Death And The Illiad
The Illiad, an epic poem written by Homer, is set during the very end of the long Trojan War. The war starts after Paris, a prince of Troy, steals Helen, the wife of an Achean named Menelaus. Menelaus' brother is Agamemnon, the leader of the Achean army and they go to war with the Trojans to win Helen back. The initial conflict in the story is when Achilles gets angry because Agamemnon takes his beautiful war prize, Briseis. Achilles commands a group of Myrmidon soldiers and is the best warrior on the Achean side, while Paris's brother Hector is the best warrior on the Trojan side.(Rouse/Homer p.12) In The Illiad, Hector and Achilles are portrayed as having very different personalities; however, they are both considered heroes. Homer needs both of the heroes in order to show the vast number of superior attributes that he believes a hero should possess, and he also gives them flaws to contrast and enhance their heroic qualities.
Before it was written, The Iliad was a poem told orally by the Greeks. The Iliad
presents modern day readers with information about the Greek society many years ago in
the B.C. time period. This poem portrays the important values of the Greek society
during a heroic age. This heroic age is conveyed by one main character, Achilles. Achilles represents the tragic Greek hero in The Iliad, tragic because he chose his own death. Achilles knew (because of his mother Thetis), that he could lead a long insignificant life or die young but glorious. Achilles chose the latter. Throughout The
Iliad, Achilles went through some significant changes that affected himself, as well as the
Achaeans and Trojans. He began a hero and ended a tragic hero.
The Trojan War is vital to Greek mythology and provides a backdrop for
discussion. Before the war even started, however, it was known by all Trojans and
Achaeans that Achilles was the best fighter. He was the hero of all fighters. (Homer pps....
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