Homer’s Iliad: Summary, Themes, and Resources

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Homer’s Iliad is possibly one of the most famous books of all time and ranks up there with War and Peace and Romeo and Juliet. Everyone has heard and learned about it at some point during high school or college. Everyone knows about the books hero, Achilles, who is considered the greatest warrior who ever lived.

Brief Summary of the Homer’s Iliad

The Iliad is 24 books long. It begins in year ten of the Trojan War. Achilles is dishonored by King Agamemnon, the commander of the Achaean forces who started the Trojan War. Achilles, who is in love with Briseis, becomes so angered at the slight that he orders all of his troops to stay out of future battles of the War. Achille’s decision turns the tide of the War, and the Achaeans begin losing. Agamemnon sends the wily king Odysseus to persuade Achilles to rejoin the battle but Achilles refuses and orders his men to sail home. Achille’s cousin Patroclus pretends to be Achilles and goes into battle, where he is killed by Hector, who thinks he is Achilles.

Hearing the news of his cousins death, Achilles becomes enraged. He rejoins the war and spends his days trying to find Hector. Achilles manages to find and kill Hector and he ties his body to his chariot, dragging it around the Troy for nine days. When Hectors father, Priam, begs Achilles to allow him bury his son, Achilles agrees, and the book ends with Hectors funeral.

What are the themes in Homer’s Iliad

Iliad touches on a number of themes. One of them is the glory of war. In the book, a persons worth is directly tied to how good a warrior he is Achilles is the best because nobody can match his prowess. Everybody condones his arrogance and blind anger. The book also examines the cost of pride. Ancient Greeks held pride to be a two-edged sword: it brings both greatness and ruin. Achilles walks that fine line; his pride is what wins him the glory he craves but it is also what causes his cousins death.

Educational Resources about Homer’s Iliad

Translated Iliad : translation from Greek into English.

Character Summaries : Has summaries about every character that appears in Iliad.

Iliad Themes : Goes into great detail about the themes in the book.

Book Discussion : Discusses interesting aspects of the book, like the role religion plays.

Cast of Characters : Highlights the storys main characters.

Book Outline and short summaries of what happens in each books.

Enotes Page about the book: Has many sections that discuss everything about the story.

Homer Quotations

Resource by L.Fuller

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