iliad books 1 and 2
The first book begins with the description of the Danaans' situation. It is the tenth year of the war, and an important incident occurs: Achilles decides to give up fighting against the Trojans, because of the way he was treated by Agamemnon. The reader is informed for what led to this position, through narrations and flash - backs: after a battle at Thebe, "the sacred city of Eetion", the Achaians took prophet's Chryses daughter to offer as a gift to Agamemnon. Chryses begged the Achaians to give him his daughter back but they wouldn't. So he begged the god Apollo for his help, and the god, being extremely fond to the prophet, listened to his prayers and cursed the Achaians who suddenly were infected by plague. Gods informed them that this happened because of the terrible way Agamemnon answered Chryses' requests. If the Achaians decided to give Chrysies back to her father, then the plague and all their other problems would disappear instantly. Agamemnon, quite bothered by this news decided to do so for the sake of his men, in condition that he would be offered another girl replacing Chrysies, and he asked specifically for the one accompanying Achilles. Ach
illes is informed by the Gods that if he does so, all the problems of the Danaans will disappear. Although he obeys, he decides not to fight anymore. If the terms "good guy - bad guy" can be used, then we may say that Agamemnon is the bad guy. As far as Achilles is concerned, he behaves like a true hero in the beginning, but when he faces a problem on his own, he starts acting like a child: he feels abused, declares that is not willing to sacrifice anything else of his belongings than the beautiful Briseis and his ship, and denies to associate with the other Achaian princes and kings. Still, Achilles does not wish to be involved. She is both the solution to the problems between the Achaians and the God Apollo, and the motive for the terrible fight between two of the main characters and heroes of the Achaian army, Agamemnon and Achilles. Gods had stopped quarreling about which side to help and decided to assist the Danaans. After her donation to Agamemnon, Achilles makes up his mind: he was abused and shall not fight anymore. Briseis, the girl accompanying Achilles at first, holds an important role. BOOK 2 The Gods inform Agamemnon that the Danaans are finally going to win the battle with Troy. In Book I there is also a quarrel between Gods. The news boosts the Danaans' morale and helps them put aside the incident concerning Chrysies, Briseis and Achilles. One can compare the fight between the look-like-human Gods and the humans, and claim that there are many similarities in the way the two groups behave.
Common topics in this essay:
Agamemnon Achilles,
Bouprasion Elis,
Agamemnon Chryses,
Book II,
ILIAD BOOK,
Trikcke Ithome,
Achilles Achilles,
Pharis Sparta,
Troy Gods,
Gods Danaans,
black ships,
etc led,
40 black ships,
40 black,
* 40 black,
* 40,
hollow vessels,
80 black ships,
achilles achilles,
holds role,
accompanying achilles,
god apollo,
30 hollow vessels,
60 ships,
|
Acceptance Essays
