Unit Five:Unit Five:Age of Heroes (2)Age of Heroes (2)

Readings:Readings:

Homer: Homer: IliadIliadAll if possible but at All if possible but at

leastleastLombardo, pp. vi-xlix, Lombardo, pp. vi-xlix,

1-1651-165

To understand any text you To understand any text you must consider the following must consider the following

4 items.4 items. Who is the author?Who is the author? What is his audience?What is his audience? What is the environment of What is the environment of

author and text?author and text? What is the author’s purpose?What is the author’s purpose?

For Homer review Lecture For Homer review Lecture Outline 4. Outline 4.

Does Homer Glorify War?Does Homer Glorify War?

One point for a heroic age love of war are One point for a heroic age love of war are Homer’s graphic death scenesHomer’s graphic death scenes

Homer’s settings and descriptions of men Homer’s settings and descriptions of men in a great war excel in scenes that end in a great war excel in scenes that end “he fell and his armor clanged about “he fell and his armor clanged about him.”him.”

Warfare is of the heroic style - One on Warfare is of the heroic style - One on One.One. Menelaus vs ParisMenelaus vs Paris Patroclus vs HectorPatroclus vs Hector Achilles vs HectorAchilles vs Hector

Homer himself gives a Homer himself gives a contradictory depiction of contradictory depiction of

war. war. He tells the story of the Trojan War from He tells the story of the Trojan War from

both sides and on both sides he has benefit both sides and on both sides he has benefit and loss.and loss.

He speaks with pathos of the costs of He speaks with pathos of the costs of heroism on the Trojan side:heroism on the Trojan side: The great Trojan hero, Hector, sees the cause of The great Trojan hero, Hector, sees the cause of

the war, Paris, as a miserable individualthe war, Paris, as a miserable individual So to Hector the war is somewhat useless and So to Hector the war is somewhat useless and

wasteful.wasteful. But his fate, which Hector accepts, is to die for But his fate, which Hector accepts, is to die for

his people, in this war. his people, in this war.

The pathos of Hector and The pathos of Hector and Andromache ( Bk. IV)Andromache ( Bk. IV)

Hector the loving father, dressed in his Hector the loving father, dressed in his war gear, terrifies his infant son.war gear, terrifies his infant son. Still Hector brags about fulfilling his duty. Still Hector brags about fulfilling his duty. Andromache releases her husband to war, Andromache releases her husband to war,

knowing of his coming death. knowing of his coming death. Even more poignant is Bk. XXIV when Even more poignant is Bk. XXIV when

Andromache foretells the destruction of Andromache foretells the destruction of Troy and the death of AstyanaxTroy and the death of Astyanax

Of course there is also Andromache’s Of course there is also Andromache’s own deathown death

Cost of War for the Cost of War for the Winners. Winners.

For Achilleus there is the death of For Achilleus there is the death of PatroclusPatroclusThere is always the loss of youth and There is always the loss of youth and

strengthstrength Achilleus has a great deal of mental Achilleus has a great deal of mental

anguish.anguish. Achilleus must accept death as the Achilleus must accept death as the

outcome of this war and the price for outcome of this war and the price for his own glory.his own glory.

There is also Achilleus’ own death.There is also Achilleus’ own death.

Excessive behavior Excessive behavior contributed to the contributed to the

horrendous loses of the horrendous loses of the war.war. This exists in the midst of the questions This exists in the midst of the questions

about divine manifestation.about divine manifestation. Patroclus loses his life because in part Patroclus loses his life because in part

he didn’t restrain his fury.he didn’t restrain his fury. Paris’ lack of control started the war.Paris’ lack of control started the war. Achilleus’ selfish out of control refusal Achilleus’ selfish out of control refusal

to stay in the battle contributed to the to stay in the battle contributed to the death of Patroclus. death of Patroclus.

Achilleus’ personal resulted in the Achilleus’ personal resulted in the useless defiling of Hector’s body.useless defiling of Hector’s body.

Gods in Men’s LivesGods in Men’s Lives

Modern man is struck by the strangeness Modern man is struck by the strangeness of the existence of ancient gods.of the existence of ancient gods.

At various times they are intimately At various times they are intimately involved in human affairs.involved in human affairs.

