5

1. Unit Five:Unit Five:
Age of Heroes (2)Age of Heroes (2)
Readings:Readings:
Homer:Homer: IliadIliad
All if possible but at leastAll if possible but at least
Lombardo, pp. vi-xlix, 1-165Lombardo, pp. vi-xlix, 1-165

2. To understand any text you mustTo understand any text you must
consider the following 4 items.consider the following 4 items.
 Who is the author?Who is the author?
 What is his audience?What is his audience?
 What is the environment of authorWhat is the environment of author
and text?and text?
 What is the author’s purpose?What is the author’s purpose?
 For Homer review Lecture Outline 4.For Homer review Lecture Outline 4.

3. Does Homer Glorify War?Does Homer Glorify War?
 One point for a heroic age love of war are Homer’sOne point for a heroic age love of war are Homer’s
graphic death scenesgraphic death scenes
 Homer’s settings and descriptions of men in a greatHomer’s settings and descriptions of men in a great
war excel in scenes that end “he fell and his armorwar excel in scenes that end “he fell and his armor
clanged about him.”clanged about him.”
 Warfare is of the heroic style - One on One.Warfare is of the heroic style - One on One.
 Menelaus vs ParisMenelaus vs Paris
 Patroclus vs HectorPatroclus vs Hector
 Achilles vs HectorAchilles vs Hector

4. Homer himself gives a contradictoryHomer himself gives a contradictory
depiction of war.depiction of war.
 He tells the story of the Trojan War from bothHe tells the story of the Trojan War from both
sides and on both sides he has benefit and loss.sides and on both sides he has benefit and loss.
 He speaks with pathos of the costs of heroism onHe speaks with pathos of the costs of heroism on
the Trojan side:the Trojan side:
 The great Trojan hero, Hector, sees the cause of theThe great Trojan hero, Hector, sees the cause of the
war, Paris, as a miserable individualwar, Paris, as a miserable individual
 So to Hector the war is somewhat useless and wasteful.So to Hector the war is somewhat useless and wasteful.
 But his fate, which Hector accepts, is to die for hisBut his fate, which Hector accepts, is to die for his
people, in this war.people, in this war.

5. The pathos of Hector andThe pathos of Hector and
Andromache ( Bk. IV)Andromache ( Bk. IV)
 Hector the loving father, dressed in his war gear,Hector the loving father, dressed in his war gear,
terrifies his infant son.terrifies his infant son.
 Still Hector brags about fulfilling his duty.Still Hector brags about fulfilling his duty.
 Andromache releases her husband to war, knowing ofAndromache releases her husband to war, knowing of
his coming death.his coming death.
 Even more poignant is Bk. XXIV whenEven more poignant is Bk. XXIV when
Andromache foretells the destruction of Troy andAndromache foretells the destruction of Troy and
the death of Astyanaxthe death of Astyanax
 Of course there is also Andromache’s own deathOf course there is also Andromache’s own death

6. Cost of War for the Winners.Cost of War for the Winners.
 For Achilleus there is the death of PatroclusFor Achilleus there is the death of Patroclus
 There is always the loss of youth andThere is always the loss of youth and
strengthstrength
 Achilleus has a great deal of mental anguish.Achilleus has a great deal of mental anguish.
 Achilleus must accept death as the outcomeAchilleus must accept death as the outcome
of this war and the price for his own glory.of this war and the price for his own glory.
 There is also Achilleus’ own death.There is also Achilleus’ own death.

7. Excessive behavior contributed toExcessive behavior contributed to
the horrendous loses of the war.the horrendous loses of the war.
 This exists in the midst of the questions aboutThis exists in the midst of the questions about
divine manifestation.divine manifestation.
 Patroclus loses his life because in part he didn’tPatroclus loses his life because in part he didn’t
restrain his fury.restrain his fury.
 Paris’ lack of control started the war.Paris’ lack of control started the war.
 Achilleus’ selfish out of control refusal to stay inAchilleus’ selfish out of control refusal to stay in
the battle contributed to the death of Patroclus.the battle contributed to the death of Patroclus.
 Achilleus’ personal resulted in the useless defilingAchilleus’ personal resulted in the useless defiling
of Hector’s body.of Hector’s body.

8. Gods in Men’s LivesGods in Men’s Lives
 Modern man is struck by the strangeness of theModern man is struck by the strangeness of the
existence of ancient gods.existence of ancient gods.
 At various times they are intimately involved inAt various times they are intimately involved in
human affairs.human affairs.
 First incident of Bk. I has Apollo as the cause ofFirst incident of Bk. I has Apollo as the cause of
a camp plague.a camp plague.
 Disease and plague were a common occurrence ofDisease and plague were a common occurrence of
ancient warfare.ancient warfare.
 But the lack of a clear explanation for plaguesBut the lack of a clear explanation for plagues
resulted in attributing the plagues to the gods’ anger.resulted in attributing the plagues to the gods’ anger.

