Shield of Achilles

On one side, the Achaean’s vastly benefited from Achilles’s relationship with Patroclus. Not only did Achilles train Patroclus, thus making him a powerful force during the war, but Achilles also only returned to the war upon hearing of Patroclus’s death. Motivated by his love for his friend, Achilles went on to wreak havoc on the Trojan army. However, on the other hand, the Achaeans were devastated due to Achilles’s relationship with Agamemnon. Their…

“Sing, Goddess, Achilles’ rage, black and murderous, that cost the Greeks incalculable pain, pitched countless souls of heroes into Hades’ dark, And left their bodies to rot as feasts for dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will be done” (1:1-8). These are the first few lines of the book and we are already given dark imagery such as “black and murderous” and “incalculable pain” to explain the war to come. This remains a constant theme throughout the story which signals the act of war, and the death it…

These works can act as either a distraction from our problems or create parallels to them allowing us to view them from a new light. In her essay “Because she’s a woman”: Myth and Metafiction in Carol Shields’ Unless, Nora Stovel, a renowned professor at the University of Alberta, argues that Carol Shields uses (particularly in her final book, Unless) metafiction to illustrate how fiction can be an escapist method to step…

Shield volcanoes are formed by many different lava flows that layer over time. Mount Kilauea is a well-known shield volcano in Hawaii. Before it erupts, it is known to inflate as magma pushes upward from its magma chamber. Seismic activity usually precludes Kilauea’s eruptions by about 24 hours. Their eruptions consist mostly of lava flowing out of the summit or through lava tubes in what is known as a flank eruption. The lava that flows from these volcanoes is highly basaltic in nature. Because…

death. By continuing to fight, Hector decides to sacrifice his life for the Trojan people. In addition, as as the Trojans prepare to attack the Achaeans, Hector issued orders and is seen as god-like amongst the other Trojan men as, “Hector carried his shield, an even perfect circle. As some ominous star now suddenly appears, shining through the clouds and then disappears again into the cloud cover, that’s how Hector looked, as he showed up in the, then in the rear, issuing orders. All in shining…

“Volcanic eruptions are the most awesome and powerful display of nature’s force” (Sigurdsson et al. 2) is a quote from the author Haraldur Sigurdsson that describes the breathtaking sight one may behold from the experience of witnessing the eruption of a volcano. However, innumerable aspects contribute to this gorgeous display. The fascinating eruption varies vastly depending upon numerous factors working within a volcano, and the shapes of volcanoes may affect the way an environment copes with…

Have you ever been to Hawaii? Have you ever been to France? Would you rather go to Hawaii or go to France? Hawaii and France are very different but they are similar in many ways as well. For example Hawaii and France are different because Hawaii is a state but France is a country. They are similar because their both one of the most popular places to visit. Hawaii is made up of 8 islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe, Niihau, and the Hawaiian island. Hawaii is famous for its…

Everything was perfect; we were on cloud 9, I had finally found someone who made me feel like I’m on top of the world… until he moved. The excitement I felt while I walked to class was unreal. I walked through the breezeway of the school and felt a slight chill from the cold cloudy day. I quickly turned into a hall and took in the warmth from the AC and found my much anticipated class, World Geography. I walked in and there he is facing the board. Slightly long blonde hair, a grey sweater that…

Greek Mythology has a plethora of stories and poems about heroes, in all types of situations, to teach all sorts of lessons that are still well known today. Most people can recognize the name Hercules or Oedipus if asked and can remember at least the basics of their stories. However if asked, the average person would not be able to tell you what the most basic difference between such characters is, intrinsically. The difference between a tragic hero versus an epic hero is distinct but not a…

Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Homer’s The Iliad, Karl Marlantes’s What it is Like to Go to War provide a more personal, intimate perspective in the lives and mentality of soldiers - in these three works, the soldiers are not necessarily portrayed as the stereotypical invincible and fearless warriors, but more as humans as the authors expose their mistakes, weaknesses, and emotions. However, one of the key factors that helps enhance the readers’ emotional connection to the soldiers in…