...Cultures 1110 Q: Consider the role of the gods in the Iliad. Why are they given credit or blame for so much of what happens at Troy? Does Zeus have ultimate control over the fate of these mortals? To what extent do the mortal characters exercise free will in their choice of actions? Be sure to discuss at least three separate episodes from the text to support your argument. In Homer’s The Iliad, divine intervention is a recurrent theme in the epic. The epic portrays a world in which humans and Gods somewhat co-exist even though they are in very different worlds. We witness that heroes in The Iliad go through many troubles when “fate” and the Gods operate their lives. In Homer’s epic, the Gods intend to constantly change the lives of the people and manipulate events that take place on earth for their own self interest or any other reason. We see many recurrent patterns throughout the epic between the Gods, fate, and the heroes. For example, the Gods play a very important role in Troy. Certain gods are on each side of the war and they all have a reason, albeit petty, to help a side. Hera, the patron goddess of women, and Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, are opposed to the Trojans because a Trojan said that Aphrodite was more beautiful than them. Poseidon, the god of the sea, is also against the Trojans, because the king of Troy once enslaved him and made him build the city's walls and then refused to pay Poseidon. Although Apollo, god of poetry, archery, and healing...
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...In his famous "Poetics," the philosopher Aristotle laid the foundations for literary criticism of Greek tragedy. His famous connection between "pity and fear" and "catharsis" developed into one of Western philosophy's greatest questions: why is it that people are drawn to watching tragic heroes suffer horrible fates? Aristotle's ideas revolve around three crucial effects: First, the audience develops an emotional attachment to the tragic hero; second, the audience fears what may befall the hero; and finally (after misfortune strikes) the audience pities the suffering hero. Through these attachments the individual members of the audience go through a catharsis, a term which Aristotle borrowed from the medical writers of his day, which means a "refining" -- the viewer of a tragedy refines his or her sense of difficult ethical issues through a vicarious experious of such thorny problems. Clearly, for Aristotle's theory to work, the tragic hero must be a complex and well-constructed character, as in Sophocles' Oedipus the King. As a tragic hero, Oedipus elicits the three needed responses from the audience far better than most; indeed, Aristotle and subsequent critics have labeled Oedipus the ideal tragic hero. A careful examination of Oedipus and how he meets and exceeds the parameters of the tragic hero reveals that he legitimately deserves this title. Oedipus' nobility and virtue provide his first key to success as a tragic hero. Following Aristotle, the audience must respect...
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...In the Iliad, there are continuous examples of women that are treated as an object or materialistically, women are also treated as they are inferior to the men and the gods. According to the dictionary definition of sexism is; prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex. In essence women are shown to have no power in the Iliad due to the dominance and power of the men and gods. Treating women as inferior is a sign of a possible piece of sexist work. Unfortunately the Iliad does use men as a dominant power and women as inferior. It plays an important role to help prove that the Iliad is a sexist work. A work like the Iliad is considered sexist because of examples that are shown through the gods and...
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...The Essential Role of Goddess in Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey Just as women were viewed as inferior to men during Homer’s era, a first glance at Homer’s epics The Iliad and The Odyssey portrays goddesses as inferiors to gods. Despite the era’s bias to men, the goddesses are of equal importance to the plot of his stories as the gods. The goddesses play vital roles as either helpers or nightmares to men by often determining the results of an action. Homer did not establish the goddesses in his epics merely as minor structures to blend in the background. Rather, he established dynamic goddesses who were both powerful and intelligent. In fact, in many ways the goddesses controlled the gods by having an influence in their decisions and actions through manipulation, persuasion and guidance. By influencing the gods, the goddesses also played a large role as shepherds for human fate. The goddess’s constant intervention in the mortals’ lives was driven by favoritism, love or sexual desires, and their pity for the weak. Although the goddesses are often restricted from doing as they wish by the gods, they have proven, in many occasions, to overpower the gods through manipulation. Goddesses were often told what to do by the gods. Tasks such as delivering messages from Zeus were often carried out by Athena. Just as Hector told his wife, “Go home, attend to your own handiwork at loom and spindle, and command the maids to busy themselves, too. As for war, that is for men, all we...
