Nayla Basma
Professor Meisel
Literature Humanities- Sec. 23
3 October 2015
To Sleep, or Not to Sleep?
In Homer’s Iliad, sleep–albeit a seemingly simple verb–is a multifaceted concept that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of humanity within various characters of the epic poem. On one hand, sleep is viewed as something to be avoided, a weakness bound to result in destructive consequences. On the other hand, sleep is a tool that provides restoration and gives one a respite from their reality, whether it be temporarily or permanently. Together, the two features of sleep portray the humanity of a breadth of characters, ranging from the fully mortal Diomedes to the the all-powerful Zeus. In the end, it is clear to the readers that although the central figures within the poem constantly strive to perform at an “immortal” level, the mortal element of sleep consistently arises, humanizing the Homeric characters of the Iliad and glorifying the human experience.
The concept of sleep is critical to our understanding of the leaders and warriors within the story, whose survival is contingent on being prepared for battle at all times. To illustrate, consider the Thracian king and his twelve soldiers, who are all killed in Book X by both Odysseus and Diomedes while sleeping. Sleep thus must be eschewed, since it is proven to be a time when vulnerability surfaces. Contrary to the Thracian king, King Agamemnon fails to sleep due to his trepidations for his people’s future:
The
In both Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid, the heroes make the dauntless adventure into the underworld. Both of theses visits occur around the middle of the stories, and they bring information about the lives of heroes ' loved ones. The heroes also get very important information from these loved ones; information that they require to continue on their journeys. However these are not the only things that are similar about the heroes visits. The influence of the Homeric writings of the Iliad and the Odyssey on Virgil’s writings is clear - especially in Book VI of the Aeneid. Throughout this paper we will talk about the similarities that occur throughout the two poems, and how the two authors beliefs shine through. These beliefs are two very different views on the idea of death. Homer’s Iliad depicts death as something that is something souls do not enjoy. Whereas Virgil’s Aeneid depict it more as a final rest for souls – something that relieves them of the troubles of life.
Godly colossal Greek epic, “The Iliad” constituted by the poet named, Homer, articulate the chronicle of the Brobdingnagian Trojan War. It is swarming with the interventions of the gods enchanting their coveted mortals (humans) and altering the heterogeneous scenes of the Trojan War. In this poem, gods have an assortment of relationships with humans which include love, fornication, and mother or father relationships. Gods interact with mortals in human shapes and stimulate them. Also, gods cognize that every human is eventually destined to die and they anticipate humans to pray to them for every obstacle humans encounter. However, for humans gods are omnipotent, authoritative, dominant, and immortals, who they supplicate to if they have
It goes without question to state that various times in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, violence occurs. Violence is typically thought of as it relates to physical violence, war, a way to resolve a conflict, yet is open to various other interpretations. In addition, it is arguable that multiple types of violence occur within that classical piece of literature. The most obvious type being physical violence, but including, yet is not limited to, psychological, emotional, sexual, and linguistic violence. Emotional violence is one that pairs easily within the other types, yet is equally as important. These types of brutality all contribute to the major theme of fate versus free will. This epic poem allows for readers to question whether people are truly free or if everything that happens is due to fate. If there is such a thing as determinism, then it would be safe to say nothing that happens in someone’s life is a free choice. In Homer’s, The Iliad, multiple scenes of violence support the central theme of fate versus free will.
One of the many themes that Homer Iliad expresses in The Odyssey is that of sacrifice. The word sacrifice gets thrown about a lot. It’s been said for years and years, “if you love me let me go” a phrase very commonly said when speaking about relationships or maybe children leaving home for college or another life adventure. In The Odyssey the terms is more often used in terms of literal sacrifice, like, of living human beings being sacrificed for the greater good of the team.Sacrifice is the ability to protect others for their sake, not yours. It has flaws if it is thought of selfishly.
In ancient Rome and ancient Greece, myths were an oral tradition of storytelling that served to answer two primary purposes. The first role was to create stories that responded to unanswerable questions such as “Why is there thunder?” and the second function of myths, about gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes, was to give structure to their society and culture in psychological manifestations. In addition, the gods and prophecies served as a reminder to the characters that they don’t ultimately have any control over their lives. This epic poem by Homer is not just a simple story of an argument between Achilles and Agamemnon or the well-known story of the war but also has a psychological theme incorporating anger, especially Achilles’ as
Sleep—it's what divides the day and the night; the conscious and the subconscious; the aware and the unaware. It's image, then, is a powerful tool for polarizing such extremes. In his trilogy, The Oresteia, Aeschylus utilizes sleep imagery to divide between those who are aware and those who aren't. Though sleep's meaning changes throughout the plays, Clytaemestra is always able to use it to her aid. Her story accompanies a shift in a justice system that defines right and wrong. Throughout the trilogy, the meaning of sleep evolves from a clear division into a more indefinite one as the definition of right and wrong becomes increasingly ambiguous.
