Essay, Research Paper: Summory Of The Iliad

I. Apollo is angry because Agamemnon has failed to let one
of the god's priests ransom a daughter Agamemnon had alloted
himself as a war-prize. Agamemnon reluctantly gives the
girl up but insists on taking in her place Briseis, a
captive originally assigned to Achilles--hence the "wrath of
Achilles," which iis the epic's announced topic. Achilles
complains to his divine mother, Thetis, who presuades Zeus
to let the Trojans prevail in battle until Achilles's honor
is satisfied.

II. Lured by a false dream sent by Zeus, the Greeks mass
for battle, as do the Trojans. Homer gives long lists of
both and their allies.

III. Paris agrees to single combat with Menelaus to settle
the issue of the war and everyone on both sides hopes that
the war will soon be over, but when Paris starts to lose
Aphrodite wafts him away. Even Helen is mad at both Paris
and the goddess.

IV. The Olympians quarrel among themselves and help stir
up battle on the fields of Troy.

V. Athena helps Diomedes wound Aphrodite as that goddess
is bearing her Trojan son Aeneas off the battlefield. Ares
comes to the aid of the Trojans, and Diomedes wounds him,
too.

VI. The Trojan hero Hector drops home during battle to
make some sacrifices. His wife Andromache begs him not to
leave her a widow, but he goes back to battle anyway.
Diomedes and the Trojan hero Glaucus discover that their
fathers were friends and exchange armor--Diomedes gets the
better of the bargain, giving his bronze armor in return for
golden armor.

VII. Hector wreaks havoc, and Apollo keeps Athena from
helping the Greeks. Ajax is chosen to face Hector in single
combat; they fight till night without result. Antenor
advises the Trojans to give up Helen, but Paris refuses.
The Greeks build a wall and dig a moat to protect their
ships.

VIII. Guided by Zeus, Hector leads a Trojan rout of the
Greeks, but nightfall keeps them from climbing the walls and
burning the ships.

IX. Advised by Nestor, Agamemnon finally agrees to return
Briseis to Achilles and give him other great gifts, but
Achilles won't come back. He knows that his glory will mean
his death.

X. Sent to spy on the Trojans, Odysseus and Diomedes
capture a Trojan spy and learn about

a Trojan ally on his way. They kill him and the spy.

XI. The next day brings another bloody battle. Nestor
carries off one of the wounded. Achilles sends his close
friend Patroclus to find out who it is, and Nestor urges
Patroclus to wear Achilles's armor and lead their men into
battle.

XII. Led by Hector, the Trojans break through the Greek
walls.

XIII. Poseidon disobeys Zeus and helps rally the Greeks.

XIV. Poseidon keeps Agamemnon from calling a retreat to
the ships, while Hera (borrowing a magic girdle from
Aphrodite) seduces Zeus and lulls him to sleep. Hector is
wounded by a stone, and the Trojans are driven back.

XV. Zeus wakes up mad at his wife and sends Apollo to heal
Hector, who comes back and burns the Greek ships.

XVI. Achilles agrees to let Patroclus wear his armor and
lead his men. The Trojans fall back, but Hector kills
Patroclus after Apollo stuns him.

XVII. There is a big fight for the battle of Patroclus.
Menelaus goes to tell Achilles his friend is dead.

XVIII. Achilles weeps and carries on. His mother Thetis
promises to buy him some new armor overnight. Just seeing
him come out to the field of battle makes the Trojans
retreat some.

XIX. Achilles reconciles with Agamemon and leads the
Greeks to battle.

XX. Zeus allows the gods to join in the battle. The
Greeks are supported by Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, and
Hephaestus; the Trojans, by Apollo, Artemis, Ares, and
Aphrodite.

XXI. The gods quarrel among themselves, while Achilles is
winning the day. The Trojans retreat within their walls.

XXII. Hector reproaches himself for not having retreated
at the first appearance of Achilles. He goes out to meet
Achilles in single combat and is slain. Achilles ties his
body behind a chariot and drags it off to the Greek ships.

XXIII. Funeral games are part of the magnificent burial
Achilles gives Patroclus.

XXIV. As part of his mourning, Achilles keeps dragging the
body of Hector around the tomb. Zeus insists that he give
the body back, and the gods help Hector's father Priam sneak
into the Greek camp to beg for it. Achilles holds the war
off while funeral rites are held for Hector.