The Iliad:
9. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 75-150 words:
• The epic begins in medias res. What are some of the literary effects of this narrative structure?
By beginning The Iliad in media res, we immediately become part of the action. The first word of the story is “Rage”. We do not get an explanation or backstory about why there is rage. Instead, we get to know what is important, and that is what is happening now.
Starting the story this way also grabs the reader’s attention. We may wonder why there is rage or chaos. Our wonder will lead us to read the rest of the story. In small parts of the story we get some information about what started everything.
In Book I, Chryses says to Agamemnon, “Give me my daughter …show more content…
10. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 150-300 words:
• Explore the role of female characters in The Iliad. In what ways do they hold power, and in what ways are they subject to the power of men? What implications arise from how the text describes women?
The amount of power that women in The Iliad held depended largely upon their societal class. Goddesses had a lot of power, and were often listened to by men. Women who lived in the cities were viewed as prizes, and were often traded or given as a prize.
In the story, Zeus says “You’re going to force me into conflict with Hera” (Norton 243). Since his wife has so much power, he is a little scared of her. He does not want to make her mad because he knows what she can do. Hera is respected as a woman in this story. If she wants to destroy people, she has the strength to do that.
Contrarily, in book one, Chryses and Agamemnon are arguing over Chryses’ daughter. Agamemnon has taken Chryseis away from her father and refuses to let her return. He says to Chryses, “the girl is mine, and she’ll be and old woman in Argos” (Norton …show more content…
She says to Creon, “I am wise” (Norton 794). She is very well aware of what her strengths are. She also tells Creon that people shouldn’t let their children get too wise. Medea wants to have the most power so that no one can outsmart her.
The nurse points out some bad things about her. She tells Medea’s children, “her ways are too wild, her nature is hateful, her mind is too willful” (Norton 789). These are Medea’s horrible qualities. She is very wild, and once she makes up her mind, she will not change it. When she goes on a crazy rampage, she is not afraid to hurt anyone. She will stop at nothing.
All of these make her a complex character because you have a love/hate relationship towards her. Because she is standing up against Jason, we think she is a strong, admirable woman. But, the fact that she kills her own children makes readers not like her as much.
12. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 150-300 words:
• Describe and discuss the ways Medea seeks revenge against Jason. How effective is she in her quest for revenge? Does she ever falter in this quest, and why or why not? Why doesn’t she kill
9. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 75-150 words:
• The epic begins in medias res. What are some of the literary effects of this narrative structure?
By beginning The Iliad in media res, we immediately become part of the action. The first word of the story is “Rage”. We do not get an explanation or backstory about why there is rage. Instead, we get to know what is important, and that is what is happening now.
Starting the story this way also grabs the reader’s attention. We may wonder why there is rage or chaos. Our wonder will lead us to read the rest of the story. In small parts of the story we get some information about what started everything.
In Book I, Chryses says to Agamemnon, “Give me my daughter …show more content…
10. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 150-300 words:
• Explore the role of female characters in The Iliad. In what ways do they hold power, and in what ways are they subject to the power of men? What implications arise from how the text describes women?
The amount of power that women in The Iliad held depended largely upon their societal class. Goddesses had a lot of power, and were often listened to by men. Women who lived in the cities were viewed as prizes, and were often traded or given as a prize.
In the story, Zeus says “You’re going to force me into conflict with Hera” (Norton 243). Since his wife has so much power, he is a little scared of her. He does not want to make her mad because he knows what she can do. Hera is respected as a woman in this story. If she wants to destroy people, she has the strength to do that.
Contrarily, in book one, Chryses and Agamemnon are arguing over Chryses’ daughter. Agamemnon has taken Chryseis away from her father and refuses to let her return. He says to Chryses, “the girl is mine, and she’ll be and old woman in Argos” (Norton …show more content…
She says to Creon, “I am wise” (Norton 794). She is very well aware of what her strengths are. She also tells Creon that people shouldn’t let their children get too wise. Medea wants to have the most power so that no one can outsmart her.
The nurse points out some bad things about her. She tells Medea’s children, “her ways are too wild, her nature is hateful, her mind is too willful” (Norton 789). These are Medea’s horrible qualities. She is very wild, and once she makes up her mind, she will not change it. When she goes on a crazy rampage, she is not afraid to hurt anyone. She will stop at nothing.
All of these make her a complex character because you have a love/hate relationship towards her. Because she is standing up against Jason, we think she is a strong, admirable woman. But, the fact that she kills her own children makes readers not like her as much.
12. Choose one of the questions below, and answer in 150-300 words:
• Describe and discuss the ways Medea seeks revenge against Jason. How effective is she in her quest for revenge? Does she ever falter in this quest, and why or why not? Why doesn’t she kill