First incident of Bk. I has Apollo as the First incident of Bk. I has Apollo as the cause of a camp plague.cause of a camp plague. Disease and plague were a common Disease and plague were a common

occurrence of ancient warfare.occurrence of ancient warfare. But the lack of a clear explanation for But the lack of a clear explanation for

plagues resulted in attributing the plagues to plagues resulted in attributing the plagues to the gods’ anger.the gods’ anger.

Gods in Men’s LivesGods in Men’s Lives Achilleus’ mother is a sea nymph, a demi-Achilleus’ mother is a sea nymph, a demi-

goddess.goddess. He relies upon her for advice and supportHe relies upon her for advice and support

Various gods and goddesses pop up Various gods and goddesses pop up repeatedly in battle scenes repeatedly in battle scenes Aphrodite saves Paris.Aphrodite saves Paris. Athena supports AchilleusAthena supports Achilleus

Agamemnon blames the gods for his errors Agamemnon blames the gods for his errors in judgment.in judgment.

At other times the gods are cold and At other times the gods are cold and detached from men.detached from men. Council of the Olympian gods ruling on Thetis’ Council of the Olympian gods ruling on Thetis’

wishes for Achilles wishes for Achilles

Who or What are these Who or What are these “gods” of Homer?“gods” of Homer?

The poem’s invocation seeks inspiration from The poem’s invocation seeks inspiration from the muses (lesser deities). Same in Hesiod.the muses (lesser deities). Same in Hesiod. This personalization of the author’s talent, a This personalization of the author’s talent, a

human attribute, demonstrates the mythopoeic at human attribute, demonstrates the mythopoeic at work.work.

The gods are also the counselors of the The gods are also the counselors of the world.world. They sit in council in judgment to direct an action They sit in council in judgment to direct an action

on behalf of Achilles in Bk. Ion behalf of Achilles in Bk. I Book XXIV- council of the gods instigates a Book XXIV- council of the gods instigates a

plan which has Thetis convince Achilleus to plan which has Thetis convince Achilleus to give up Hector’s body give up Hector’s body

How powerful are the How powerful are the gods?gods?

They are immortalThey are immortal Zeus is the strongest element in Zeus is the strongest element in

heaven and on earthheaven and on earth In one instance he is even called the In one instance he is even called the

purveyor of justice (Book XXIV)purveyor of justice (Book XXIV) The are significant elements in the The are significant elements in the

maintenance of world order. maintenance of world order.

Athena

Zeus

Limits on the Powers of Limits on the Powers of the Gods the Gods

Apollo considers helping Hector against Apollo considers helping Hector against AchilleusAchilleus Zeus weighs the fate of both warriors on a scaleZeus weighs the fate of both warriors on a scale Hector’s fate is heavier so Apollo doesn’t Hector’s fate is heavier so Apollo doesn’t

interveneintervene Zeus considers helping Sarpedon against Zeus considers helping Sarpedon against

Patroclus (Bk. XVI)Patroclus (Bk. XVI) But the danger of setting a precedent causes him But the danger of setting a precedent causes him

to reconsiderto reconsider Hera warns other gods might do the sameHera warns other gods might do the same

So while there are hints of divine So while there are hints of divine omniscience, gods really never go off omniscience, gods really never go off uncontrolleduncontrolled They do not (can not?) change FATE no matter They do not (can not?) change FATE no matter

how it seems. how it seems.

Fate vs Free Choice?Fate vs Free Choice?

On the one hand Fate seems to be a On the one hand Fate seems to be a foregone destinyforegone destiny

As Achilleus states: regardless of deeds As Achilleus states: regardless of deeds all men die (Bk. IX)all men die (Bk. IX)

On the other hand, Achilles has a deep On the other hand, Achilles has a deep personal need to affect the course of his personal need to affect the course of his destinydestiny

He He BELIEVESBELIEVES that he has the choice to that he has the choice to fight and win glory or go home and die fight and win glory or go home and die an old man after a long life (Bk. IX)an old man after a long life (Bk. IX)

Fate of AchilleusFate of Achilleus Given his background the reader should Given his background the reader should

see what choice Achilleus has to make.see what choice Achilleus has to make. Son of a goddess. Son of a goddess. A prince and leader of men. A prince and leader of men.

