Study Questions. CLST 1003. Fall, 2001. Iliad 11-15 (S. Lombardo's Essential Homer)
Illustration: An Attic skyphos (drinking cup) signed by Hieron, potter, and atrributed to Macon. 480 BCE. This is actually from Iliad 9, where Achilles (seated, robed) receives the entreaties of the ambassadors who beg him to return to battle: Odysseus stands before him, with his legs crossed and leaning on his spears. On either side of the scene, Phoenix and Ajax, leaning on staffs. Achilles' armor is hung up on the wall, out of use! On the other side of the cup is another Iliad scene: BRiseis, Achilles' slave girl, is taken by Agamemnon's agents, leaving Achilles bereft of his prize. (Paris, Louvre.)
ILIAD 11
1. Who is Eris, and what is her role in this book? What does she do? (3, 74-75)
2. Why do you think the poet gives such a lengthy description of Agamemnon's arming of himself?
3. What does Zeus do when the Greeks are ready to fight? (53) How does this action help set the tone of this book?
4. What had Achilles once done to Priam's sons Isus and Antiphus? (105) What does Agamemnon do?
5. Why does Agamemnon refuse the supplication of Peisander and Hippolochus? (128ff)
6. To what does the poet compare Agamemnon during his killing rampage? How effective are the images in these similes? (119, 138, 167, 190, 260, 290)
7. How does Zeus act as "stage manager" of the action? (198, )
8. What is the effect of the poet suddenly addressing the Muses in the midst of this battle?
(237)
9. Why is the simile at 312 particularly effective, in light of the similes about Agamemnon earlier in this book? How does the simile at 315-316 continue this contrast?
10. Why was Patroclus' response to Achilles "the beginning of evil" for him? (641)
11. What is unusual about Nestor's cup? (663ff)
12. What does Nestor remind Patroclus that Peleus did when he sent Achilles and Patroclus off to war? What suggestion does Nestor offer to Patroclus? (806ff)
13. How does Patroclus act as physician? What kind of training did he have?
ILIAD 12
14. The book begins with a description of a future event. Why will the Achaean wall fall, and who will cause its destruction, and by what means? What does this tell us about the relationship between mortals and immortals, and between nature and the gods?
15. How does the simile describing Sarpedon's advance set the stage for his actions? (309)
16. What is Sarpedon's own justification for entering battle? What does this say about a hero's self-identity? (320ff)
17. How was Hector able to lift easily a stone heavy enough to require two men of the present day to put it into a cart? (463ff)?
ILIAD 13
18. What is Poseidon's attitude towards Hector's success in attacking the Greek wall? What does he decide to do? How does he make his way from Samos to the battle site? Where does he park his vehicle?
19. How does Poseidon help the Argives? Why does he have to act in disguise? Why is it a good disguise?
20. How would you characterize the conversation between Ajax and Hector at the end of this book? How do they refer to each other? (852ff)
Iliad 14
21. How do Hera's preparations for her scheme to trick Zeus remind us of an "arming scene" of a Greek hero (such as that of Agamemnon at 11. 15 ff)?
22. Why does Hera lie to Aphrodite about the reason she wants the love charm?
23. What does Aphrodite give to Hera? Why is she so willing to help her? What is the etymology of the word "Aphrodisiac"?
24. Why is Sleep reluctant to help Hera? What offer finally convinces Sleep to do Hera's bidding? How does this match the mood of the scene between Zeus and Hera following it?
25. What is the purpose(s) of the Zeus' listing his former lovers before he makes love with his wife? What is the effect on the audience of the poem (you!)?
26. What kind of impromptu bedroom does Zeus create for his tryst with his wife? How does it reflect the fertility of their relationship as king and queen of heaven?
Iliad 15
27. When Zeus wakes up after making love to his wife, how has his attitude towards her changed? Why? What oath does Hera take in response? Does she perjure herself?
28. How does Athena's reaction to Ares compare with Zeus' reaction to the same god earlier (5.947ff)?
29. What is Poseidon's reaction to Iris' message? (176ff) How does Iris act as a diplomat in addition to a messenger?
30. The poet reminds us of the main theme of the Iliad in this book.
How do the poet's words at 621ff remind us of the main theme of the Iliad,
as elucidated in book 1?