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Neal Collins

Dr. Reineck

GSHU 121.05

Aug. 16, 2001

Introducing Homer

Compare:

Books 1 and 2 of the Iliad are comparable in many ways, most striking is the

similar manner in which both books were written. In books 1 and 2 Homer places a great

deal of attention on scenes dealing with emotional and physical conflict. He becomes

very descriptive, using metaphors common to a reader to draw the image. At this time

Homer hastens the pace of the poem and his delivery becomes much more powerful all in

an effort to swallow up the reader into the heat of the battle, to be lost in the chaos and

carnage. This descriptive style of writing is necessary for the reader to understand the

actions of the characters. In both books Homer never allows the reader to get past the

third person perspective, the reader is not allowed to venture into the thoughts of the

characters. Only by feeling what the characters feel during those intense scenes can the

reader understand their motives.

Contrast:

Both books 1 and 2 of the Iliad share a similar writing style, book 2 reads as

though it was given more attention to detail than was book 1. In The Great Gathering of

Armies, the reader is given a great deal of background information concerning who

commands what ships, their family background, the background of the soldiers families,

and from where they have journeyed. On the other hand in the Rage of Achilles, the
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reader is dropped into what seems to be the middle of the story, little to no biographical

information about the character or the conflict.

Questions for class:

Book One-

1. Why does Apollo concern himself about Chryses daughter, given that the gods

seemed not to care about human matters unless it concerned them directly?

2. Was the argument between Agamemnon and Achilles one of their own design or

directed by the Gods?

3. Achilles seems to love his country and countrymen, yet he requests from the gods

that the Trojans bring the battlefront up to the ships. So who does Achilles care

for, himself or the honor of those around him?

Book Two-

1. Why did Agamemnon so readily believe the vision from Zeus, wouldn’t he at

least question its value seeing that the gods were so untrustworthy?

2. Why did Agamemnon care so much about this girl Chryseis that he would

sacrifice his greatest field marshal to have her, did he really care about her or

was it the principle of the matter?

3. Why did Homer feel it was so important to give the biographical information

of all the fighters?