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Home , Aristeia, Hector

Chart – Class Discussion

Aristeia: a soldier’s highest moment of glory in war, when he fights so bravely and single-mindedly as to experience no fear and to appear nearly invincible

Instructions: Keep track of the aristeias in the epic as we read. Be sure to take note of line numbers so that you may refer back to the text with ease. Read carefully, but be aware that some of the character’s aristeias will be incomplete.

Character: Character: Character: Character:

Agamemnon ______

1. Divine inspiration/ Page 296, lines 11-14 Page 302 exhortation: Who/what Strife (, Goddess of (sent by ) inspires the ’s aristeia? Discord) “There Strife took her Wait to attack until Ag. is stand…in each Achaean’s injured and leaves the heart no stopping them now” battlefield (lines 228-242) 2. Armoring: What does the - meant to be this awe- Hector already in full armor, hero put on, and in what inspiring moment lines 246 “Hector leapt to order? Be detailed! Page 297 ground from his chariot 1. “well-made greaves . . . fully armed and brandishing w/ silver ankle-clasps” two spears” 2. “strapped the breastplate” – guest gift from Cinyras before leave for 3. “slung his sword” 4. “well-wrought shield” w/ shield belt 5. helmet 6. “two tough spears”

Line 50 “and awestruck at the sight and loosed a crack of thunder” 3. Bursting into the ranks of Bursts into ranks: line 105- Bursts into ranks: the enemy: How does the 106 “And right in the midst - line 330-336 “There- hero sprang first and Hector’s signal . . . Zeus is  demonstrate killed a fighter, Bienor” handing me glory” enthusiasm for Enthusiasm? Slaughter? -line 339 “Hector – battle? -line 151-156, “Ag. ramped whipping the fight and fire  wreak great slaughter up in their faces like a lion” in each man like a on the enemy? - line 177, “immense huntsman”  deal with slaughter and always King counterattacks? Agamemnon” Enthusiasm? Slaughter? - lines 164-170, “slashing off his arms . . . lopping off his head . . .” - lines 130-142, lion/deer epic simile

Counterattack? -, lines 268-288, attempts to injury Ag. but Ag “hacked his neck . . . and loosed his limbs” 4. Moment of weakness or Injury? danger: What weakness does Coon injures Ag., slashes the hero exhibit, what danger him across the forearm, but does he face, or what injury Ag. keep fighting and does he suffer? “unstrung his limbs and reared and lopped his head” (lines 288-309) 5. Return to battle and N/A grand duel with an important enemy: Who is the central enemy that the hero faces during his aristeia? What leads to the battle, and what happens during the battle?

6. Slaying of the important N/A enemy with eventual boasting: How does the hero slay the enemy? How does he boast?

7. Conflict over the body of N/A the slain enemy: What happens to the body of the slain enemy? What happens as a result of the slaying? Does this lead to future conflicts?

Things to Consider about the Aristeias:  What differences emerge when you compare the four aristeias? Why causes these differences, and what might they teach us?  Thematically speaking, what does reveal through each of the four aristeias?  How do the aristeias work to enhance the plot of the epic?