Illiad book 16- Death Of Patroclus

Question 1

How does Patroclus criticise Achilles at the start of Book 17?

Answer 1

• he finds him “impossible” and says “God preserve me from the bitterness you harbour”.

Question 2

How is Patroclus’ killing of Sarpedon described?

Answer 2

Sarpedon “crashed down as an oak crashes down”

Question 3

How does Homer portray Patroclus as naive?

Answer 3

• Homer calls Patroclus a “fool” because “ had he kept to the orders from Achilles, he would have saved himself from the evil destiny which is dark death”.

Question 4

How do we know that Patroclus doesn’t like to anger the gods?

Answer 4

Because when Apollo warns him off from Illiam he “ retreated a good way back to avoid the wrath of the Archer-god Apollo”.

Question 5

How do we know that Hector and Patroclus are equal fighters?

Answer 5

Homer says that the two were “like a pair of lions”.

Question 6

How do we know that Patroclus was a fighter that no one wanted to fight against?

Answer 6

• euphorbus “did not stay to fight Patroclus, defenceless though he was”
• equally, it takes Apollo to strip him of his armour for Patroclus to actually be killed.

Question 7

How is the end ofPatroclus’ death described?

Answer 7

“ as he spoke, the end that is death enveloped him”

Question 8

Give 4 examples of Fate in the Illiad.

Answer 8

1. Hera says that Sarpedon’s death has “long been settled”.
2. Patroclus is fated to die by Zeus at the beginning who responds to Achilles’ pray by agreeing that he can be the one to lead the Greeks, but not return to battle safely.
3. Apollo claims that “the town of the Trojans is not claimed to be captured by (Patroclus’) spear”
4. Hector is fated to die early: “Zeus granted it to Hector to wear, since he was very close to death”.

Question 9

How does Glaucus rebuke Hector?

Answer 9

• he claims Hector has “completely forgotten (his) allies” since Sarpedon lies dead and he shows “no eagerness” to help him.

Question 10

how does Apollo rebuke Hector?

Answer 10

He asks him “ why have you stopped fighting and neglected your duty”.

Question 11

Why does Hector do the wrong thing quite a lot?

Answer 11

• it seems as though the inclusion of Patroclus in battle has confused him to the point where he’s uncertain whether he has a chance in battle or not.

Question 12

How is Patroclus’ death by Hector described?

Answer 12

He “thudded to the ground, throwing the whole Greek army into consternation”.

Question 13

What does Hector think of Patroclus?

Answer 13

“You innocent”

Question 14

What does Hector claim of himself to be?

Answer 14

“ the finest spearman of the war-loving Trojans”.

Question 15

How is Hector shown to be naïve after killing Patroclus?

Answer 15

• because he thinks Achilles ordered Patroclus to “rip through the tunic on man-slaying Hector’s chest”.

Question 16

Zeus doesn’t change the fate of Sarpedon but what does he endure Sarpedon will get?

Answer 16

“The honour that is due to the dead”

Question 17

How is Apollo described as getting involved with Patroclus?

Answer 17

“Three times Apollo hurled him off”.

Question 18

How do we know that Achilles is still annoyed at The Greeks by what he says about them at the start of Book 16?

Answer 18

“or perhaps you are weeping for the Greeks, who are being slaughtered by the hollow ships because of their stupidity?”

Question 19

How can we tell that Achilles is still bitter about Briseis?

Answer 19

“The army gave me that girl as my prize”

Question 20

Why doesn’t Achilles want Patroclus to get involved in fighting with the Trojans?

Answer 20

He says that otherwise that “will diminish my honour”.