MOCKS Iliad scholars Flashcards
Ancient Critic
Homer seems to have made his men gods and his gods men.
Jenkyns (hero)
A great hero is entitled to his wrath and it gives him no blame.
Scott
Hector was champion of a course which was distasteful to him. He was in the war solely as defender of his family and state.
Edwards (Achilles)
Achilles is torn between concern for the battered Greeks, sympathy for Patroclus’ grief, longing to return to the battle himself, desire for restoration of his own honour, need to stand by his words and above all fear for the safety of Patroclus.
Owen
The hero cheats death of its victory by making it a servant of his glory.
Edwards (gods)
Homer does not concern himself with the theological problem of the relationship of gods and fate.
Jones
Homer is perfectly capable of showing people making up their own minds without divine intervention.
Dodds
Gods are used to explain extraordinary or irrational events and actions.
Xenophanes
Homer has attributed to the gods everything that is thought a sham and reproach among mankind.
Edwards (death)
War provides a young man with the opportunities not only to achieve honour but also to die nobly and escape the indignities of old age.
Edwards (fighting)
a poem of death rather than of fighting
Jenkyns (gods)
gods’ greatness resides in the fact that they do not need to feel for us at all. Their frivolity is the touchstone of their divinity.
death and mortality
dance of death
important to heroes
Hector
prevalent within battle
culture of death
contrast between the gods
heroes and the heroic code
importance of the gods’ favour
anger of Achilles
Hector as an unconventional hero
Achilles as an unconventional hero
knowledge of mortality
leadership
fate and the gods
fate
gods’ intervention
dramatic interest
Thetis
relationships with mortals
