9/10/06 - Classical Literature - Iliad: Books 16-18

Book 16
- arming
- death of Sarpedon
- death of Patroklos.

Book 19
- character of Achilleus
- Agamemnon's apology.

Iliad gets more intense as the story progresses. After Patroklos's death Achilleus relents in his anger against Agamemnon. Transfers his anger onto the Trojans.

Book 16 Zeus has effected his plan. High pitched. 15:59-77. Zeus wakes up and puts the next stage of his plan into action - glory for Achilleus.

Achilleus did not know Patroklos would die, but reader does. God-like view given to reader.

See also 11:595-615.

Homeric simile from Achilleus 16:6-11.
Notice repetition from Nestor's speech.
Why does Achilleus let him? Patroklos imitates Achilleus and takes his armour, weapons and horses. Prophetic - Patrokos can't lift the spear, i.e. can't live up to Achilleus.

For a warrior to have glory he must have a worthy opponent, e.g. Patroklos kills Sarpedon, the son of Zeus. See 16:430-57. Sarpedon is carried by Death and Sleep to Elysia from Troy. Tradition was to take armour of fallen enemy and give the body back for decent burial.

Patroklos's flaw is to think he is immortal. But this is delusion - he is not experienced enough to succeed. See 16:684-91. He is not consumed by greed, but he is innocently "besotted" with his success. Consequnce of Patroklos pretending to be a great hero and he thus dies an undiginified death, 16:783-800.

Book 18, symbolism - Achilleus lending armour to Patroklos. Hektor takes the armour so a) it's as if Hektor has killed Achilleus, and b) Achilleus now has no armour. In this book Hephaistos makes him new armour. Shield, depicting everyday life. Ironically this is the life cycle that Achilleus is leaving behind when he inevitably dies.

18:23-31. Symbollically Achilleus dies. Armour laid out, women beat their breasts wailing. Thetis then leads out the threnody (mourning party) although Achilleus is not dead yet. Homeric convention - Achilleus's death from different part of story.

Achilleus consistent? How does he change?