Books XIV and XV:

“Because no battle is ever won, he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools---” (William Faulkner: The Sound and the Fury)

 “Achilles is sitting out the war, nursing his anger. Suspense is building. He’ll be back. Meanwhile we are seeing the consequences of his rage in what is happening on the battlefield.” ---Dr. Lombardo





Again Zeus mentions that nebulous promise he made Thetis to "HONOR" Achilles.

Let's take a look at it again:

Book I, 533ff (page 17)

And so you can have some peace of mind
I'll say yes to you by nodding my head,
The ultimate pledge. Unambiguous,
Irreversible, and absolutely fulfilled,
Whatever I say yes to with a nod of my head.



And what is it he has said "yes TO?"

Book I: line 536 ff:
Honor my son, doomed to die young.
And yet dishonored by King Agamemnon,
Who stole his prize, a personal affront.
Do justice by him, Lord of Olympus.
Give the Trojans the upper hand until the Greeks
Grant my son the honor he deserves.


  • 1. What does this mean, do honor to him? Do you understand this prayer and its implementation? Does it explain Zeus at all? What honor are the Greeks going to give Achilles? Do you think Achilles knows it, and is waiting for it?

  • 2. "Let him be content with his third share…" (line 197) Did you realize that Poseidon, god of the Sea, the Earth Shaker, was an equal of Zeus? Do you have the hierarchy of the gods straight? Can you see his point of view since his own portion was gained by lot? How many instances in The Iliad are there when conflict is solved by crafty words? Is there a difference in the conflicts when crafty words solves a problem rather than force?

  • 3. Why does the sight of Apollo Revived Hector strike such fear into the Greeks? What is prophetic and significant about Hector's threat to the Trojans? (lines 355-359)

  • Apollo (365) "Danced on the banks of the trench and pushed the earth
    Into the cavity, making for them a causeway.

    Does this represent a change in Zeus's having told the gods to butt out?

  • 4. line 388ff: "Nestor heard the old man's prayer
    And the sky pealed with thunder.
    But when the Trojans heard the rumbling overhead,
    They redoubled their efforts against the Greeks."

    What do you make of Homer introducing this duality into the story? Both sides are praying to Zeus. Both sides seem to interpret the thunder as being on their side, is Homer saying anything by this?

  • 5. With the Trojans storming the ships, Patroclus, in a nice scene much removed from the battle, decides to go to Achilles one more time and "talk him into fighting." If the Trojans are at the ships, what are Achilles' choices, realistically, about fighting? Would he stand there and let the Trojans cut him down? That will not give him honor as the Greeks think of honor, and the Greeks would not honor him, either. Can you understand Achilles at this point?

  • Homer's imagery here, both in the similes and the personification, seems to be increasing in proportion to the action. The images of a cord drawn tight in the simile in line 425, that repetition of that image, do you think these constant repetitions of the image of a cord tightening are significant?

    How many instances of personification can you find? Here are two: A horsehair plume "nods grimly," and spears quiver in the ground, "lusting for flesh." What does the sudden animation of inanimate objects mean at this point in the story?