How does Homer make this an interesting passage?

Firstly, Homer makes the passage interesting by showing the hubristic nature of
Agamemnon. When Chryses comes to the Greek camp to beg for his daughter back, he
emphasises the importance of Apollo by calling him the ‘son of Zeus’, the king of the all the
gods and the most powerful. By threatening Agamemnon with the wrath of Apollo and
possibly even his father Zeus, Chryses and the reader expect Agamemnon to agree to
Chryses’ terms. Chryses uses imperatives like ‘respect’ ‘accept’ and ‘release’, which perhaps
show his confidence that Agamemnon will do the sensible thing and respect Apollo.
However, Agamemnon shockingly disrespects the god and says that Chryses’ sacred objects
from Apollo will be a ‘very poor defence’, implying that Agamemnon hubristically thinks he
can perhaps beat Apollo and clearly undermines Apollo’s divine power. Agamemnon’s
passionate outburst of rage makes the passage interesting.

Secondly, the passage is made interesting because the reader gets an insight into the type of
leader Agamemnon is. Homer says ‘all the other Greeks shouted in agreement’ at Chryses’
words. The phrase ‘all the other Greeks’ suggests that every single one of Agamemnon’s
men know that accepting Chryses’ offer is the sensible and right thing to do. However,
Agamemnon is shown to be selfish - instead of putting his own views aside and listening to
his men, he asserts his power over them and completely ignores them, suggesting he is a
cruel and even tyrannical leader, creating drama in the text and interesting the reader.

Thirdly, Homer creates drama and interest by showing the cruel and dismissive way Chryses
is treated by Agamemnon. He describes how Chryseis will ‘share his bed’ a ‘long way from
her country’. This is particularly horrible because it almost prompts Chryses to imagine
Agamemnon raping his daughter, and her being so far away leaves Chryses completely
helpless to do anything. It also demonstrates Agamemnon’s pride – how he refuses to back
down, when Chryses’ offer of a ‘splendid ransom’ would greatly benefit Agamemnon and his
crew much more than Chryseis ever could.

Lastly, the passage is interesting due to the sympathy Homer creates for Chryses. The ‘old
man was afraid and did as he was told’, walking off ‘without a word’. This image of a
pathetic old man completely helpless to aid his captured daughter, so terrified of
Agamemnon that he cannot even talk back to him, creates pathos for Chryses. The phrase
‘did as he was told’ almost gives the impression of a young child unwillingly obeying a more
powerful adult due to fear, and this again adds to the impression of Chryses being too weak
and helpless to argue with the powerful Agamemnon, creating sympathy and therefore
interesting the reader.