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...of the Gods Iliad considered as a masterpiece at all levels, Homer combines literally devices in his books to create a vivid image for the reader there by evoking the readers’ emotions. Homer set the scene by giving vivid details of every important warlord and the gods in the battle. Homer includes the role the warlords and the gods play in the battlefield at every stage. Not only does Homer characterize individual roles in Iliad, but also symbolizes the individual’s achievement in the battle by. Gives the details roles the gods play in the battle, which keeps the reader focus on the central conflict. In Iliad, most of the scene depends on the individual’s character decision including the gods. From book 11, it can be seen as Zeus, the head of the gods controls the progress of the battle by first raining blood on the Achaeans causing them to panic. In retrospect, Zeus sends Iris to deliver a message “Hector, son of Priam, Father Zeus Has sent me here with a message for you. As long as you see Lord Agamemnon storming to through the ranks and laying them low you should hold back and order other troops to engage the enemy” (p204, 220) , one of the Homer inclusion indicating the war inspired by the gods. The relationship of fate and human keeps the reader focus and in suspense as the wall of the Greeks is doomed to fall by Poseidon and Apollo. The fall of the war justifies Homer uses of prophecy to progress the plot of the poem personifying the involvement of the gods. In book...
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...The Role of the Gods in the Iliad In the era of Homer, divine intervention was thought to be typical, and one of his foremost works, The Iliad, reflects this. Nearly all of the Greek gods are involved in the outcome of the Trojan War, which happens to be the background story of this epic poem. The gods are used by Homer to add twists on an otherwise standard plot of war. Evidently, the gods will be a powerful source of divine intervention and their actions certainly have significant outcomes on the Trojan War, and more importantly, the story of The Iliad. Zeus, very untypical of a Greek god in his lack of involvement in the Trojan War for selfish reasons, was portrayed as the father figure, being impartial and fair to both sides of the war. He remains this way to serve as a check for the other god's involvement in the war. Without the presence of fate controlling the inner circle of Olympus, it is likely that the activity of the Trojan War would have become chaotic, possibly even becoming a playground of war for the gods. The power of fate, above all of the other gods combined, is a power that not even divine intervention can prevent. This theme of fate and how it controls the god’s actions is quite befitting to the storyline of The Iliad. The Iliad, in essence, recounts the story of part of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It recounts of the anger of Achilles, the greatest warrior present at Troy, and of the background battle that is ensuing. The reoccurring theme in the Iliad...
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...The Role of the Gods in the Iliad In the era of Homer, divine intervention was thought to be typical, and one of his foremost works, The Iliad, reflects this. Nearly all of the Greek gods are involved in the outcome of the Trojan War, which happens to be the background story of this epic poem. The gods are used by Homer to add twists on an otherwise standard plot of war. Evidently, the gods will be a powerful source of divine intervention and their actions certainly have significant outcomes on the Trojan War, and more importantly, the story of The Iliad. Zeus, very untypical of a Greek god in his lack of involvement in the Trojan War for selfish reasons, was portrayed as the father figure, being impartial and fair to both sides of the war. He remains this way to serve as a check for the other god's involvement in the war. Without the presence of fate controlling the inner circle of Olympus, it is likely that the activity of the Trojan War would have become chaotic, possibly even becoming a playground of war for the gods. The power of fate, above all of the other gods combined, is a power that not even divine intervention can prevent. This theme of fate and how it controls the god’s actions is quite befitting to the storyline of The Iliad. The Iliad, in essence, recounts the story of part of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It recounts of the anger of Achilles, the greatest warrior present at Troy, and of the background battle that is ensuing. The reoccurring theme in the Iliad...
