CLAS2700: Homer Iliad—3: Large-scale structure

1. Overarching design
Contrast the quarrel in book 1 with the funeral games for Patroklos in 23: the
chariot-race leads to a quarrel among spectators, calmed by Achilleus (23.473-98),
and a quarrel among competitors—Menelaus accuses Antilochus of cheating (see
23.429-41for the disputed manoeuvre): quarrel defused by mutual concessions
(23.566-613).
Quarrels resolved mirror the initial uncontrolled quarrel; compare the rejected
suppliant in book 1 mirrored by Achilleus’ acceptance of Priam’s supplication in 24.
2. Chronology and focus
Iliad i.e. (tale of Ilium = Troy) does not tell whole story of 10-year Trojan War. It was
longest archaic Greek epic (15000+ lines: Odyssey = c.12000; next longest
probably c.7000), but concentrates on 53 days (including 2 foreshadowed in book
24 but not narrated), of which 14 are separately narrated; books 2-22 cover 6 days
(2 briefly at end of book 7). Most of poem focuses on 4 days:
 books 2-7: an indecisive day’s fighting when Agamemnon makes an all-out
attack on Troy;
 book 8 (three days later): a severe Greeks defeat (hence embassy to Achilleus
in book 9);
 books 11-18 (next day): a successful assault on Greek camp the next day,
defeated by Patroclus;
 books 19-22 (next day): Achilleus avenges Patroclus, kills Hektor.
(Note: the division into 24 books probably not part of the original plan of poem.)
Broader perspective by allusions:
 to other stages of war: e.g. gathering at Aulis (2.299-330); fall of Troy
(Agamemnon 4.163-5 = Hektor 6.447-9); Achilleus’ death (e.g. 9.410-16; 18.54-
64; 18.94-6; Hektor’s prophecy 22.359f.);
 to events outside the war: e.g. Nestor’s youthful exploits; family histories of
Glaucus and Diomedes (6.119-236);
 to background of dying warriors: e.g. Simoeisios (4.473-9);
 to peace-time existence in similes (e.g. stars at night: 8.555-61; flies round fresh
milk: 16.641-4);
 scenes from ordinary life depicted on Shield of Achilleus (18.490-606).
The variable relationship between narrative and chronology (e.g. book 1 = 23 days;
books 11-18 = 1 day) allows manipulation of audience. E.g.: book 1: Achilleus is
angry; book 9: Achilleus is still angry; book 16: Achilleus’ anger has abated
(16.60f.). But book 1-book 9 = 16 days, book 9-book 16 = less than 24 hours. Is
there some explanation for the sudden change in attitude? Or does the narrative
delay conceal a discrepancy? Homer as illusionist.
Book 2 stresses that this is ninth year of war (2.134f.; 2.299-330)—audience is
correctly oriented. But Catalogue of Ships (n.b. ships!) relates to the contingents
assembling at Aulis (lightly adapted); in book 3 the Paris-Menelaus duel and Priam’s
failure to recognise Greek leaders (3.161-244) are surprising in year 9: has an
account of the beginning of the war been grafted into new context?
This illustrates a technique for expanding and varying the core narrative. Hence:
3. Core and elaboration
Crude summary:
(a) Achilleus and Agamemnon quarrel;
(b) Achilleus withdraws;
(c) the Greeks are defeated;
(d) the embassy to Achilleus;
(e) Achilleus refuses;
(f) the Greeks are defeated;
(g) Achilleus interves,
(h) the Greeks are victorious.
But consider also:
 Background to (a-c), both human (Lecture 1) and divine: Apollo, Hera, Athene,
Thetis, Zeus.
► Question: Achilleus (1.240-4) and Nestor (1.282-84) warn of the consequences
of his withdrawal: but the Trojans are not victorious in the first battle (books 2-7);
in second (book 8), Zeus’ intervention secures Trojan victory; Hektor is beaten
by Aias (books 7, 14), and Diomedes (book 11); he fights Patroklos (16.751-64)
but does not kill him until disarmed by Apollo and wounded. Is Achilleus’
contribution really decisive?
 In (f-h) Achilleus does not intervene directly: he allows Patroklos to intervene:
Patroclus’ death (an undesigned consequence of Achilleus’ actions) adds a
tragic twist.
 Hence (h) has added significance (victory is vengeance)—but is not the end of
the story: acceptance of Priam’s supplication achieves reconciliation (inverting
the beginning of poem). By the time that Achilleus and Agamemnon are
reconciled (book 19) the ‘anger’ of the first line (1.1) is superseded by anger
against Hektor, continued after his death, but ended in scene with Priam—which
is not what the opening lines imply.
 Sympathy for Priam (and e.g. Hektor-Andromache in book 6): the poem is not
chauvinist, but the war was started by Paris; the Trojans break their oaths
(violating the truce in book 3); the poem is averse to Greek defeats. Hence the
attitude to Trojans—and Hektor?—is complex.

Preparation for lecture 4: read books 1-7.

 Homer Iliad: an outline
Book Events Days
1 Chryses’ embassy rejected. 1
Plague. 2-10
Achilleus calls assembly. Quarrel. Appeal to Thetis. Appeasement 11
of Apollo.
Thetis waits for gods’ return and appeals to Zeus. 12-23
2 Agamemnon’s dream. Preparations for battle. Catalogue. 24
3 Paris-Menelaus duel.
4 Battle commences.
5 Diomedes’ victories. Trojans rally.
6 New Greek offensive. Hektor goes to Troy.
7 Hektor-Aias duel.
Funerals. 25
Greeks build wall. 26
8 Battle: Trojan victory. 27
9 Greek council. Embassy to Achilleus.
10 Night raid on Trojan camp.
11 Battle: Agamemnon’s victories. Trojan counter-attack. Nestor 28
prompts Patroclus.
12 Assault on the Greek camp.
13 Poseidon prompts Greek counter-attack.
14 Hera seduces Zeus to distract him from Poseidon’s intervention.
15 Zeus ends Poseidon’s intervention: Trojans advance to the ships.
16 Achilleus approves Patroclus’ intervention. Patroclus’ victory and
death.
17 The fight for Patroclus’ corpse.
18 Mourning for Patroclus. New armour for Achilleus.
19 Reconciliation of Achilleus and Agamemnon. Preparations for 29
battle.
20 Battle commences.
21 The battle of the gods. The Trojans retreat into the city...
22 ... but Hektor remains outside to face Achilleus. Hektor’s death.
Achilleus maltreats his corpse.
23 Sleep: Patroklos appears to Achilleus in a dream.
Patroclus’ corpse cremated. 30
The remains are interred. The funeral games. 31
24 Continuing maltreatment of Hektor’s corpse. 32-40
Priam ransoms Hektor’s body. 41
Preparations for Hektor’s funeral. 42-50
Hektor’s funeral. 51
The building of Hektor’s funeral mound [see 24.66, p.407]. 52
Fighting resumes [see 24.667, p.407]. 53