Analysis of Homer’s the Iliad
English 9 Pre-Diploma
Essays
Two essays will be given for this unit
• Character analysis on Achilles or
Hector to be completed in-class on
February 11/12.
• Thematic analysis of the Iliad to be
completed at home. Due on
February 11/12.
Character Analysis Essay
In-Class Essay
Notes due on the day of the essay.
Character Analysis
In-class essay: February 11 & 12
Topic: Achilles and Hector’s Outlook on
• War
• Duty
• Heroism
(see #3 on page 380 of the textbook)
Title
Topic
Achille’s Outlook Hector’s Outlook
War
Duty
Heroism
• For homework, you must find textual
evidence that supports each character’s
outlook on the three topics.
Achilles
• Believes that heroism is symbolized by
tangible prizes
• Experiences internal conflicts about the
purpose and validity of war
• Does not believe that duty constrains him to
fight at the expense of honor
Find the textual evidence for each explanation in Books 1 and 6.
Hector
• Fights, even though he may be doomed to
defeat
• Consists of intangible loyalty to family and city
as well martial valor
• Directly threatens his city
Find the textual evidence for each explanation in Books 1 and 6.
Honor: Integrity & Duty
• The dual theme of honor and dishonor
runs through Books 1 and 6 of the Iliad.
• Examples:
–Agamemnon feels dishonored by having to give up
Chryseis, and he takes Briseisfrom Achilles to restore
his honor. Achilles, in turn, feels his honor has been
compromised by the loss of Briseis.
–Hector ignores Andromache’s pleas to stop fighting
because he believes he must defend the honor of Troy
and thereby defend his honor as a warrior.
Create a three-column chart:
Character
Agamemnon
Achilles
Hector
Andromache
Example of Honor of Explanation
Dishonor
Agamemnon
• Example: Agamemnon believes himself
dishonored by Apollo’s demand that he give
up Chryseis.
• Explanation:As a major Greek warrior, he no
doubt believes himself entitled to the spoils of
war, even the human spoils.
Achilles
• Example: Achilles believes himself dishonored
by Agamemnon’s taking of Briseis.
• Explanation:Briseishas been promised to
Achilles as a reward for his wartime heroics.
Hector
• Example: Hector believes that he would be
dishonored if he fails to live up to his
commitment to defend Troy.
• Explanation:As a great Trojan hero, he knows
that he is honor bound not to shirk the duties
of war even if it causes his wife heartache.
Andromache
• Example: Andromache feels dishonored
because Hector refuses to heed her plea that
he refrain from any further fighting.
• Explanation:Her sense of dishonor stems from
her feeling that Hector places his military duty
above his duty to her as a husband.
Thematic Analysis Essay
Due: February 11 & 12
1. Essays must be submitted electronically (email and/or
hand-ins folder).
2. Emails must be sent the day before the class meets (ex:
Feb 10th for credit on Feb 11th). A confirmation email will
be sent at the end of the school day. Only resend if you do
not get confirmation!
3. Hand-in folders will also be checked at the end of the day.
4. Late work will not be accepted.
5. Naming protocol: Lastname_IliadTheme
**common last names, please include the first initial
Literary Analysis: Theme
Overview
• A central insight into life
• Revealed through story
events, character, and
details
Themes in the Iliad
• The role of fate in
human affairs
• The destructive effects
of anger
• The violence of war
• The importance of
honor and courage
• The unpredictable ways
of the gods
Create a two-column chart.
Identify three events in Books 1 and 6
that are connected to the theme of fate.
Event
1.
How Event Connects to
Theme
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can not be used for the essay.
Event
1. Agamemnon has
refused to give up
Chryseis.
How Event Connects to Theme
1. By refusing to give up the
daughter of the priest of
Apollo, Agamemnon has
provoked Apollo to punish
the Greek troops with a
plague.
The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can not be used for the essay.
Event
How Event Connects to Theme
2. Agamemnon takes 2. By angering Achilles,
Briseis away from
Agamemnon once again
Achilles as
brings a dire fate on his
compensation for
troops. Achilles, the Greeks’
his loss of Chryseis.
most capable warrior,
withdraws from battle,
ensuring further military
reverses for the Greek
warriors.
The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can not be used for the essay.
Event
How Event Connects to Theme
3. Hector ignores
3. By ignoring his wife’s pleas,
Andromache’s
Hector ensures his death on
pleas that he stop
the battle field at the hands
fighting and return
of Achilles.
home to her.
Structuring a Thematic
Analysis Essay
I. Introduction
A. Begin with an interesting statement
(no questions). You may begin with
an explanation of the theme. Do not
use dictionary definitions.
B. Briefly summarize the plot of the
Iliad—no more than three
sentences. (Homer is the poet).
C. Thesis Statement: Theme and three
events
Structuring a Thematic
Analysis Essay
I. Body Paragraph 1
A. Transition & Topic Sentence: Event 1
B. Example 1 (textual evidence)
C. Explanation of quote (how it is
connected to the theme)
D. Concluding Sentence—summarize
your point
Repeat for Event 2 and Event 3
Structuring a Thematic
Analysis Essay
V. Conclusion
A. Concluding Transition (therefore,
consequently, thus) & summary of
introduction
B. One-two sentence summary for each body
paragraph (how the event is connected to
the theme)
C. Restate your thesis statement.
D. Concluding Sentence—Use an “If . . .
then”: If fate had not played a role in
human affairs, then Hector would have
endured and his city would be saved.
Thematic Analysis Essay
Assignment
Choose one of the following themes and explain
how it is developed in the Iliad using specific
examples from the text.
1. The destructive effects of anger
2. The violence of war
3. The importance of honor and courage
4. The unpredictable ways of the gods
You must create, complete, and submit the chart
with your typed essay.
Thematic Analysis Essay
Assignment
Instead of a test on Chapter 5 Word Lists 16-30,
you must use at least 10 different words in each
essay.
• You may not use the same words in both essays.
• Use them correctly.
A Few Reminders
1. Write in the literary present. (No past tense when
writing about literature).
2. Carefully proofread your essay for elementary
errors, such as spelling, capitalization, punctuation,
homonyms, and subject-verb agreement.
3. Avoid passive voice (is, are).
4. Do not use 1st(I) or 2nd(you) person EVER in a
literary analysis!
5. The Iliad is an epic—not a novel or short story.
A Few Reminders
6. Introduce your quotations. Do not just “dump”
them without any introduction.
Examples: According to, Homer writes, Achilles argues,
Agamemnon replies, Andromache believes
7. Citing the Iliad(notice the underlining and the use of
the article “the”).
•Absolutely no page numbers!
•Correct citation: (book #.line #)
Example: (6.35-37).
•Notice the placement of the “periods”:
–Separates the book number and the line number
–Ends the citation (outside of the parentheses).
A Few Reminders
8. A Word About Tone:
Your tone must be academic—even erudite—but
absolutely not conversational
Formatting Your Paper
•
•
•
•
•
•
Font: Times New Roman
Font Size: 12
Double-spaced
Indent (tab) to begin new paragraphs
MLA Heading: Left-justified
Engaging Title: Centered—no bold print, italics, or
increased font size
• Naming the document: Lastname_IliadTheme
Skinner_IliadTheme
SmithZ_IliadTheme
**common last names need to include the first initial