October 1st-October 7th

Date: 10/1/20
Time: 8:10am-9:30 am

Today, we took our quiz, and I did horrible, as expected. But, that didn’t even upset me. I got kicked out of the Zoom meeting, and I was in the Waiting Room. I waited in the room for like 2 minutes with no response. So, I texted one of my friends to let the professor know that I was waiting to get let back in class, but he said he didn’t see me. I left and joined back in, and he still didn’t see me! I was so mad! This is why they just need to all of the schools!

Date: 10/3/20
Time: 2:00 PM — 3:00 PM

In book 22, Apollo amplifies his distraction by escaping from Achilles, saving numerous Trojan lives. Both Hector and Achilles, though in significantly different respects, are seeking recognition. The dignity of Achilles is determined by the intensity of his death, by Hectors’ supreme willingness to defend his city. Though Priam deeply wants to save his son, he respects the lives of warriors as well. This shows that the death of an old man means that in battle one was not daring enough. Hector is a more compassionate and likable character, inspired to try to make up for the hurt he has caused to his people. Yet this complex inspiration can not hold up to the pure, courageous rage of Achilles. Oddly, Zeus considers that he differs from his plan conceived in the first poem. It is unclear if Zeus has the ability to alter the plan but Athena deters him, or if Athena reminds Zeus that the fate of Hector is beyond Zeus’ influence. In either scenario, Zeus’ concern for Hector stresses the bravery of Hector himself, even though the bravery fails in the face of Achilles’ rage. Hector can’t face death that is almost inevitable, so he exits. Hector’s destiny is in no doubt with the changes. Achilles would be proud to see the strongest of Trojan combatants killed. One of the last indications of a godly warfare interference is the move Athena performs on Hector, but this move is not presented as downplayed. It’s just a deity’s successful intervention. Hector attempts to pander to Achilles for a feel of morality, but Achilles is keen to shame Hector for his death. The gods are on Achilles’ side, trying to ensure their strategy, give Achilles every advantage. The fact that Achilles was able to damage his old armor was a sign of Achilles’ high profile after the death of Patroclus. Hector was wearing Achilles’ old armor. After Hector’s death, Achaeans demand that he shame Hector, and in the truth that his body is holy not only Hector but his whole family. After vengeance on Hector, Achilles now knows that paying due respect for the remains of his beloved comrade is the most important thing to do. This compares sharply with Patroclus and Hector, who both took prideful actions. In spite of his glorious ambition Achilles refuses a desire to satisfy Patroclus’ vow, illustrating that his affection for Patroclus is far stronger than his affection for glory. The death of Hector is an intuition of Troy’s collapse, as is the prognostic of Astyanax losing his parents. The delayed reaction of Andromache is a device that highlights the shock of the death of Hector and gives a sense of surprise to the reader that something was coming for a very long time.

Date: 10/4/20
Time: 12:45 PM — 2:00 PM

In book 23, Patroclus has a huge sorrow for Achilles and shows many signs of commitment and a feeling of loss. Achilles senses the loss of a real friend and an unbelievably close mate. Patroclus’ presence reveals the special connection between Patroclus and Achilles. Patroclus would return to him from the dead, showing that their connection is so powerful. Their united burial reveals their extraordinary bond strength. The appeal by Patroclus further underlines the value of a respectful burial, for it only enables a person to proceed into the afterlife. That’s what Hector has been rejected from. The building of the grave of Patroclus marks the culmination of the lament for Patroclus. The sacrifice of Achilles, including the Dozen Trojans, reveals his grief to the degree of its severity. At times, Achilles appears more like a deity, as Iris gives his message to the wind-gods who fulfill his wishes automatically. However, Achilles’ glory is not linked to immortality but to a complete acceptance of his own death, again shown by his request for burial in the same tomb. It is not only soon, but during the war that Achilles realizes he will die. The games at the funeral show that they are done being sad about Patroclus. These incidents bring order to the Achaean Army keeping in the suspension of the grief of Achilles. After the chaos of Patroclus’ passing, the games have a pleasant relaxation while the gods still interact. Achilles seems to be the supreme leader rather than Agamemnon during the games. The awards of Achilles are circulated and conflicts are resolved, and Achilles is the leading Achaean. While the game’s events are based on conflict, they seem totally tamed. For example, there are no bonds on the battleground, contrary to the sparring session between Odysseus and Ajax. The Gods participate even in the life of humans. The amusing fight is another wartime image because, as with the match in the battles, there’s not a winner on the battlefield. Another instance of the value of honoring the gods is the archery sport, regardless of how small it might be. In the event of the spear-throwing competition, the games and the army will be ordered by Achilles, offering his due regard to Agamemnon.