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...The concerns and importance of basic human needs and emotions is deeply explored in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad Book XXIV”, the key concerns shows the similarity between all people, and how humanity is the same at its roots no matter the difference of culture and time. The conflicts that arise in “The Iliad” all come back to the notion of honour and pride and how people want to be perceived; honour is an idea woven throughout personal, social and cultural beliefs. War is the motif of honour, it is celebrated in “The Iliad” and in Petersen’s film “Troy”; the men are measured by their bravery and honour towards their King’s and their country in war. The Imagery used in “The Iliad” and “Troy” is constantly made up of war related concepts; “battlefield”,...
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...the actions of mere mortals? Do the gods determine the successes and failures? Is the outcome solely a matter of fate? Some may believe that mortals have free will, but after a quick skim of the Iliad, this belief is clearly shown to be false. Humans are not given control over their destinies; however, if this is true, then what are these destinies controlled by? Fate seems to be the only answer, yet, can fate alone stop a god from changing outcomes for their personal gain? In the Iliad, gods and humans are shown to have a varying degree of control on the outcome of human life and death. The true controller of the outcome of success vs. failure, and life vs. death, will be analyzed with...
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...While comparing the book the Iliad and the movie Troy there are a lot of similarities and differences. The book and the movie basically followed the same storyline as each other. Like most movies and books that do this, some of the characteristics are different in the characters, the way they look, and sometimes even their attitude. One of the biggest similarities in the book and the movie is all of the character names stayed the same. Some other similarities are Agamemnon used Helen as an excuse to attack Troy. Also Helen and Paris had a romance in both the movie and the book. Another big similarity is almost the exact same thing happened in the book and in the movie with the leading of the wars and events. The Greeks had won the war....
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...ILIAD The gods and goddesses took a huge place in the lives of Greek people. The gods were a great power, and provided clear explanations for all events. The Greeks thought that the gods help people in trouble and influence on all mans actions and thoughts working through human nature. Although Homer in The Iliad attached significant meaning to the gods intervention in the lives of the human characters I think that “If the gods were removed from the Iliad, the events would be largely the same”. The events, that were happened in the lives of main characters of the Iliad, basically were depended on their own particular traits of characters and behavior. Patroklos’s death is the plot moment in the Iliad. From this moment the events are on the move very quickly and getting fatal for the main characters of the poem - Achilleus and Hector. After Patroklos’s death Achilleus forgets about his offences , pride and speculations about fair actions. Now the most important thing in his life is to avenge Patroklos’s death. Hector is becoming the worst enemy for Achilleus , although he never wanted to fight against Hector and the Trojan as well. “...I am unwilling to fight against brilliant Hector...”(9.356). Now Achilleus is ready to fight in spite of threats of Apollo, who always stands behind Hector. Nobody and nothing can change his decision to take revenge. The deep human sorrow displays in his behavior. Achilleus wants to deaden his pain by means of killing his...
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...introduced to the Iliad as no more then a friend of Achilles but dies as one of the great Achaean heroes of the Trojan war. Like many Greek Heroes it is because he dies that he achieves his heroism in the eyes of the ancient Greeks. His death leads to him being immortalized within the pages of the Iliad along side the likes of Achilles, Hector and Ajax. Patroclus death comes in the 16th book of the Illiad and with his final moments being an exchange of words between him and his killer Hector of Troy (Iliad,16.870-897). The exchange between Hector and Patroclus is one where heroes mock each other explaining why the other one is the fool. Before death takes Patroclus from the world he is given a gift, he is able to see into the future and gaze at the death of Hector. This is a privilege not granted to many heroes even Hector the greatest of all the Trojans is not granted this when Achilles forces him to Hades. Patroclus achieved what all heroes want a glorious death. Death on the battlefield is what a great shoulder need in order to instill his name into history. Even Achilles the greatest of the Greeks was told that he would be forgotten if he did not fight and die in the Trojan war. Through his death Patrolclus was able to achieve his heroism, as he went into battle knowing that he could die, wearing Achilles armour and was even fool people into thinking that he was Achilles. In the end a great death is the only sure way to become a hero in ancient Greece. The Iliad began with Achilles...