9. Gods in Men’s LivesGods in Men’s Lives
 Achilleus’ mother is a sea nymph, a demi-goddess.Achilleus’ mother is a sea nymph, a demi-goddess.
 He relies upon her for advice and supportHe relies upon her for advice and support
 Various gods and goddesses pop up repeatedly inVarious gods and goddesses pop up repeatedly in
battle scenesbattle scenes
 Aphrodite saves Paris.Aphrodite saves Paris.
 Athena supports AchilleusAthena supports Achilleus
 Agamemnon blames the gods for his errors inAgamemnon blames the gods for his errors in
judgment.judgment.
 At other times the gods are cold and detached fromAt other times the gods are cold and detached from
men.men.
 Council of the Olympian gods ruling on Thetis’ wishes forCouncil of the Olympian gods ruling on Thetis’ wishes for
AchillesAchilles

10. Who or What are these “gods” ofWho or What are these “gods” of
Homer?Homer?
 The poem’s invocation seeks inspiration from theThe poem’s invocation seeks inspiration from the
muses (lesser deities). Same in Hesiod.muses (lesser deities). Same in Hesiod.
 This personalization of the author’s talent, a humanThis personalization of the author’s talent, a human
attribute, demonstrates the mythopoeic at work.attribute, demonstrates the mythopoeic at work.
 The gods are also the counselors of the world.The gods are also the counselors of the world.
 They sit in council in judgment to direct an action onThey sit in council in judgment to direct an action on
behalf of Achilles in Bk. Ibehalf of Achilles in Bk. I
 Book XXIV- council of the gods instigates a planBook XXIV- council of the gods instigates a plan
which has Thetis convince Achilleus to give upwhich has Thetis convince Achilleus to give up
Hector’s bodyHector’s body

11. How powerful are the gods?How powerful are the gods?
 They are immortalThey are immortal
 Zeus is the strongest element in heaven andZeus is the strongest element in heaven and
on earthon earth
 In one instance he is even called the purveyor ofIn one instance he is even called the purveyor of
justice (Book XXIV)justice (Book XXIV)
 The are significant elements in theThe are significant elements in the
maintenance of world order.maintenance of world order.
Athena
Zeus

12. Limits on the Powers of the GodsLimits on the Powers of the Gods
 Apollo considers helping Hector against AchilleusApollo considers helping Hector against Achilleus
 Zeus weighs the fate of both warriors on a scaleZeus weighs the fate of both warriors on a scale
 Hector’s fate is heavier so Apollo doesn’t interveneHector’s fate is heavier so Apollo doesn’t intervene
 Zeus considers helping Sarpedon against PatroclusZeus considers helping Sarpedon against Patroclus
(Bk. XVI)(Bk. XVI)
 But the danger of setting a precedent causes him toBut the danger of setting a precedent causes him to
reconsiderreconsider
 Hera warns other gods might do the sameHera warns other gods might do the same
 So while there are hints of divine omniscience,So while there are hints of divine omniscience,
gods really never go off uncontrolledgods really never go off uncontrolled
 They do not (can not?) change FATE no matter how itThey do not (can not?) change FATE no matter how it
seems.seems.

13. Fate vs Free Choice?Fate vs Free Choice?
 On the one hand Fate seems to be a foregoneOn the one hand Fate seems to be a foregone
destinydestiny
 As Achilleus states: regardless of deeds all men dieAs Achilleus states: regardless of deeds all men die
(Bk. IX)(Bk. IX)
 On the other hand, Achilles has a deep personalOn the other hand, Achilles has a deep personal
need to affect the course of his destinyneed to affect the course of his destiny
 HeHe BELIEVESBELIEVES that he has the choice to fight andthat he has the choice to fight and
win glory or go home and die an old man after awin glory or go home and die an old man after a
long life (Bk. IX)long life (Bk. IX)

14. Fate of AchilleusFate of Achilleus
 Given his background the reader should see whatGiven his background the reader should see what
choice Achilleus has to make.choice Achilleus has to make.
 Son of a goddess.Son of a goddess.
 A prince and leader of men.A prince and leader of men.
 He had to resist his public loss of honor beforeHe had to resist his public loss of honor before
Agamemnon.Agamemnon.
 Reaction to Patroclus’ deathReaction to Patroclus’ death
 The build up of these eventsThe build up of these events
show that he could make noshow that he could make no
other choice but to be a warrior.other choice but to be a warrior.

