The Iliad: Book One Lecture Notes

Key Characters

Achilles

• Central character in Book One
• Known for strength and tragic fate (dies young)
• Evokes mixed feelings: tragic yet violent and emotional
• His actions trigger major plot developments
• Feelings of pity but also frustration due to his actions

Agamemnon

• Leader of the Achaean army
• Portrayed as arrogant, selfish, and lacking remorse
• Conflict with Achilles central to the plot

Nestor

• Old warrior and advisor
• Attempts to mediate peace among the generals

Calchas

• Seer who speaks for Apollo
• Reluctant to accuse Agamemnon without Achilles' protection

Gods and Goddesses

• Hera: Favors the Greeks, sends Athena to stop internal conflicts
• Athena: Checks Achilles' anger, sides with Greeks
• Apollo: Sends plague to Greeks after priest is wronged by Agamemnon
• Thetis: Achilles’ mother, a sea goddess, grieves for her son's fate
• Zeus: Balances war outcomes, grants a favor affecting the Trojans' success

Summary of Book One

Initial Conflict

• Achaeans have been at war with Troy for nine years
• Conflict arises after Agamemnon takes Chryseis, daughter of Apollo's priest
• Agamemnon's refusal to return Chryseis leads Apollo to send a plague

Achilles vs. Agamemnon

• Achilles calls a meeting to resolve the plague issue
• Calchas reveals Agamemnon is to blame
• Agamemnon agrees to return Chryseis but demands compensation
• Tension between Achilles and Agamemnon escalates as Agamemnon demands Briseis

Achilles' Reaction

• Achilles nearly confronts Agamemnon physically but is stopped by Athena
• Swears not to fight for Achaeans and predicts their downfall without him
• Achilles prays to Thetis for Greeks to suffer, so his absence is felt

Divine Intervention

• Thetis requests Zeus to favor Trojans temporarily
• Zeus reluctantly agrees, causing potential conflict with Hera

Themes and Ideas

Poetic Features

• Invocation of the Muse: Calls for inspiration to tell the story
• In Medias Res: Story starts in the middle of the Trojan War

Major Themes

• Conflicting Emotions: Mixed feelings towards Achilles
• Consequences of Rage: Achilles' anger leads to Greek losses
• Tragedy of War: War depicted as painful and horrific
• Divine Influence and Fate: Gods meddle in human affairs, fate's role

Conclusion

• Book One sets up key conflicts and themes for The Iliad
• Highlights the blend of human emotion and divine intervention in the epic
• Prepares for further exploration of themes and characters in subsequent books

These notes capture the central elements of Book One of The Iliad as discussed in the lecture. They include character descriptions, plot summaries, and thematic elements. Ideal for review and study.