THEMATIC ANALYSIS:Heroism

UNIT 3 AOS1

LEARNING INTENTION: Identify how the theme of heroism is explored in the text

Context of HeroismHEROISM: A remarkably brave person. Somebody who

commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength

of character

• The characters in the Iliad defined the warrior code of ancient Greece, and gave meaning to term ‘hero’

• These heroes often tried to win glory in battle, yet were often characterised as having a distinctly human side

• Pride and retribution motivate the hero’s actions• Malouf explores and extends on the nature of heroism

BRAINSTORM…HEROISM: A remarkably brave person. Somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality

such as great courage or strength of character

PRIAM:

ACHILLES: SOMAX:

HECTOR:

Achilles

• Achilles falls from grace – He does not behave in a heroic manner• His ability to fight, while ‘remarkable’, transforms into a weakness of character when

he breaks the code of heroism and disrespects the memory of Hector• From the Trojan perspective, he takes on more of a satanic character:

‘And you expect this wolf, this violator of every law of gods and men, to take the gift you hold out to him and act like a man?’ (pp. 58). Hecuba responding to Priam’s plan

• Through his treatment of Hector, he becomes a failed hero, and struggles with his identity until Priam’s ‘ransom’ and the acceptance of his and Patroclus’ death frees him from his torment

Hector

• While we don’t here a lot from Hector, he also represents the ‘hero code’

• The Trojan’s greatest warrior, he does not fear Achilles, despite his reputation

• Malouf uses Hector to cast an opposite to Achilles, thereby highlighting Achilles as an ‘anti-hero’

Priam

• Priam presents as an unusual hero: Not a warrior, but a thinking man who enacts a remarkable deed, despite a high likelihood of death. He therefore shows considerable courage

• He shows the strength of character to abandon his Kingly role to be a father• After Hector’s death he is in a state of depressed inactivity for days, until he seeks to…

To try something that might force events into a different course.’ (pp.56 – 57)

• His connections to Gods further makes his action remarkable• He is also creative and unconventional in his actions. Upon being challenged with a royal

horse and cart, he responds with…

‘You have done this because you are still thinking in the old way. I told you, I tried to tell you, that my vision was of something new.’ (pp.92)

Somax

• Somax is perhaps the least heroic of these four characters.

• His function in the text is to be unremarkable, and draws out the heroism in Priam

• Possibly the main character of the text, he is unusually not a hero, but in constant in unpredictable and tragic circumstances

Writing Task ESSAY QUESTION: 2012 EXAM

‘Ransom demonstrates that it is a man’s actions that define him.’ Discuss.

The actions of Priam define him as an unlikely hero. He does not fit the cliché of the warrior heroes of Ancient Greece, but engages in both remarkable bravery and demonstrates strength of character that saves the dignity of a besieged Kingdom. Suffering the loss and grief of his son Hector’s death, and the subsequent apparent mutilation of his body, he is initially stricken within a depressed inaction. When the God Isis appears and presents him with a plan ‘of something new and unheard of’ (p.89-90) hi s journey of heroism begins. His decision to travel into the Greek camp without royal insignia and claim his son’s body shocks the Trojan court: His wife Hecuba considers him mad. His actions shift him from a man driven by royal procedures and routine into an unpredictable force that seeks to ‘force events into a different course’ (pp.56 – 57). Through his time with Somax, he learns quickly of the humanity that defines the hero, and teaches Achilles of this humanity by appearing initially as the warriors father and later as the father of Hector. He forces Achilles acceptance of his soul mate Patroclus, and frees him of his grief and torment. Furthermore, he returns successful with his son’s body, ‘all his limbs newly restored and shining, restored and ransomed’ (p.56). In doing this he restores the dignity of a great Kingdom that faces imminent extinction. In addition to this, he dies a heroes death when Achilles’ son Neoptomelus is taken aback by Priam’s acceptance of the situation: So much so that Neoptolemus makes a hash of killing. Priam actions therefore define him as a hero: One who transforms into a ‘normal man’ to protect the honour of his slain son and restore the dignity of the Trojan kingdom

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