing Agamemnon is not the path to take. Achilleus decides to listen to her and go back to his ship. Later, Agamemnon releases Chryses’ daughter and sends two men to collect Briseis from Achilleus. Once she is taken, Achilleus calls upon his mother, Thetis and she comes to him. He asks her to convince Zeus to help the Trojans defeat the Achaians and she agrees to ask him. When Thetis asks Zeus, he answers that he will do this for

Patroklos had been killed by Hektor and stripped of his precious armor. While still grieving for his loss, Achilleus decides to join the fighting in honor of his friend. His mother, Thetis hears this and goes to ask Hephaistos, a smith, to build her son armor unlike any other. While Thetis went to Hephaistos, Iris came to Achilleus and told him of the horrible things the Trojans are doing to Patrokols’ body. She insisted that Achilleus expose himself to the Trojans to frighten them. While doing this, the Achaians were able to take back Patroklos’ body. Just by shrieking, Achilleus was able to kill 12 of the Trojan men. After, Poulydamas tells the Trojans to go back to the city, but Hektor rejects the order. Meanwhile, Thetis asks Hephaistos to make a set of armor for her son. He kindly accepts the proposal and gets to work on an astonishing shield, helmet and other pieces. Once finished, Thetis returns backs with the armor to give to Achilleus. Achilleus and the Achaians start their journey to fight the Trojans. When they arrive, Achilleus proceeds to chase Hektor three times around the city until Hektor stops. Achilleus stabs him and kills him. He takes him body and mutilates him. Achilleus strips Hektor of the armor he was wearing, which was once Patroklos’ armor. The Achaians returned back to their camp and were able to give Patroklos his proper funeral. Achilleus was able to mourn and have the