literature

1. The Iliad

2. Homer’s Iliad
Homer is said to be the
first teller of
adventures of all
times. He was not the
first author because in
his day stories were
passed down---they
were told. He was a
blind man whose date
of birth is unknown.

3. Eris, Goddess of Discord
Angry because she was not invited to the
wedding of the Sea Goddess Thetis to King
Peleus, Eris tossed the Golden Apple marked
“To the Fairest” into the banquet.

4. The Fairest
Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena wanted the
apple
Zeus would not choose, he did not want the
goddesses angry with him
Paris was asked to make
the decision

5. The Decision
Hera offered to make
Paris ruler of Europe
and Asia
Athena offered to let
him lead Sparta in a
victory over the
Trojans
Aphrodite offered him
the most beautiful
woman in the world

6. Paris Chooses Aphrodite
The most beautiful woman
in the world is Helen, the
wife of King Menelaus
Aphrodite helps Paris
seduce and kidnap Helen

7. The Beginning of War
King Menelaus called on all those who were loyal to him.
They gathered a huge army, and built a thousand ships to carry
the army to Troy
Helen of Sparta was now called “Helen of Troy”
She was “The face that launched a thousand ships”

8. The Trojan War
The battle raged for 10
years
Many great heroes lost
their lives
A prophet predicted
that Troy could be
captured only with the
help of Achilles.

9. The Hero Achilles
Knowing of the prophecy, and worried
that her son would be killed in war,
Achilles’ mother dipped him in the
river Styx to make him immortal.
His only weakness was the place on his
heals where she held him.
During the war, Achilles is forced to
give up his war prize, a slave girl, to
Agamemnon, and so he refuses to fight.
Patroclus, his friend, asks Achilles if he
may ride out in his armor so the
Trojans would lose heart.

10. Achilles
Achilles agreed to allow his friend Patroclus to wear his armor.
The next day Patroclus was killed and stripped of the armor by
the Trojan hero Hector, who mistook him for Achilles.
Achilles was overwhelmed with grief for his friend and rage at
Hector.
Achilles kills Hector. He desecrated the body, dragging it
behind his chariot before the walls of Troy.
Finally Paris, aided by Apollo,
wounded Achilles in the heel
with an arrow; Achilles died of the wound.

11. 10 Years of War
The Gods are tired of watching men kill each
other, and decide to help end the war. Athena
whispers an idea in the Spartan hero Odysseus’s
ear.

12. The Trojan Horse
Odysseus tells them they
will build a huge horse of
wood.
Some would climb inside
and hide.
The rest would sail around
the tip of the island, where
they could not be seen.
One would stay behind
and tell the Trojans that he
had been abandoned by
the Greeks, and that the
horse was an offering to
Athena.

13. The Fall of Troy
The Trojans believed
the trick.
They had a huge
banquet to celebrate
the end of the war.
At night the men from
inside the horse came
out and unlocked the
gates to the city.

14. The Burning of Troy
The city is invaded by the
army.
The Trojans are drunk and
spent from their night of
revelry, unable to fight
back.
The Spartans destroy and
burn the city.
Aphrodite saves Helen
from the destruction.

15. The War Ends
King Menelaus
accepts Helen back.
The Warriors can now
return home.
Odysseus leaves for
home, and his wife
and son.

16. THE ODYSSEY

17. What is an Epic?
Epics are long,
narrative poems
that tell the
adventures of
heroes who in some
way embody the
values of their
civilization.

18. What types of epics are the Iliad
and the Odyssey?
Iliad – War Epic
Odyssey – Journey

19. Modern Day Epics
Star Wars
Forrest Gump
Hobbit
Lord of the Rings
Wizard of Oz

20. How were heroes characterized
in Homer’s day?
Special Aristocrats
or Demigods
Placed somewhere
between Gods and
ordinary humans.

21. How is Odysseus different from
other heroes?
Hero in Trouble
Clever (not just brute
strength)
Did not want to go to
war

22. Why did Odysseus object to the
Trojan War?
He believes no war
should be fought over
an unfaithful woman
(Helen)
He wants to stay at
home with his wife
and newborn son

23. Odysseus attempts to
“Draft Dodge”
Tried to appear insane by planting salt instead of
seeds.
Draft recruiters throw his son in front of his plow
Odysseus reveals his sanity by avoiding running
over Telemachus

24. The Epic Begins
Odysseus been gone 20
years
Telemachus is 20 years old
Suitors have invaded his
house, robbing him of his
inheritance, and attempt to
marry his mother Penelope
(Odysseus’s Wife)

25. Penelope and her suitors