CLST 1003 Fall 2001. Study Questions: Iliad 16-20 (Lombardo The Essential Homer)
Iliad 16
1. How appropriate is the simile on the first page of book 16 which compares Patroclus to a little girl weeping for mother? What is Achilles' point in making it? What effect does it have on the audience of the poem (you!)?
2. What is Achilles' reaction to Patroclus' speech that includes the provocative exclamation "You and your damned Honor!" (34-35) How does Achilles justify sending Patroclus out to fight in his place?
3. What are Achilles' special instructions to Patroclus (85ff)? What does he say about his sense of honor? What does the end of his speech say about the strength of his friendship with Patroclus? (102ff)
4. In Patroclus' arming scene, Homer specifically tells us that Patroclus does not take Achilles' spear. Why? How does this relate to Nestor's cup in book 11 (11.674) How does it relate to Achilles' cup in this book (229ff)? What is special about Achilles' horses?
5. What religious ceremony does Achilles perform before sending out his troops to fight? What special vessel does he use for it? How effective is it? Usually prayers offer something to gods. How does this prayer fit that pattern?
6. How does Patroclus make a political statement against Agamemnon out of the Myrmidons' re-entry into battle? (275) And how does the sight of Patroclus in battle affect the Trojans?
7. Look at Zeus' reaction to his son Sarpedon's death (468ff). What does this say about the relation between 'fate' and the gods?
8. Why is there such a terrible fight over Sarpedon's body? (526 ff)
9. Following Sarpedon's death, his dejected and wounded comrade Glaucus prays to Apollo (547ff). Usually prayers offer something to gods. How does this prayer fit that pattern? What is Apollo's reaction?
10. How does Zeus make sure that Sarpedon's body is treated properly?
11. What responsibility does Patroclus have for his own death? To what extent is Apollo responsible? To what extend it Hector responsible? To what extent is Achilles responsible? To what extent is Zeus responsible? Euphorbus? Fate?
12. Which god is Hector's patron in this book? What does this god have to do with prophecy? What is ironic about Patroclus' prophecy to Hector (893), that Hector rejects?
Iliad 18
13. How do Achilles, the women in his camp, and the Nereids in the sea react to Patroclus' death?
14. Before Achilles resolves to kill Hector, what does he tell his mother about his feelings concerning his friend Patroclus? What does he tell us about the armor which Patroclus was wearing when he died? What does he say about his parents' marriage?
15. What does Achilles tell Thetis about his willingness to die? What does he tell her about anger?
16. How does Achilles save Patroclus' body without armor and without a fight? How does Athena help him?
17. How well do the scenes on the shield of Achilles "fit in" with the rest of the Iliad? What do you think its function is in the epic?
Iliad 19
18. How is Achilles' reaction to his new armor different from that of the other Myrmidons?
19. What is Achilles' attitude towards Briseis in his speech renouncing his wrath? (68ff) How does this compare to his earlier attitude towards her? (9.349ff) How do we account for the difference?
20. What is so pathetic about Briseis' lament over Patroclus?
21. How does Achilles' grief over Patroclus compare to his imagined grief over the death of his father and son?
22. Why won't Achilles eat? Why does he not starve to death?
23. What is unique about Achilles' spear? What is its history? (415)
24. What is unique about Achilles' interaction with his horses in this book? Give details. (427ff)
Iliad 20
25. What is Zeus' attitude towards mortals at the beginning of this book? What in the text supports this?
26. Which gods fought on which side? Make a list of the divine allies of Troy and the Greeks.
27. Who is Xanthus? Why is he a natural ally of the Trojans? (see Glossary of Names, p. 484) What is so elemental about his opposition to Hephaestus?