Lecture 9 Flashcards
1
Q
Armor of Achilles
A
- he’s ready to go back into war and avenge Patroclus
- goes to Thetis to ask for help because he needs new armor
- Thetis goes to Hephaestus
2
Q
The Shield of Achilles
A
- Ekphrasis
- has way more on it than any shield possibly could because it’s godly.
- peace time is more heavily portrayed
- representation of life on earth.
- shows us all important aspects
3
Q
Ekphrasis
A
- extended literary description of a work of art
- chance for author to show off writing style
4
Q
What’s on the shield?
A
- middle is earth, sea, sun, moon, stars
- around that is a circle in half as a city at peace and a city at war
- around that are farming aspects of ploughing, vintage, and reaping
- around those are cattle, dance, and sheep
- the last circle around the border is the river ocean
5
Q
Meeting of Achilles, Odysseus, and Agamemnon
A
- Achilles is willing to come back and fight for Agamemnon and has all his anger and rage focused on Hector
- he’s so mad he’s willing to send the Greeks into battle without feeding them
- doesn’t care about them, only came back to fight and kill Hector
- has some pragmatic concern after he realizes if they all die his ship will be stuck in Troy and he will be unable to return
6
Q
Achilles vs. Skamander
A
- river has been dammed because of all the bodies he’s thrown in it
- river god is very angry and attempts to drown Achilles
- while he’s drowning he for a second wishes he’d been killed by Hector rather than by drowing
- no glory in drowning
7
Q
Hector and Achilles
A
- Hector cares more about his legacy
- He’s terrified of Achilles and runs around the city walls three times trying to get to the gates but Achilles keeps cutting him off
- Fear drives him back but his shame makes him stay and fight
- He decides to fight two times, once out of shame when he sees Achilles coming and the other when Athena disguises herself as his brother and stops his running and encourages him
8
Q
Hector’s Fate
A
- apollo abandons Hector because of the balances of fate so we know what his outcome will be
- Zeus asks the other gods if they want to save him or let him die but Athena says you can do whatever you want but we won’t stand behind you on it.
- shows the gods don’t necessarily care about fate and aren’t bound by it only in a way of being shamed/kept in check by the other gods
9
Q
Hector’s death
A
- realizes he’s been tricked by the gods and that it’s his time
- now that it’s the end of his life his concern is that he wants to fight a good fight
- still concerned with what people will think of him and wants to be remembered
- wants to be some how immortal and everlasting in his memory
- wants to make a pact with Achilles after he is stabbed that they would take care of each other’s bodies after death and have proper burial rights
- Achilles says hell no and that he’s going to do whatever he wants
10
Q
After Hector’s death
A
- Achilles attaches his body to the back of his chariot and drags his body around
- gods are mad about this and set up a deal with Priam and Achilles to give Hector’s body back
- Zeus sends a messenger that says this has to end and you have to give the body back
11
Q
Priam and Achilles
A
- this meeting finally ends Achilles’ anger
- Priam talks about Achilles’ father and the rage breaks down and he realizes all that overall they lost
- they cry together and Priam sleeps and eats in Achilles tent
12
Q
Achilles cries for his father
A
- two fates: go home and live a long life and take care of happy father, or fight and die
- he made his choice and by killing Hector his fate is sealed so now he knows he must die and his dad has to live the rest of his life alone and sad
- ended this way for a specific reason
