Hebenstreit.10.8.09

· Professor Nicosia’s husband coming in next week · Midterm quickly approaching o Monday the 19th o In Class essay o Cumulative § Gilgamesh, Hero’s journey, Tragedy, Genesis, the Iliad o Cite incidents, no quotes necessarily o No multiple choice o No questions from “left field” o Comparing texts on test o We will review o Professor won’t be here Wednesday · Achilles = Hero today – 69% o Virtually invincible? o Kill people? § Impulse and rage issues o Has interactions with the Gods
 * __Class Info__ **
 * __Poll__ **

Think about: 1) The role of women 2) The two heroes: Hector and Achilles and their qualities 3) How does Homer force you to sympathize?
 * __The Iliad__ **

-Achilles is considered a “massive” hero in his time -What makes him such a hero? § Best warrior, strategist § Has arsenal of weapons § Status -Achilles’ mother is Thetis, a sea Goddess -“2nd tier God” -His father is Poseidon -His mother lends a noble aspect to him. -Has “Achilles heel” -Dunked into River Styx -Either burned or become invincible when dunked

-The Iliad starts //en media res// -“in the middle of things” -The story doesn’t give the beginning of the war, only the last year and the last weeks in particular -Paris had to judge most beautiful Goddess -In this situation, Paris is screwed regardless of whom he chooses -Got the Gods angry, became a target of them -Gets sympathy -Human relationships between Gods and people -Conspiracies to overthrow other Gods -Humans are used as pawns -Paris stole away Helen of Troy, as she was the most beautiful woman on Earth -”face that could launch a thousand ships” à literal -Agamemnon- Helen’s brother-in-law -Wants to rescue Helen -Also wanted to conquer “unconquerable city” of Troy
 * Kleos ** - glory

Is Jimmy okay? It is then determined that Jimmy is not okay. Jimmy leaves the classroom. -To be a hero you must search for Kleos to be remembered (needed to be eternally heroic. Menelaus and Agamemnon = bros Menelaus is married to Helen Paris is the Trojan prince, he steals Helen -Some versions portray Helen as willing, others have her develop and become lovers -Paris- young prince, Hector’s brother -Menelaus wants his wife back, so Agamemnon fights Troy with the largest army ever assembled. -Odysseus is in the army, as is Achilles (he is a demigod) -Attack Troy; said to be “indomitable” -Achilles only assists Agamemnon for Kleos, and to support his own hubris. -Can have timê without kleos, can have kleos without timê -Achilles only in war for everlasting fame -Agamemnon wants kleos for glory of the battle -Hector is a powerful figure · Multiple translations  o  Word choice in certain translations  ·  Version one is in our textbook  o  Learn about setting, background, context § Predominant conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles § Many Greeks are dying · Other people die in search of these men’s kleos § Clash of emotions, statuses of men § Achilles is godly hero, Agamemnon is worldly hero · Men don’t just die à burying of the bodies is not done, this breaks burial rituals o Great chain of being extends from God to earth and vice versa · Bodies left to rot and be picked on by dogs and birds o Greeks believe in baths, oiling, rituals, and burning bodies of dead Ø Zeus’ will à Zeus supports or at least allows these events to happen o Conspiracy in background o As a reader must question: § Gods have very conflicted relationships **“Explain relationships between humans and Gods, and the Gods themselves. Compare texts”** Ø Gilgamesh = Polytheistic, Bible = monotheistic Ø Iliad- Gods are more powerful and work together o Create alliances and make deals o Hierarchical relationships in Greek mythology o Zeus is the “head honcho,” and there is more order/ordered chaos because of this hierarchy Ø Why would Zeus allow these events to transpire? Ø Gods not as divine as in the Hebrew Bible o Fall victim to human traits Ø Gods are not completely powerful because they do not control the Fates o Achilles fated to die young; he can postpone his death, but it is inevitable o Given choice: live forever and not achieve kleos, or fight in Trojan war and die young v First stanza gives understanding of constituent relationships o Godly interference -B. Sing, goddess… accomplished. v In book- Rage followed by “sing” o Rage = negative, sing = positive v Sing means to express in Greek o Invocation to the muse o Muse is who sings/tells story o Tellers would “oh sing oh muse, inspire me” before telling stories o Teller make invocation, Gods intervene and inspire, teller expire into the audience v Instead of “muse” this version uses “goddess” o Juxtaposition of words o Juxtaposition is when ideas/words that don’t sound or belong together, but really do belong together in this case v Murder + Doom à is war murder or self defense? o Premeditated planning = murder o Agamemnon planning to get Helen, does this make it murder? v Murder by today’s standards but in these times it is not because they are searching for Kleos v Need to get Greek perspective o Not murder; it is for honor and timê v Rage and anger? o Rage is uncontrollable § Anger “to the nth degree” v Version B is softer than version A  o  “Delicate feasting” rather than carrion – rotten flesh for beasts o “Delicate” giving of the bodies v Zeus’ will is “accomplished” rather than “moving towards an end” o In A battle is Zeus’ will, while in B it is the killing v Many versions of these stories o Textual analysis is ideal to understand meanings behind the text v Gods in Greek version can change their minds o Offerings gifts à Gods can be persuaded o Even Gods are set to standard of the Fates § Are the Fates the most powerful then? · In Book I à 2 great heroes searching for kleos and timê · Conquered towns and picked “prizes” · Agamemnon has priests daughter o Doesn’t give woman back to crisis and crisis kills many · Achilles chastises Agamemnon o Agamemnon steals Achilles’ prize/”booty” · Women were property and richer women went to people of higher standing -Bresius taken by Agamemnon o Take away Achilles’ prize o Hurt pride, Achilles sulks and goes to his mom o Achilles refuses to fight war § Calls Agamemnon an “idiot” and treats him as an inferior
 * Kleos ** - glory, fame, and ongoing legacy
 * Timê- ** timê is similar to kleos, however timê is respect while kleos is fame
 * First Stanza **
 * Version 2 **
 * - ** A. Rage… towards its end.
 * Version 3 **