A Summary Of The Plot Of The Iliad
Book I: A plague, sent by Apollo, is raging in the Achaean camp. The cause of this is the refusal of Agamemnon to return the captive girl Chryseis, daughter of Apollo's priest Chryses, to her father. The girl had been captured in a raid on a coastal town. After a violent quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, Chryseis is sent back to her father with gifts. Agamemnon, absolute commander of the army, seizes Briseis, Achilles "meed of honour", as compensation, in revenge. Achilles, whose troops, the Myrmidons, are among the best in the army, is stung by this insult to his honour. He withdraws with his troops from the rest of the Achaeans. He calls upon his mother, the sea-nymph Thetis, to ...
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low morale of his army resulting from the plague and from Achilles' defection. He therefore resorts to a stratagem of reverse psychology. He will propose to his soldiers that they return home. He communicates this plan to the chieftains in council, with instructions that they should prevent the men's return, if the proposal is accepted. He assembles the troops and proposes that they return to their homeland. They all eagerly accept his proposal and hasten to their ships. Odysseus has to intervene. He chastises Thersites, an insolent soldier, who attempts to defy him. The assembly is hastily recalled. Nestor, following other speakers, makes practical suggestions with a view to preparing the forces for battle. The troops are to be divided into their several nations. The so-called "Catalogue of Ships" follows, to show the contribution of the each of the Achaean states to the expedition. Next we are given a list of Trojan forces by nations.
Book III: The armies line up for battle. ...
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V: The "aristeia" of Diomedes. The exploits of Diomedes, aided by Athene, are recounted. He is wounded by Pandarus but healed by the goddess. Aeneas joins Pandarus in fighting Diomedes. Pandarus is killed and Aeneas is in danger, but is rescued by his mother, Aphrodite, who is wounded in the hand by Diomedes. Apollo intervenes and carries Aeneas off to the temple of Pergamus in Troy where his wounds are healed. Ares comes to the aid of the Trojans under Hector. Aeneas returns to the battlefield. Hector and Aeneas slay many Achaeans. Hera and Athene come to the rescue of the Achaeans. With Athene's help, Diomedes wounds Ares, who retires, groaning, to Olympus.
Book VI: The Achaeans ...
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"A Summary Of The Plot Of The Iliad." Essayworld.com. November 10, 2005. Accessed April 20, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Summary-Of-The-Plot-Iliad/36243.
"A Summary Of The Plot Of The Iliad." Essayworld.com. November 10, 2005. Accessed April 20, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Summary-Of-The-Plot-Iliad/36243.
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