Iliad Secondary Sources

1. Gods do not care for mortals but their honour is very important, they may decline prayer but love offerings, humans are not worth fighting over. Gods cannot be heroic as they cant experience loss or die, gods pity humans. “Double motivation” (5, 4, 3, 7)
6. Over 300. Suffuses the poem with vividness and occur at moments of high emotion, create pathos and introduce peace into war (contrast). Adds significance to human life by comparing it to the natural world. (5, 7)
8. Warriors described as lions, most often Greek warriors even in retreat. We feel admiration for the lion however we know that for the good of the community it has to die, we feel sympathetic. Anticipate defeat of the Trojans as they are shown as prey. (4, 7, 7)

2. In this frantically climactic episode (B22) Homer unobtrusively reminds us of what war destroys. (7, 3)
3. The main difference between Hector and Achilles is that Hector is represented as quintessentially social and human while Achilles is inhumanly isolated and demonic in his greatness (6, 7)
4. Achilles is shown as separate from other heroes. He has a “choice” in his fate and sees the futility of war. Hector also different as he has duties and fights for his people. (6, 7)
5. Death nearly always comes after single blow, battlefield not littered with suffering. Small portraits of dead invoke personal worlds onto battlefield. Hit and run most common death/fighting technique, soldiers want to stay away from each other. (5, 7)
7. Bring vivid pictures of another world familiar to listeners/readers. Different from world they are compared to as much as they are similar to it; draw listener through lure of being familiar. Many belong to world of peace. Glimpse of peace in war. (6, 7)

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