Reading Questions

Iliad Books XX-XXIV

Reading Questions

 

Book XX (pp. 508-519, lines 185-565)

1. When Achilles first enters the fray equipped with his new armor, he duels with Aeneas.  Why is Aeneas the Trojan first chosen to fight Achilles?  What do they have in common?  Why is Hektor prevented for so long from engaging with Achilles?

 

2. What ritualistic procedures do the duels between Achilles and Aeneas—and later between Achilles and Hektor—take?  What seems to be the significance of the different elements of the duel?

 

3. To what extent are the heroes portrayed as the puppets of the gods in this Book?  Are some heroes more puppet-like than others?  How does Achilles fit in to this scheme?

 

4. This Book represents the beginning of Achilles’ “aristeia” or moment of greatest glory in battle.  Compare his exploits here with those perpetrated by Diomedes in Book V:  How is Achilles’ motivation, in particular, different from the other hero’s?

 

Book XXI (lines 1-432 and 591-700)

 

1. When Lycaon, Priam’s son, appeals for mercy to Achilles, how do we expect the great hero to respond based on how other heroes behave?

 

2. What allows the battle between the River Xanthus/Scamander and Achilles to develop?  Note, especially, Achilles’ boast on page 526. 

 

3. What do you make of Achilles’ pitiful plea to Zeus on page 529?  Is he just whining, or can we see some element of humanity creeping into his attitude?

 

4. Why is it appropriate that it should be Hephaistos who puts an end to the River Xanthus/Scamander’ rampage?  What does it say about Achilles that he is compared to both water and fire in his frenzy?

 

5. At the end of Book XXI Apollos saves Agenor from Achilles’ frenzy and takes his place, luring him away from the walls of Troy.  Consider all the times before that Apollo has thwarted Achilles intentions.  Why is he so constantly battling against him?

 

Book XXII (all)

 

1. Examine Hektor’s mindset as he awaits Achilles:  why won’t he listen to the warnings of his parents to retreat to safety within the walls of Troy?  Why does he dismiss his reasonable plan to offer Achilles Helen, peace, and half of Troy’s treasures in order to stop the Achaeans’ assault on Troy?

 

2. While Achilles chases Hektor around Ilium—three times—the gods decide on the outcome of the duel.  What seeming conflicting ways does Homer use to show Zeus making his decision? 

 

3. The “scales” are finally tipped when Athene transforms herself into Hektor’s brother Deiphobos and tricks Hektor into standing to await Achilles.  How does the goddess’s action fit into the Homeric concept of honor, or does it transcend such a concept?

 

4. Hektor, reasonable to the end, implores Achilles to show mercy on his corpse.  What logic does he try to use to appeal to Achilles’ better sense?  How does Achilles respond?

 

5. In the final combat between the heroes, what unexpected advantage does Achilles gain?

 

6. What is Achilles’ mindset as soon as Hektor is dead?  What choice does he weigh, and what finally motivates him to desecrate Hektor’s corpse?

 

7. What is the effect of the grieving speeches given by Priam, Hekuba, and Andromakhe?  What did each of them value most about Hektor, and what will they miss most in his absence?

 

Book XXIII (lines 1-127)

 

1. When Patroklos’ ghost returns to haunt Achilles in his sleep, what are his demands?  Does Achilles show any signs of maturation at this point?

 

2. Why do you think Homer makes it so precise and clear exactly what and how Patroklos’ funeral rituals must be done?  What does it say both about Achaean culture and about Achilles himself that he strives so hard to fulfill the letter of the appropriate rituals?

 

Book XXIV (all)

 

1. What do you think of Apollo’s assessment of Achilles’ character (lines 39-65)?  Why do you think it is fitting that Achilles’ greatest enemy among the gods starts off the final Book of the Iliad with this attack on his character?

 

2. It might be said that Zeus essentially decides the outcome of Book XXIV when he orders Achilles to give Hektor’s body back to Priam.  To what extent are the events portrayed in this Book controlled by the gods, and to what extent do Achilles and Priam themselves choose the events that transpire?

 

3. What does it take to persuade Priam to undertake the (admittedly foolhardy) journey to reach Achilles’ lodge?  Why does he ignore the advice of Hekuba?  What do you think of his treatment of his remaining sons?

 

4. Hermes serves as Priam’s guardian and guide on his journey (note:  some critics have said that Priam’s journey is equivalent to a voyage to Hades’); why do you think he at first disguises himself?  What significant can be read into the story he tells Priam about being Achilles’ aide?

 

5. Although Achilles has been ordered to give up Hektor’s body by his own mother, Thetis, acting on a decree from Zeus himself, does the hero act unwillingly?  What about Priam’s pleas affects Achilles most completely?

 

6. Examine carefully Achilles’ speech (lines 605-656):  what is unexpected in his treatment of Priam?  How does he indicate that me has gained some degree of maturity through his sufferings?

 

7. When Priam returns to Troy with Hektor’s body, the various women in Hektor’s life grieve for his loss.  After his wife, Andromakhe, and mother, Hekuba, wail, Helen herself speaks out.  What is significant about Helen’s feelings of loss at Hektor’s death?  How do her words perhaps recall the central theme of Book XXIV?