The Iliad

Question 0

Why is Apollo mad at Agamemnon and what does he do about it?

Answer 0

Agamemnon kidnapped the daughter of Apollo’s priest and won’t let her go. Apollo sends down a constant stream of arrows to kill the Grecian army

Question 1

Book 1 begins with who fighting?

Answer 1

Agamemnon and Achilles

Question 2

What must Agamemnon do to lift the curse of Apollo?

Answer 2

He must return the girl without ransom and make a proper sacrifice to the gods

Question 3

What does Agamemnon require for doing this for Apollo?

Answer 3

All the Grecians plunder

Question 4

Achilles gets so mad at Agamemnon that he threats to do what?

Answer 4

Leave the war

Question 5

Who physically stops Achilles from killing Agamemnon?

Answer 5

Athena by grabbing his hair

Question 6

Nestor, wise old man, tries to restore peace by saying what to Agamemnon?

Answer 6

Return the girl and move on

Question 7

What does Nestor say to Achilles?

Answer 7

Give Agamemnon his dues and be quiet

Question 8

Nestor also says that who will be happy to see them fight?

Answer 8

Priam and the Trojans

Question 9

What does Achilles promise that Agamemnon will do at some point?

Answer 9

Beg Achilles to come back and fight

Question 10

Who is Achilles mother and what is her advice?

Answer 10

Thetis, quite the war

Question 11

What does Achilles mother promise to do for him?

Answer 11

Appeal to Zeus on his behalf

Question 12

In Book 22, what is Achilles compared to?

Answer 12

A hawk, stars, and a chariot team

Question 13

What does Priam tell Hector about the up coming battle

Answer 13

That Hector can’t win so he should stay safely in Trojan walls

Question 14

Hector fights Achilles because he feels

Answer 14

Sorrow that his pride has caused the death of so many Trojans

Question 15

What god helps Hector

Answer 15

Apollo

Question 16

What god helps Achilles

Answer 16

Athena

Question 17

How does Athena trick Hector

Answer 17

She disguises as Hector’s brother and says she’ll fight with him

Question 18

What concerns Hector most about this battle

Answer 18

He wants Achilles to promise NOT to harm his body

Question 19

How does Achilles kill Hector and who predicts it

Answer 19

Achilles stabs him in the throat. Patroclus predicts it.

Question 20

What does Hecuba fear about her son’s fate

Answer 20

Hector’s body will not receive a proper burial

Question 21

Who visits Achilles at his tent in the middle of the night in Book 22

Answer 21

Priam

Question 22

How does this visitor get into his tent

Answer 22

Hermes, disguised as a boy, leads him there

Question 23

What pleads does Priam make

Answer 23

“Remember your own father, Achilles…he knelt down…and kissed the hands of wrath that killed his own son…noble sons I have fathered here, but scares one man is left me.”

Question 24

How does Achilles respond to Priam’s pleads

Answer 24

He cries

Question 25

Who does Achilles give credit for Hector’s death

Answer 25

The gods

Question 26

Achilles finally orders what for the body of Hector

Answer 26

It will return to Troy for a proper burial

Question 27

Where does Achilles force Priam to sleep? Why

Answer 27

Outside; to protect him from Agamemnon

Question 28

How long is the battle delayed for Hector’s burial

Answer 28

12 days

Question 29

What does Andromache prophesy for Troy when she sees Hector’s body

Answer 29

It will fall and be plundered

Question 30

Stock Epithet

Answer 30

A descriptive adjective or phrase that is repeatedly used in place of a noun or proper name

Question 31

Epic simile

Answer 31

Extended comparison that develops over many lines

Question 32

Persona

Answer 32

Speaker who is the voice of the poet but does not necessarily reflect their concerns

Question 33

How were Sappho’s poetry found

Answer 33

In fragments