The Thematic Ideas and Topics of The Iliad

1
The Thematic Ideas and Topics ofThe Iliad
2
Gender Theme

• Cowardly men are usually thought of less than
  brave men, and stronger men, in whatever sense of
  the word, usually conquer weaker men. Women
  served as booty, or war prizes, and motivation
  for great feats, much like today.

3
Iliad Gender Quotes

1. Home from war? You should have perished there,
   brought down by that strong soldier, once my
   husband. You used to say you were a better man,
   more skillful with your hands, your spear. So why
   not challenge him to fight again?
2. The girl- I wont give up the girl. Long before
   that, old age overtake her in my house, in Argos,
   far from her fatherland, slaving back and forth
   at the loom, forced to share my bed!
3. Id have her mine, at home. Yes, if you like, I
   rate her higher than Klytaimnestra, my own wife!
   She loses nothing by comparison, in beauty or
   womanhood, in mind or skill.

4
Song Gender Quotes

• I want her paler than the moon, with eyes that
  shine like stars.
• My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my
  battle scars.
• -A girl worth fighting for

5
gods Theme

• No matter if the gods did them good or bad,
  people still worshiped them because they decided
  their fate.

6
Iliad gods Quotes

1. And there it rested His handsome,
   well-wrought cup. No other man would drink the
   shining wine from its growing depths nor would
   Achilles pour the wine to any other god, none but
   father Zeus. Lines 265-270, Book 16
2. someone to tell us why Apollo rages so hard,
   whether he blames us for a vow we failed, or
   sacrifice. If only the god would share the smoky
   savor of lambs and full-grown goats, Apollo might
   be willing, still, somehow, to save us ofr this
   plague. Lines 74-78, Book 1

7
Song gods Quotes

1. Hear our praises, Hear Your people sing, Hear
   our hearts cry, Your love is everything.
2. Cause were all about You, And the world You
   promised, And all we have will give you praise,
   Cause were all about You, And the world cant
   stop us, Living your way, Always
3. And the walls will fall down, And religion will
   break, And the nations will hear this shout, Can
   you hear the sound of faith?

8
Courage Theme

• In the eyes of the Greeks, courage was the
  defining attribute that allowed one to achieve
  honor and status.
• The Greeks saw courage in one who was willing
  fight for what was right and was make sacrifices
  for it.

9
Iliad Courage Quotes

1. No time for rest. My heart races to help our
   Trojans they long for me, sorely, whenever I am
   gone.
2. No man will hurl me down to Death, against my
   fate. And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it,
   neither brave man nor coward.
3. Who knows if I will ever come back to them? or
   the deathless gods will strike me down at last at
   the hands of Argive fighters.

10
Song Courage Quotes

• Im standing up, Imma face my demons
• Im manning up, imma hold my ground
• 2. Admittedly I probably did it subliminally for
  you
• 3.No more drama from now on, I promise to focus
  on handing in my responsibilities as a father so
  I solemnly swear to always treat the roof like my
  daughters and raise it

11
King Theme

• Homer portrays a king as a man that is quick at
  every treachery under the sun- the man of twists
  and turns. Odysseus is a great example of a
  king that Homer believes fits the mold.

12
Iliad King Quotes

1. But I would die of shame before our Trojan men
   and noblewomen if like a coward I avoided battle,
   nor am I moved to. Long ago I learned how to be
   brave, how to go forward always and to contend to
   honor.

13
Song King Quotes

• Seas would rise when I gave the world
• Feel the fear in my enemys eyes
• I ruled the world
• And I discovered that my castles stand on pillars
  of salt and pillars of sand.
• -Viva la Vita

14
Love Theme

• Much like in today's society, the Greeks viewed
  love in two ways lust, and genuine love. They
  mistook their sexual desires and affections and
  called them love. But there was also the
  protective love, that drove men to fight for
  their wives and families.

15
Iliad Love Quotes

1. I tell you, that first time when I swept you up
   from the lovely hills of Lacedaemon sailed you
   off and away in the racing deep-sea ships and we
   went and locked in love on Rocky Island. That was
   nothing to how I hunger for you now-irresistible
   longing lays me low
2. No no, let the earth come pulling over my dead
   body before I hear your cries, I hear you dragged
   away.
3. PatroclusI will never forget him. Not as long as
   I am still among the living, and my sprining
   knees will lift and drive me on. Though the dead
   forget their dead in the house of Death, I will
   remember, even there, my dear companion.

16
Song Love Quotes

1. Is this love, or sexual desire? Were gonna
   start a fire.
2. Just lose control and let your body give in to
   the beat of your heart as my hand touches your
   skin.
3. So obsessed, oh you make me such a mess, why
   cant this just last forever?

17
Soldier Theme

• To the Greeks, a soldier was a brother fighting
  for honor and glory. He is absolutely loyal to
  his commander. Many soldiers fight only for fame,
  but some fight because it is necessary to protect
  their home and family.

18
Iliad Soldier Quotes

1. But I should die of shame before our Trojan men
   and noblewomen if like a coward I avoided battle,
   nor I am I moved to. Book 6, page 149.
2. We all followed you to please you, to fight for
   you, to win your honor back from the Trojans.
   Book 1, page 82.
3. Ive hacked my passage through other soldiers to
   win their wives as prizes.

19
Song Soldier Quotes

• And on that day, when you need your brothers and
  sisters to care, Ill be right here.
• Standing on guard for the ones that weve
  sheltered.
• The strongest among you may not wear a crown.
  From Citizen Soldier, by Three Doors Down