15. Are the Conflicts of theAre the Conflicts of the IliadIliad Resolved?Resolved?
Book XXIV:Book XXIV:
 Gods arrange a meeting between Achilleus andGods arrange a meeting between Achilleus and
Priam.Priam.
 Achilleus agrees to release the body of Hector, aAchilleus agrees to release the body of Hector, a
reasonable reaction.reasonable reaction.
 One dispute between men is resolved.One dispute between men is resolved.
 But the war goes on.But the war goes on.
 What does that tell us about the possibilities andWhat does that tell us about the possibilities and
lives of men?lives of men?

16. Modern Adaptation of AncientModern Adaptation of Ancient
Heroic Pattern:Heroic Pattern:
Star Wars and the Classic HeroStar Wars and the Classic Hero
 Luke Skywalker- the young naïve inexperiencedLuke Skywalker- the young naïve inexperienced
son of a great warrior.son of a great warrior.
 A sort of princeA sort of prince
 Young man with an extraordinary physical andYoung man with an extraordinary physical and
mental ability (Fate).mental ability (Fate).
 He must learn and then pass a test to use thisHe must learn and then pass a test to use this
ability to become a Jedi (Struggle).ability to become a Jedi (Struggle).
 As a Jedi he serves his followers.As a Jedi he serves his followers.

17. Star Wars and the Classic HeroStar Wars and the Classic Hero
 Princess Leia – the virginal consort of brave heroesPrincess Leia – the virginal consort of brave heroes
 Darth Vadar- a stark personification of evilDarth Vadar- a stark personification of evil
 the black cloakthe black cloak
 the splendid menacing voice of James Earl Jonesthe splendid menacing voice of James Earl Jones
 The Force—that psychic physical energy thatThe Force—that psychic physical energy that
permeates all existencepermeates all existence
 An awesome entity capable of fantastic good throughAn awesome entity capable of fantastic good through
some mastery and understanding of order.some mastery and understanding of order.
 When abused a terrible force for evil.When abused a terrible force for evil.
 So effective because it is so much a part of everything.So effective because it is so much a part of everything.
 Good and Evil are extremes of this same force.Good and Evil are extremes of this same force.

18.  ““A long time ago, in a galaxy far,A long time ago, in a galaxy far,
far away… The very depth offar away… The very depth of
space. There was a length, andspace. There was a length, and
width, and height; and then thesewidth, and height; and then these
dimensions curved over ondimensions curved over on
themselves into a bendingthemselves into a bending
blackness measurable only by theblackness measurable only by the
glinting stars that tumbledglinting stars that tumbled
through the chasm, receding tothrough the chasm, receding to
infinity. To the very depth. Theseinfinity. To the very depth. These
stars marked the moments of thestars marked the moments of the
universe. There were aginguniverse. There were aging
orange embers, blue dwarfs, twinorange embers, blue dwarfs, twin
yellow giants. There wereyellow giants. There were
collapsing neutron stars, andcollapsing neutron stars, and
angry supernovae that hissed intoangry supernovae that hissed into
icy emptiness. There wereicy emptiness. There were
borning stars, breathing stars,borning stars, breathing stars,
pulsing stars, and dying stars.pulsing stars, and dying stars.
There was the Death star.There was the Death star.
 ““Sing, goddess, the anger ofSing, goddess, the anger of
Peleus’ son Achilleus and itsPeleus’ son Achilleus and its
devastation, which put painsdevastation, which put pains
thousand fold upon thethousand fold upon the
Achaeans, hurled theirAchaeans, hurled their
multitudes to the house ofmultitudes to the house of
Hades strong souls of heroes,Hades strong souls of heroes,
but gave their bodies to bebut gave their bodies to be
the delicate feasting of dogs,the delicate feasting of dogs,
of all the birds, and the will ofof all the birds, and the will of
Zeus was accomplished sinceZeus was accomplished since
that time when first wherethat time when first where
stood in division of conflictstood in division of conflict
Atreus’ son the lord of menAtreus’ son the lord of men
and brilliant Achilleusand brilliant Achilleus..

19. ReviewReview
How well did George Lucas understandHow well did George Lucas understand
and imitate the world view and heroicand imitate the world view and heroic
paradigm left to us by Homer? How wellparadigm left to us by Homer? How well
did he transform Homer’s pattern into adid he transform Homer’s pattern into a
believable modern story?believable modern story?