Homers Iliad Essay - 3961 Words

Homers Iliad The Iliad is an epic of death. It is a tale of conflict, batle, agony, and horific mutilation. Honor and glory are atained through warfare. The great shield of Achiles stands out in this context because it depicts the glories of an orderly, functioning, productive civilization. This depiction of life stands in stark contrast to the scenes of death that constitute a large portion of the narative. An examination of the shield of Achiles in Homer’s Iliad reveals many ideas in conflict: love and honor, the pleasures of life versus a heroic death, free wil and destiny. By viewing the shield as an element of contradistinction—that is to define it on the basis of contrast—one can se that the shield symbolicaly unifies the†¦show more content†¦The shield of Nestor can be viewed as representing the importance of familial bonds and cooperation betwen generations and embodies this role which Nestor plays for the Achaians (Atchity 148-49): â€Å"So he [Nestor] spoke, and took up the wrought shield of his son / Thrasymedes, breaker of horses. It lay in the shelter / al shining in bronze. Thrasymedes caried the shield of his father† (book 14, lines 9–11). Nestor is the oldest and one of the wisest of the Greeks fighting in Troy. Although his physical strength has waned in his old age, he stil embodies the spirit and bravery of a great warior. He inspires the younger generation to go courageously into batle. The younger wariors honor and respect Nestor. This cooperation betwen generations is exemplified by father and son exchanging armor as they take on the enemy. Odyseus and Telemachos provide another example of father and son arming together as they prepare to fight the suitors in The Odysey. Atchity points out that the shield of brave Aias â€Å"is make by the best of al mortal artisans. The artifact perfectly identifies Aias. His solid mortality is contrasted with the semidivinity of Achiles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (155). As Aias wilingly and confidently goes head to head with Hektor, he is armed with a fine shield created by a gifted mortal craftsman. By contrast, Achiles, son of the goddes Thetis, is given armor forged by Hephaistos, the god of fire. With such godly armor Achiles is able to triumph overShow MoreRelatedHomers The Iliad1027 Words   |  5 Pagesauthor, and story teller. Homer has always made stories feel so real, and one of homers best stories â€Å"The Iliad† has always been always been told because of it love aspect, its fighting as well as the involvement of the gods. As with all great stories there must always be some sort of love between characters so the character would take some risk to protect the beloved. In â€Å"The Iliad† there is much love in the air that hector is willing to kill himself to protect his beloved city from the GreeksRead MoreThe Timeless Truths of Homers Iliad1784 Words   |  8 PagesJames Hutchinson Ms. Spicer AP Literature 20 August 2010 Homers Timeless Truths Is Homers The Iliad relevant to todays society? Is this work a timeless parable depicting universal human truths transcending time and context or merely a superbly-crafted epic poem to be studied and admired for its stylistic brilliance? Has the text endured simply because of Homers dramatic verse or because of the timeless human truths it conveys? Was it written to persuade readers to question the moral implicationsRead MoreEssay Femininity in Homer’s Iliad1882 Words   |  8 PagesFemininity in Homer’s Iliad In Homer’s Iliad, predominant feminine presence inspires the events of the poem and the destinies of the men involved. This feminine presence is not a product of the actions and decisions of the women in the poem, but rather a conceptual, creative feminine force without which the poem and even human life would not exist. Homer personifies this presence in nature and maintains it through the voice of the Muse, his inspiration. There is a deeper essence of a feminineRead More The Character Achilles in Homers The Iliad993 Words   |  4 PagesThe Character Achilles in Homers The Iliad The first book of The Iliad, appropriately titled the Rage of Achilles, sets the scene for the remainder of the epic (selu.edu/Academics/Depts/WritingCenter/The_Growth_of_Achilles.htm). 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One such moment i s Glaukos’ conversation with DiomedesRead MoreSimiles in Homers Iliad Essay1866 Words   |  8 Pages An Examination of Similes in the Iliad - and how Homers Use of Them Affected the Story In the Iliad, Homer finds a great tool in the simile. Just by opening the book in a random place the reader is undoubtedly faced with one, or within a few pages. Homer seems to use everyday activities, at least for the audience, his fellow Greeks, in these similes nearly exclusively. When one is confronted with a situation that is familiar, one is more likely to put aside contemplating the topic and simplyRead More The Paradox of Heroism in Homer’s Iliad1951 Words   |  8 PagesThe Paradox of Heroism in Homer’s Iliad The Iliad presents a full range of valorous warriors: the Achaians Diomedes, Odysseus, and the Aiantes; the Trojans Sarpedon, Aeneas, and Glaukos. These and many others are Homer’s models of virtue in arms. Excelling all of them, however, are the epic’s two central characters, Achilleus, the son of Peleus and, Hector, the son of Priam. In these two, one finds the physical strength, intense determination, and strenuous drive that give them first placeRead More The Role of the Gods in Homers The Iliad Essay544 Words   |  3 PagesThe Role of the Gods in Homers The Iliad We everlasting gods....Ah what chilling blows we suffer-thanks to our own conflicting wills-whenever we show these mortal men some kindness. This exert clearly states what kind of authority Homer has bestowed on his Gods. 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WhileRead More The Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey Essay1393 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gods in Homers The Iliad and The Odyssey The stories told in the Iliad and Odyssey are based on stories handed down over several generations, for they preserve (as we have seen) memories of an already quiet far distant past. The two pomes show clear connection in their language and style, in the manner in which their incidents presented, and in the combination of agreement with level, which distinguish their creation. The work was written by one author but gave two diverse views on the