The Iliad: Book I

Question 1

Song of the Wrath of Achilles

Answer 1

• Achilles (responsible for many Greek deaths due to rage) is angry with King Agamemnon
• Apollo sent a plague to kill Greeks

Question 2

Apollo the Mouse God

Answer 2

• Achilles is mad at Agamemnon because Agamemnon stole Chryseis
• Chryseis is Chryses daughter
• Chryses is Apollo’s priest, which is why Apollo is involved
• Chryses says he will forgive and bless Agamemnon if he returns his daughter, but Agamemnon does not comply

Question 3

Calchas’ Prophecy

Answer 3

• The Greeks aren’t aware of what is happening with Apollo, so they ask Calchas, a seer (given powers by Apollo)
• Calchas only reveals Agamemnon’s responsibility, not Apollo’s + plague will only be lifted if dishonor is amended → Daughter must be given back to father, offerings to Apollo

Question 4

Trade of Briseis

Answer 4

Achilles must give Agamemnon Briseis as war prize from Thebe (Cilicia city where Achilles killed Eetion (father of [Trojan] Hector’s wife, Andromache)

Question 5

Achilles Stops Fighting for the Greeks

Answer 5

Athena persuades Achilles to give Briseis → Achilles quits Greek forces + joins Trojans

Question 6

Thetis Petitions Zeus on Behalf of Her Son

Answer 6

• Achilles’ mom, Thetis, tells Zeus that he should honor Achilles, not Agamemnon
• Hera, Zeus’s wife, criticizes Achilles’ involvement in the matter
• Hera tries to go to her son Hephaestus for comfort after she became angry, but he doesn’t want to get involved

Question 7

The Muse

Answer 7

Three Muses—Aode (song), Melete (pracice), and Mneme (memory) → 9 daughters of Mnemosyne (memory) → Muse of song was Calliope

Question 8

Achilles (Achean/Greek)

Answer 8

Best warrior, most heroic of Greeks, sits out of war

Question 9

Agamemnon (Achean/Greek)

Answer 9

Lead king of Greek forces, brother of Menelaus

Question 10

Zeus (God)

Answer 10

King of Gods + attempts neutrality + known as Jupiter/Jove among Romans

Question 11

Apollo (God)

Answer 11

God of many, such as mouse (plague God) + upset with Greeks because they dishonored him by insulting one of his priests

Question 12

Hera (Neutral)

Answer 12

Queen of Gods, wife/sister of Zeus + Greek side + known as Juno among Romans

Question 13

Hephaestus (Greek)

Answer 13

Blacksmith God + son of Hera + Vulcan among Romans

Question 14

Chryses (Trojan)

Answer 14

Priest of Apollo + father of Chryseis (taken as war prize by Agamemnon)

Question 15

Calchas (Seer/Achaean)

Answer 15

Seer for Greeks

Question 16

Athena (God)

Answer 16

War goddess who favors Odysseus + Greek side + Minerva among Romans

Question 17

Briseis (Trojan)

Answer 17

Agamemnon wants her in return of Chryseis

Question 18

Odysseus (Achean)

Answer 18

Asked to return Chryseis

Question 19

Priam (Trojan)

Answer 19

King of Troy

Question 20

Hecuba (Trojan)

Answer 20

Queen of Troy

Question 21

Paris (Trojan)

Answer 21

Son of Priam and Hecuba

Question 22

Helen of Troy (Trojan)

Answer 22

Kidnapped by Menelaus + brother of Agamemnon

Question 23

Hector (Trojan)

Answer 23

Warrior

Question 24

Homer begins his epic with a statement of theme. What does he declare to be the main idea of this epic and what tragic events does he allude to support his main idea?

Answer 24

1. Main idea: Rage
2. Tragic events: Death + sacrifice

Question 25

Why has the Trojan priest Chryses come to the Greek camp?

Answer 25

Search for his daughter, Chryseis

Question 26

After Agamemnon refuses Chryses request, which God punishes the Greeks? How does he punish them?

Answer 26

Zeus, fight alongside Trojans if Thetis successfully convinces him to

Question 27

The Greeks look to Achilles to solve their latest problem. Who does Achilles enlist for help and why is this person concerned about explaining the anger of the Gods?

Answer 27

Calchas cannot tell them that Apollo caused the arrow storm because he feels guilty since Apollo gave him his seer powers

Question 28

What is the issue at the center of the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon? What do they both want?

Answer 28

1. Chryseis being stolen by Agamemnon
2. They both want Chryseis

Question 29

Why does Achilles consider killing Agamemnon and who stops him from doing so?

Answer 29

1. Agamemnon wants another women in Chryseis’s place
2. Hera sends Athena to stop them from fighting

Question 30

What oath does Achilles swear to Agamemnon?

Answer 30

Trojans will win the war against the Greeks

Question 31

What ultimately happens to Chryses’s daughter?

Answer 31

Escorted back to Achilles by Odysseus

Question 32

What does Thetis vow to do for her dishonored son, Achilles?

Answer 32

Zeus will make the Trojans win the war + prays to Zeus

Question 33

How long had the Trojan war been going on at the opening of the Iliad?

Answer 33

10th year

Question 34

Who is Achilles?

Answer 34

the greatest fighter for the Achaeans

Question 35

Why has Agamemnon brought illness to the Greek army?

Answer 35

keeping Chryseis as a prize

Question 36

How does Apollo strike back at Agamemnon?

Answer 36

Chryses (priest) calls on Apollo for help → sends a plague

Question 37

What does Agamemnon want from Achilles?

Answer 37

claims Briseis (Achilles’ prize)

Question 38

Who stops Achilles from killing Agamemnon?

Answer 38

Athena

Question 39

Out of spite, Achilles then …

Answer 39

vows Agamemnon will beg for his skills as a warrior one day + refuses to fight for Greek side

Question 40

Achilles’ mother then …

Answer 40

secures pledge of Zeus for Achaeans will lose war

Question 41

The Iliad is about the consequences of …

Answer 41

Achilles’ rage + pride/honor