HOMER, The ILIAD: Questions

(Gochberg, pp. 1-32.) (Powell, Ch. 19)

(1) In the opening scenes of BOOK 1, what is the 'problem' facing the Greeks? How has it come to exist?
(2) What is the Greek commander-in-chief (WANAX) Agamemnon doing to solve the problem?
(3) Why does Achilles decide to get involved? What is Achilles' position in the Greek forces (compare Book 2, lines 681-694) How old is Achilles?
(4) What is the nature of the MENIS ('wrath') that brings Agamemnon and Achilles into conflict with one another? How far would Achilles go?
(6) What is the significance (to Agamemnon, and to Achilles) of the two girls, Briseis and Chryseis? Why doesn't Achilles just hand Briseis over to Agamemnon?
(7) What is Achilles' solution to his problem with Agamemnon? What can one say about Achilles' sense of military and social responsibility?
(8) What is the position of the gods (especially ZEUS) with regard to the situation in the Greek army at Troy? What part does THETIS play?
(9) What point is being made in the episode (Book 2) about the dream sent to Agamemnon? What can one say about Agamemnon's reaction to the dream and to his appraisal of the situation?
(10) What is the significance in the work of the character PATROKLOS? What is social/military relationship with Achilles? What is his personal relationship? (Book 18, 1 ff.; Book 23, 218-232; 24, 3-13)
(11) What function does the `Funeral Games of Patroklos' (Funeral: Book 23, lines 108-257; Games, lines 257-897) serve in resolving the theme of MENIS ('wrath') of Achilles?