The Iliad: Book I

Review

CharactersAgamemnon- Menelaos’s brother (from the

Legend of Helen); Started Trojan War; King of Achaians

Achilles- Great Achaian warriorChryses- Chryseis’s Dad/Priest to ApolloChryseis- Captured Maiden; taken by

AgamemnonBriseis- Captured Maiden; taken by Achilles

Sequence of Events Homer (author) evokes a muse Achilles, a hero in the Trojan War, is angry

because two women were captured: Chryseis and Briseis

Agamemnon takes Chryseis Achilles takes Briseis Chryses: Chryseis’s Dad/Priest to god

Apollo Agamemnon refuses to give Chryses his

daughter back, even though a reward was offered

Sequence of Events Chryses (the Dad) prays to Apollo for help Apollo sends a plague that kills many

soldiers After ten days, a soothsayer is sent to find

the cause of the plague Calchas, a powerful seer, says the plague is

from Chryses and Apollo Agamemnon is enraged Agamemnon says he will only return

Chryseis if Achilles gives him Briseis

Dispute Over

Chryseis: Chryses’s daughter; Agamemnon takes her

Briseis: Taken by Achilles; wanted by Agamemnon to stop plague (in return for Agamemnon handing over Chryseis)

Sequence of Events Achilles is mad that Agamemnon thinks he

can take Briseis Both men threaten each other Achilles is about to kill Agamemnon when

Hera (a goddess) sends Athena to stop him Agamemnon sends Chryseis back to her

father and sends someone to get Briseis from Achilles

Odysseus sails the ship that returns Chryseis and the plague is lifted

Sequence of EventsAchilles gives Agamemnon BriseisAchilles refuses to battle because of

the fight with AgamemnonAchilles asked Zeus for helpZeus owes Achilles’s Mom (Thetis) a

favorZeus helps the Trojans against his

wife Hera’s wishesHera is mad at Zeus because she

prefers the Greeks

So

Both Agamemnon and Achilles are more concerned with their own selfish wants than the war effort or peace with each other

Both men lack: Honor Humility Selflessness