He had to resist his public loss of honor He had to resist his public loss of honor before Agamemnon. before Agamemnon.

Reaction to Patroclus’ deathReaction to Patroclus’ death The build up of these events The build up of these events

show that he could make no show that he could make no

other choice but to be a warrior.other choice but to be a warrior.

Are the Conflicts of the Are the Conflicts of the IliadIliad Resolved?Resolved?

Book XXIV:Book XXIV: Gods arrange a meeting between Gods arrange a meeting between

Achilleus and Priam. Achilleus and Priam. Achilleus agrees to release the body Achilleus agrees to release the body

of Hector, a reasonable reaction. of Hector, a reasonable reaction. One dispute between men is resolved. One dispute between men is resolved.

But the war goes on. But the war goes on. What does that tell us about the What does that tell us about the

possibilities and lives of men? possibilities and lives of men?

Modern Adaptation of Modern Adaptation of Ancient Heroic Pattern: Ancient Heroic Pattern:

Star Wars and the Star Wars and the Classic HeroClassic Hero

Luke Skywalker- the young naïve Luke Skywalker- the young naïve inexperienced son of a great warrior. inexperienced son of a great warrior.

A sort of princeA sort of prince Young man with an extraordinary Young man with an extraordinary

physical and mental ability (Fate). physical and mental ability (Fate). He must learn and then pass a test to He must learn and then pass a test to

use this ability to become a Jedi use this ability to become a Jedi (Struggle).(Struggle).

As a Jedi he serves his followers. As a Jedi he serves his followers.

Star Wars and the Star Wars and the Classic HeroClassic Hero

Princess Leia – the virginal consort of brave Princess Leia – the virginal consort of brave heroesheroes

Darth Vadar- a stark personification of evilDarth Vadar- a stark personification of evil the black cloakthe black cloak the splendid menacing voice of James Earl Jonesthe splendid menacing voice of James Earl Jones

The Force—that psychic physical energy that The Force—that psychic physical energy that permeates all existencepermeates all existence An awesome entity capable of fantastic good An awesome entity capable of fantastic good

through some mastery and understanding of order.through some mastery and understanding of order. When abused a terrible force for evil.When abused a terrible force for evil. So effective because it is so much a part of So effective because it is so much a part of

everything.everything. Good and Evil are extremes of this same force.Good and Evil are extremes of this same force.

““A long time ago, in a galaxy A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… The very far, far away… The very depth of space. There was a depth of space. There was a length, and width, and length, and width, and height; and then these height; and then these dimensions curved over on dimensions curved over on themselves into a bending themselves into a bending blackness measurable only blackness measurable only by the glinting stars that by the glinting stars that tumbled through the chasm, tumbled through the chasm, receding to infinity. To the receding to infinity. To the very depth. These stars very depth. These stars marked the moments of the marked the moments of the universe. There were aging universe. There were aging orange embers, blue dwarfs, orange embers, blue dwarfs, twin yellow giants. There twin yellow giants. There were collapsing neutron were collapsing neutron stars, and angry supernovae stars, and angry supernovae that hissed into icy that hissed into icy emptiness. There were emptiness. There were borning stars, breathing borning stars, breathing stars, pulsing stars, and stars, pulsing stars, and dying stars. There was the dying stars. There was the Death star. Death star.

““Sing, goddess, the Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus and its Achilleus and its devastation, which put devastation, which put pains thousand fold pains thousand fold upon the Achaeans, upon the Achaeans, hurled their multitudes hurled their multitudes to the house of Hades to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies but gave their bodies to be the delicate to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all feasting of dogs, of all the birds, and the will the birds, and the will of Zeus was of Zeus was accomplished since accomplished since that time when first that time when first where stood in division where stood in division of conflict Atreus’ son of conflict Atreus’ son the lord of men and the lord of men and brilliant Achilleusbrilliant Achilleus..

ReviewReview

How well did George Lucas understandHow well did George Lucas understand

and imitate the world view and heroicand imitate the world view and heroic

paradigm left to us by Homer? How paradigm left to us by Homer? How wellwell

did he transform Homer’s pattern into adid he transform Homer’s pattern into abelievable modern story?believable modern story?