The Artios Home Companion Series
Literature and Composition
Units 8 - 11: Epic Poetry
The Iliad
by Homer
Literature for Units 8 – 11
http://www.online-literature.com/homer/iliad/
A bo u t t he A ut ho r
Legend says that Homer was blind.
There is no evidence stating otherwise.
Researchers DO know that Homer was most
likely Greek. He is credited with writing
both the Odyssey and its companion poem,
the Iliad. The big debate is WHEN he wrote
these poems. It’s actually known as the
“Homeric Question” because there is a span
of about 400 years when these stories could
have been written down. Historians are not
sure whether Homer was an oral storyteller
or if he was the one that actually wrote the
legends down. No matter what, his work
bears the mark of epic storytelling that was
to become the foundation of Western
Literature. (Taken from Homer’s The
Odyssey, A Barnes & Noble Classic edited
by Robert Squillace, 2003)
(You might want to also follow along at
this site if digesting The Iliad is too much:
http://www.mainlesson.com/display
.php?author=church&book=iliad&st
ory=_contents
U ni t 8 – A s s i g nm e nt s
 Read Book I of the Iliad aloud. This will help you recognize the “sound” of the story.
 Read Books II - VII of the Iliad.
Activity While Reading: Take careful notes about the conflicts in the story. Think about
things that will keep Achilles and Agamemnon from resolving their conflicts.
 Thoughfully read John 3:16-21 before you work through the Assignment Detail below.
Ancient: Middle School
Units 8 – 11: Literature and Composition
Page 416
U ni t 8 – A s s i g nm e nt De t a i l s
Many Ancient writers described the gods as meddling, manipulative “supreme” beings that
dabbled in human lives for their own entertainment. In the Iliad, the gods interfere with the
plans of the mortal characters just to frustrate them and see what might happen.
What kind of relationship did this behavior create between the men and their gods? How
did the gods’ interference affect the events in the characters’ lives?
Closely study John 3:16-21. While the first part of this reading is familiar to many, consider
how different this idea might be to a Greek during the Trojan War. Write an outline for a paper
that would compare John’s God to the gods of the Greeks. What kinds of relationships do they
want with mortals? How do they influence or prevent certain events? What examples would
you pull from the story or from the Bible to explain your points?
As you collect details that deal with these questions, create a formal outline. This will help
you organize the details paper that you will write at the end of this reading. This paper will
compare the Greek gods to the God of John. Continue making notes with this idea in mind.
U ni t 9 – A s s i g nm e nt s
 Read Books VIII - XV of the Iliad.
Activity While Reading: Take careful notes about the choices characters in the story make.
 Add some more details to your outline. What do you see the gods doing? How many choices
are they letting the men make? How are the men making those choices?
 In Book IX, Achilles is presented with two choices. The choices were influenced by the
prophecy his mother gave him. In studying the options and possibilities, which fate do you
think Achilles ought to choose? Discuss reasons for your choice in a debate with someone
who does not agree with you.
 Now look at your own life. You will also be making some choices over the next five years.
In your journal, make a list of those choices and what factors you will consider when it’s
time to make those decisions.
U ni t 1 0 – A s s i g n m e nt s
 Read Books XVI - XXI of the Iliad.
Activity While Reading: Take careful notes about the appearance of different characters.
How important are visible characteristics?
 This group project will test powers of observation. Ask everyone in your group to write a
description of himself or herself. Only use the characteristics that people can see. Once
everyone has completed the description, have one person collect them all and read them
to the group. Try to guess who is being described.
 Using your outline, write a rough draft about the relationships between gods and men.
Ancient: Middle School
Units 8 – 11: Literature and Composition
Page 417
▪ As you continue to write about the differences between the gods of Greece and the God
of Israel, consider characteristics, behaviors. How are the gods acting in the readings?
How does this differ from the God described in the Bible? Use examples to support
your view. Include this information in your rough draft.
U ni t 1 1 – A s s i g n m e nt s
 Read Books XXII - XXIV of the Iliad.
Activity While Reading: Take careful notes about the way characters behave. Does anyone
show self-control? Why is it important? Consider these behaviors in light of Galatians 5:2223.
 Write a final draft of your paper using examples from the story and from Scripture. How
does God expect men to act? How do the gods themselves act?
▪ Remember to use MLA formatting as described at:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Iliad, Book VIII, lines 245–53, Greek manuscript, late 5th, early 6th centuries A D.
Ancient: Middle School
Units 8 – 11: Literature and Composition
Page 418