Greek Epics V: Iliad Book 4, or Henry V Visits Troy

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inGreek Epics, The Greeks

We are up to Book Four of the Iliad, and we finally will get to some fighting. Okay, there was technically fighting in Book Three, but this is a proper battle. We just need to hear some rousing (or not so rousing) speeches first.

Discussion Prompts
  1. What do you think of Agamemnon in this book? Why?
  2. What about how death is described? Or more specifically, the process of dying? Or, you know, being killed in battle?
  3. In the episode, I talk about honor and glory. Who is the most honorable in this book? Why?
  4. What do you think about the role the gods are playing? What is good and/or bad about it? Would the epic, as a story, be better if the gods weren’t active players?
  5. What other themes stand out to you? Why?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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