Category Archives: Greek Epics

We’ve finished Book 12! We’re officially half-way through the Iliad, at least if you count by books. Discussion Prompts What’s your favorite bird sign? Why? Who do you think is the “hero” of this book? Why? Why do you think there are so many “snow” similes? Who’s your favorite character in this book? Why?

All right, so technically there’s only one aristeia in Book 11, but it feels like there are more than that. For a fun explanation of what an aristeia is, check out this post on Greek Myth Comix. Discussion Prompts Who is the nicer guy:  Patroklos or Hektor?  Defend your choice. I didn’t discuss what Nestor and PatroklosContinue reading “Greek Epics XII: Iliad Book 11, or You Get an Aristeia and You Get an Aristeia and You Get an Aristeia!”

This is one of the shorter books in the Iliad. But it’s rather bloody for its length… Discussion Prompts Was Homer bad at math?  Why or why not? Do Dolon’s actions meet the heroic code?  Why or why not? How might this book have been different if Athena had taken the night off? What do you thinkContinue reading “Greek Epics XI: Iliad Book 10, or Who’s Up for a Night Raid?”

We finally see Achilles again in Book 9 of the Iliad. What are your thoughts on how well this meeting goes? Discussion Prompts Phoinix seems to go off on a tangent when he starts talking about Meleagros.  Why do you think he thinks this story will be useful given the fact that Achilles has already pointedContinue reading “Greek Epics X: Iliad Book 9, or Wait, Achilles is in This?”

We are officially 1/3 of the way through the Iliad. Is it what you were expecting? Discussion Prompts How would you describe the relationship between fate and the gods as we see it in this book? Whose side is Zeus really on?  Why? How many charioteers is Hektor going to go through? If you were toContinue reading “Greek Epics IX: Iliad Book 8, or the Gods Just Can’t Let It Go”

We’re nearly a third of the way through the Iliad. I look forward to hearing your thoughts so far! Discussion Prompts Should Paris return Helen?  Why or why not?  What do you think would have happened if he did?  What if she went of her own volition? Who do you think would have won the duel?  Why? In theContinue reading “Greek Epics VIII: Iliad Book 7, or High Noon Lasts Till Nightfall”

This is my favorite book of the Iliad. In the podcast episode, I focused on the final section of this book (because that’s my favorite part), but there’s a lot more that we can talk about. Discussion Prompts What do you think about the interchange between Diomedes and Glaukos?  What does this tell us about honorContinue reading “Greek Epics VII: Iliad Book 6, or Doris Day Visits Troy”

This book of the Iliad focuses on the aristeia of Diomedes. I look forward to your thoughts! Discussion Prompts What do you think about Diomedes?  Do you like him?  Why or why not? What are your thoughts on the gods in this book? Who do you want to see get an aristeia?  Why?

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 What do you think of Agamemnon in this book?Continue reading “Greek Epics V: Iliad Book 4, or Henry V Visits Troy”

We finally see a bit of battle, until Aphrodite decides to intervene. But Helen finally gets a voice, and she definitely gives people (and Aphrodite) a piece of her mind. Discussion Prompts Who is your favorite character in this book? Why? Who is your least favorite character? Why? What do you think is happening inContinue reading “Greek Epics IV: Iliad Book 3, or Helen Gets Her Groove Back”