*P&P
*Check J9
*Continue reading where you left off. J10 will be due sometime next week. Also, read through Book 10 by next Monday, but you can read more if you'd like.
J10 – Heroes (114-125)
– “The Love of Achilles, Books 9-17”
EQ: What heroic motivations does Homer explore in Books 9-17;
which one proves strongest?
1.
Agamemnon accepts no responsibility for having enraged Achilles.
Instead, he blames madness, the gods. How is this behavior a chink in the armor
of the heroic ethic?
2.
What is wrong with Agamemnon’s gift, his offer of reconciliation,
to Achilles? In other words, how is his huge offer an assertion of superiority?
3.
The messengers to Achilles speak to him with appeals to kleos and philos. Although he doesn’t join the war at the moment, what is
ironic—unexpected, given what we know and expect of him—about Achilles’ future
decision to join the war?
4.
How do Homer’s epic similes contribute thematically to Homer’s
understanding of warfare? (Think about the focus on animals and forces of
nature).
5.
Talk to me about the ancients’ understanding of boundaries,
addressing both the Greek and Christian understanding.
6.
In what way does Patroclus’ participation in the war “solve”
Achilles’ heroic dilemma?
7.
On
a related note, what is significant about Achilles’ armor? Cite several details
that explain your answer.
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