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...ROLE OF WOMEN IN ILLIAD WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC? Throughout history, women have held many different roles in society.Men have traditionally been viewed as superior since the beginning of time.Homer's Iliad is an excellent example of the suppressive role of women at this time.Women were treated merely as property and were used for producing material within the household. Paralyzed by their unfortunate circumstances, they were taken and given as if they were material belongings. In Homer's Iliad, we conceive how women are introduced as suppliants to the masculine heroines.They are depicted as being inferior to men both physically and intellectually.Throughout the Iliad, women play a modest but important role that embodies their relative significance and the impact they have on the affairs that take place. INTRODUCTION Different types of women are represented in the epic poem The Iliad: strong-willed andshrewd women, damsel-in-distress types, wicked and vengeful women, or even women who cause the downfall of the protagonist male hero. Moreover, there are also women depicted as possessions (war prizes) or women who have little or no control over her destiny. The epic poem, generally regarded as “a male-dominated world” focuses centrally on the rage between men but it also happen that most of the time this rage is affected, initiated, and inspired by a woman. HELEN OF TROY The most celebrated woman figure in the poem is probably Helen of Troy. Helen attracted men from...
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...In this passage from the Iliad Chryses is pleading with Agamemnon to release his daughter. He blesses the Greeks by saying ‘may the gods on Olympus grant you wipe out Troy’s city, and then return home safe” (20). This lines shows that Chryses believes that through his prayer to the gods that it will give the Greeks the advantage against Troy. The people of this time believed that the gods held their fates in their hands and the way to ensure a good outcome was through prayer and offerings. They felt that through theirs prayers and offerings that they could appease the gods enough to get them to do what they needed. There was some reverence for the gods and also a great deal of fear. They understood that the gods could do good things for you as well as cause you hardship. After Agamemnon’s refusal to release Chryeis and his threat of harm, Chryses goes to the god Apollo first with compliments, “god with the silver bow, protector of Chryse… mighty lord of Tenedos” (39) and then with an ultimatum showing his devotion and faithful service, “if I have ever pleased you … or burned bones for you.. grant my prayer” (42). Apollo hears this prayer and was enraged and came down from Olympus and first destroyed the mules and dogs and then shot at the troops. One of the first lines of piece says “angry with Agamemnon , he (Apollo) cast plague down onto the troops” (11). This passage shows that they believed that the prayer of Chryses caused Apollo to cast a plague upon the Greek troops...
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...The Use of Divine Intervention in the Iliad The Iliad is filled with many great scenes and themes. We get to experience the heart of battle and the triumph of victory. Another important aspect of the poem is the fact that it was one of the first tales told that gave us personal insight into the gods and goddesses and what their personalities were like. All throughout the story, we have close encounters with these devious players who seem to passionately take part in the affairs of mortal men and women. Analyzing the use of the gods actions in this poem gives us keen insight into the mentality of the Greeks at that time and how they viewed their religion and their way of life. Through examination of the poem one can attempt to answer whether or not the gods made the really important decisions in the story. Particularly we will focus our attention on Zeus, the king of the gods, and his son Apollo. We will attempt to determine how much of their influence played an integral part in the story. Divine intervention was a major variable in the equation of Homer s Iliad. The gods picked whom they would favor for different reasons. Except Zeus: As the symbol of supreme authority and justice, he makes judgement calls as to the other gods involvement in the war, remains impartial, and doesn t seem to get caught up in picking favorites. Even when his own son, Sarpedon, was about to die, Zeus chose to let the outcome go unaltered. We find him granting supplications but we really do not...
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