Iliad Aristeia Chart – 3rd Period 2018

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 Hector ______

1. Divine inspiration/ Page 296, 11. 11-14 Page 303 Iris (sent by Zeus) exhortation: Who/what inspires the hero’s “There Strife took her stand, Lines 233-242 aristeia? raising her high-pitched cry, “But soon as a spear or bowshot great and terrible . . . in each wound the king and Atrides Achaean’s heart – no stopping mount his chariot again – then them now” Zeus will hand you the power to (Strife = Eris/Goddes of kill and kill” Discord) 2. Armoring: What Page 297, 11. 18-50 “Hector leapt to the ground does the hero put on, from his chariot fully armed and in what order? Be 1. “wrapped his legs with well and brandishing two sharp detailed! made greaves” spears” (lines 245-246) 2. “strapped the breastplate round his chest” (ornate guest- gift for Ag. leaving for Troy) 3. “slung his sword” 4. “well-wrought shield” 5. “set his helmet” 6. “two tough spears”

So fearsome looking “awestruck at the sight Athena and Hera loosed a crack of thunder” 3. Bursting into the Line 107 – “And right in the Bursting into ranks: “Hector – ranks of the enemy: midst sprang Agamemnon first whipping the fight and fire in How does the hero and killed a fighter” each man like a huntsman . . . so  demonstrate at Achaea’s ranks he drove his enthusiasm for fearless Trojans” (lines 339- battle? Enthusiasm? Slaughter? 348)  wreak great - Line 177 “immense slaughter on the slaughter and always “There- Hector’s signal! . . . enemy? King Agamemnon Zeus is handing me glory,  deal with whirling to kill, crying awesome glory” (330-337) counterattacks? his Argives on, breakneck on.” - Line 125-142, lion/deer epic simile - Line76-85 – reaper and wolf epic simile

Counterattack: Iphidimas “failed flat out” to stab through Ag’s breastplate, so Ag. “hacked his neck with a sword and loosed his limbs” (lines 268-288) 4. Moment of Coon (lines 288-295), slashes weakness or danger: Ag. along the forearm, but Ag. What weakness does “unstrung his limbs and reared the hero exhibit, what and lopped his head” danger does he face, or what injury does he suffer? AGAMEMNON LEAVES THE BATTLE AFTER THIS 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 N/A important enemy with eventual boasting: How does the hero slay the enemy? How does he boast?

7. Conflict over the N/A body of 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 Homer reveal through each of the four aristeias?  How do the aristeias work to enhance the plot of the epic?