For many years, Greek culture based their social status on prominence and rank in their colony. This prepotency over the culture is shown in the epic poem, The Iliad of Homer. Great vitality is exhibited by the characters in the poem. The need for glory, honor, and eternal remembrance is mentioned numerous times from beginning to end in this composition. Glory and honor comes with great responsibility and wisdom. Homer presents this idea in various ways. This fortitude is passed throughout The Iliad showing the foundation of dignified heroes and self-glorification.
Beginning in medias res, The Odyssey succeeds the events of The Iliad. Prior to Telemachus’s introduction, Homer develops tension by telling of Odysseus’s tribulations—held captive by the “great nymph Kalypso”(14) and torment by Poseidon, who was ceaseless in his anger”(20) for blinding his son, the “Cyclops”(70) “Polyphemos (70)” of returning to his beloved “home and wife”(14) revealed by the goddess Athene in her parley with her father, Zeus. In turn, the succession of Telemachus’s narrative discerns the chaos which has befallen Ithaca. As Odysseys’s character and narrative is introduced only in Book 5, the suspense builds on the existing complex poltline, and holds the fleeting attention of the reader.
The Iliad, by Homer, is an epic poem set in the era of the Trojan War, accounting the battle logs during the time of conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles, the text’s tragic protagonist. The heroic outlook on life, in Iliadic terms, is exemplified through the construction of one’s honor through hard work. Being an aspect of the heroic outlook of life, this value is demonstrated through his contribution and dedication to the Trojan War, his experience with neglect from the deities, Achilles’ overall disdain towards Agamemnon, and, lastly, his longingness towards Briseis, his dear lover.
While idealizing the glory of war, as well as exaggerating the grief caused by it, Homer attempts to balance the dual nature of war in the Iliad; however, in an attempt to balance this duality, he winds up demonstrating that even the glory and honor of war is tainted with grief. Rather than being an epic that portrays the glory of war, The Iliad illustrates the grief that is brought by it, “‘war, in the Iliad, is a frightening and sorrowful thing’” (Giles 54). All soldiers, not only in the Iliad, attempt to attain kleos, or glory, however the damages of attaining it far outweigh the benefits. Rather than morning the deaths of their fellow soldiers, they continue on their search for kleos. This bubble of grief that was overlooked builds up, and eventually, like all bubbles, pops. In the Iliad, the pop is represented through the interaction between Achilles and Priam, and in today’s contemporary society, it is demonstrated by the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that many soldiers are faced with. Through the imagery of war, Homer exemplifies how both glory and grief are forms of trauma, as the glory forces soldiers to fall victim to the pressures of being an honorable man while dealing with the grief of losing brothers-in-arms.
Regardless of the time frame, Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s epic the Iliad share both a copious amount of similarities and differences. For example, many common themes such as heroism, fate, and destiny are apparent in both works. Within the Aeneid and the Iliad, it is seen that the wars going on during that time were glorious that is why the role of gods were significant in leading both Aeneas and Achilles and influencing fate. In both texts, it is clear from the beginning that the role of the gods is to make Aeneas and Achilles fulfill their journey The Iliad focuses on the end of the Trojan War and the damaging power, while the Aeneid is focused during the aftermath of the war and underlies the foundation for the new civilization. This paper will address and argue the comparison of the role of gods and how each of the authors representation of the gods have influence on the lives of mortals.
Virgil’s The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. The poem details the journey of Aeneas and his men after they are forced to flee burning Troy and as they wander the seas in search of land suitable to found a new Troy. Throughout the many books, the Trojans suffer through the Trojan War, the loss of their home, fierce storms, horrible monsters, and the wrath of the gods. A major theme of The Aeneid is human suffering as the characters in the poem experience the full front of despair and pain.
The Iliad is a book full of poems that talk about the history of Trojans and Greeks. Within the Iliad, there is a strong urge to show a world in which was are tremendous and the gods have direct hand in human events and these deities influence fate. The two leading gods, Achillies and Aeneas, the reader can see the ways in which these two cultural problems entwine and try to create an image of the ancient world which is at once barbarously real in terms of the depiction of not just the glory, but also the horrors of war which are filled with supernatural and mystical figures called the gods.
After reading Homer’s text, we realize that while it contains fine poetic history it is in fact about the human condition and how it affects people, Achilles primarily. The reality for people in the world of The Iliad is that they live under many gods, and that they can not please all of them; indeed, the gods are at odds with each other and to support one means to upset another. While the ideal condition for the Greeks is to possess sophrosyne, in reality there are too many uncontrollable external pressures to do so. Just as the gods who influence men are not harmonious, therefore, we find this quality also in the explanation of the human condition for Greek cultures.
The ancient Greeks and Romans contributed to western civilization in many different forms of literature and architecture. Both of these cultures produced a variety of literary works which are still studied today. One of the biggest contributions to literature was from the author known as Homer. Homer was known for two of ancient Greece’s most epic poems, The lliad and The Odyssey. Both of these poems have had a profound impact on western literature and continue to influence teachers and authors today. “The lliad and The Odyssey have provided not only seeds but fertilizer for almost all the other arts and sciences in