Date: 10/5/20
Time: 10:15 AM — 12:30 AM

In the last book, Patroclus is buried, but the death of Patroclus destroys Achilles. Achilles realizes that his time is short and that Patroclus’ death is one of his last major events in his life. Homer first references the event which led to war in the last book of his poetry. Homer never explains the Judgement scene, but reveals that the choice of Paris contributed to the outrage of Hera at this particular period. Hector has always loved the gods and the gods should ensure that his body is loved in exchange. The appeal of Apollo to the gods is decency. The response from Hera, however, points to an alternate solution. Achilles, as the son of a goddess, is obviously different from Hector and has different expectations. Zeus basically agrees with both arguments and sends a messenger to Achilles. Achilles is full of sorrow, but he overcomes this suffering to show respect for the gods. The gods plan to send Priam to ransom Hector’s body, establishing a condition in which the wisest of Trojans encounter the greatest in Achaean, and the father of the slain faces the avenging slayer. Priam is identified as being highly fragile and his vulnerability symbolizes Troy’s failure following Hector’s death. Priam would definitely be captured and killed by the Achaean forces without Hermes’ aid. Hermes’ remark about his dad’s Priam illustrates again that Priam is a dad, with a dad’s great love for his dead son. Since Priam was quietly taken into Achilles’ camp, without direct meddling he could communicate with Achilles alone. As Achilles sees his father in Priam, they all know they suffered defeats. This is the first time that Achilles has displayed concern for another living human since Patroclus’ death. In Priam’s sorrow for Hector, he has realized how his death is going to affect his father and pushes him in a way he hasn’t done since then. Achilles’ dining with Priam is a moment of quiet reconciliation as the two men join in one another’s sorrow. The time is temporary, though, and both men realize that they will soon be back at war. The truce for Hector’s tomb represents Patroclus’s burial. Hector, less godlike but more connected to the people around him, is a different kind of hero than Achilles. His absence is grieved by all the inhabitants of Troy, and the three Trojan women attest to his compassionate qualities.

How does the final book of the Iliad (Book 24) compare to the beginning? Does the work feel finished? If you had to compose a 25th book, what would you include in it?

In the first book of The Iliad, the author chooses to focus on anger, pride, and honor. Achilles is angered in the 10th year of the Trojan War. The Achaean emperor, King Agamemnon, brought illness to the army by refusing to give up a princess, Chryseis, whom he took as a reward in a recent battle. As Agamemnon, in exchange for a bribe, declines to give her up, her father calls upon Heaven, and Apollo sends a plague. As Achilles calls on Agamemnon to leave Chryseis in exchange for potential reward, Agamemnon appears impossible for a warrior who lives moment by moment, insisting that Briseis be reinstated immediately, the woman Achilles took her as a gift. Just Achilles’ intervention saves Agamemnon at the time and Agamemnon vows to one day pray for his skills. The goddess Thetis is not going to fight and is inviting his mother to avenge his proudness. Thetis means that the Achilles will forfeit their battle before an insult to the dignity of Achilles is remedied. The last book chooses to focus on totally different topics, such as grief, love, and friendship. After nine days of the funeral, Achilles attached Hector‘s body to his chariot on all of these days, pulling it across Patroclos’s barrows. The Gods, though, hold the body so it does not decay or collapse. Such captured memories of his family members really touch Achilles that he accepts Priam’s compensation request for his body. The two men, Achilles and Priam, weep together, each one having their own grief. I honestly feel like this work is incomplete, and I would make the 25th book about the death of Achilles. The reason why I would do this is because I feel like Achilles does not improve much in the course of the epic. His pride or the rage which arises when he is injured, can not be controlled. This trait poisons him to such a degree that he deserts his comrades and even prays for the Trojans to kill them because his commander, Agamemnon, has squashed them all. The thirst for fame pushes Achilles mainly. Part of him aspires to live a long, easy life, but he knows that he must choose between the two because of his personal fate. Ultimately, he is able to risk everything to preserve his identity.

Date: 10/6/20
Time: 8:10am-9:30 am

Today, the professor shared a document with us entitled “ Greek Literature in Translation, Fall 2020, The conclusion of the Iliad” In this document, we were asked:
How does Book Twenty-Four of the Iliad relate to Book One? Is it a fitting conclusion to the entire work? What, if anything, is left out?

There was a list of questions to think about for the answers, so we said:

What characters are present in both books?
Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon, Zeus, Athena

What characters are new?
Andromache, Hecuba, Priam

What actions/events are similar?
They already know what will happen (their fate)
There is a father trying to get his child back from the Achaeans
The Gods intervene in the mortals’ lives

What actions/events are new?
Hector and Achilles duel
Patroclus dies, and Achilles grieves over him

What themes are similar?
Death, battle, loss, fatigue

What themes are new?
Sympathy
Putting oneself in someone else’s shoes