the iliad women Flashcards
What is Chryseis’ characterisation?
She is Chryses’ daughter
She doesn’t speak in the Iliad
What is Briseis’ characterisation?
She was Achilles’ war prize + was stolen by Agamemnon
What is Briseis’ described as doing when Agamemnon steals her? What does this tell us?
She goes with him ‘unwillingly’; women had no say in what happens
What do Chryseis + Briseis show about women?
Women were often viewed as objects or prizes and not people; they were subject to the actions of men
What was expected from women in Ancient Greece?
Childbearing, obeying those in higher power (and men), weave fabric
Why do we feel pity for Helen?
Her beauty is blamed for the start of the Trojan war
Who wants to send Helen home?
Priam
What does Helen say about what she should’ve done?
She wishes she had chosen to die in misery before she went to Troy
What is Helen?
A plot device
What oath does Paris + Menelaus make in book 3?
If Paris kills Menelaus, he keeps Helen + her property
If Menelaus kills Paris, the Trojans surrender Helen + her property
What does the oath made by Paris + Menelaus tell us about Helen?
Helen is being used as a prize, once again; not being viewed as an actual human
Where do we see Helens intelligence?
She notices that the wool-worker is Aphrodite in disguise
How does Helen insult Aphrodite? Is this expected or unexpected of a woman?
She tells Aphrodite to go w Paris herself and “forget” she is a goddess
Unexpected of a woman
What does Helen wish had happened to Paris?
She wishes Menelaus had killed Paris
Who is Hecabe?
Hector’s mother
Who is Andromache?
Hector’s wife
What does Andromache’s reaction to Hector going to war tell us about their relationship?
They have a good relationship
What does Andromache say about losing Hector?
“When I lose you, I might as well be dead”
What will happen to Andromache if Hector dies?
She will be enslaved
How does Hector respond to Andromache’s worries?
“War is a man’s business”
What may Andromache’s worries about losing Hector also infer?
Women’s role was to be dependant on men; Andromache knows that if Hector dies, she will have no one to protect her
How does Hecabe react to Hector’s death?
“Why should I live and suffer now that you are dead”
What is Andromache doing when waiting for Hector to come back from battle? And how is she referred to?
Putting a large cauldron on the fire so he could have a hot bath
“The innocent”
What does Andromache say when she senses something has happened to Hector?
“My heart is in my mouth: I am paralysed with fear. Some disaster is threatening the house of Priam”
