Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad (B)

Title: The Slaying of Hector
Author: Homer
Link: Story link.


Plot:

• Achilles (and his Hephaestus-made gear) is on the verge of storming Troy, when Apollo manifests himself in the form of Agenor in front of the gates. He distracts Achilles to allow the Trojans to get inside the walls.
• After a while, Apollo taunts Achilles with the Homeric equivalent of, "Dude, chill. The game is over."
• Achilles runs back to the gates where Hector is waiting to meet him in single combat.
• Hector's parents warn him not to fight, but he doesn't listen.
• Achilles arrives and Hector is seized by fear. He flees, Achilles hot on his heels.
• The gods don't intervene, except for Apollo, who gives Hector the endurance to do three full laps around the city walls.
• Athena gets tired of this and tricks Hector into meeting Achilles.
• Hector tries to start the duel with pleasantries, Achilles wants none of it.



The death of Hector, aided by Athena. Source: Illustration by Peter Paul Rubens.

• Achilles throws his spear and Hector charges, but Athena retrieves the spear in time for Achilles to skewer Hector.
• Hector pleads for Achilles to return his body, but Achilles doesn't.
• Achilles strings Hector's body up by the heels and drags it back to the ships.

Setting:

• The city of Troy and the outskirts of the walls, as the battle rages around the fort.

Characters:

• Achilles: New-and-improved now that he has weapons made by Hephaestus. He's grieving his pal Patroclus and he's been inspired to rejoin the battle because of his death at the hands of Hector and the Trojans.
• Hector: Bold; self-assured; foolhardy. He decides to meet the greatest warrior in Greece head on in single combat in front of his entire city/army.
• Apollo: Really favors the Trojans on this one. He single-handedly prevents Achilles from sacking Troy, saves the people of Troy, and then rubs Achilles' nose in it.
• Priam: Hector's dad; oversees the whole affair from atop the walls. Thinks Hector is foolish for trying to duel Achilles and that Hector will fare poorly.
• Parents always know best.
• Athena: Favors Achilles. She works to offset Apollo's preferential treatment of Troy by aiding Achilles throughout the story (i.e. retrieving his spear).

Writing Style:

• Writing style doesn't change, but it does become a bit more emotionally-charged as we get into these sweeping battle scenes. There's still nothing overtly flowery about the language, but Homer is certainly allowing a bit more of his emotions to show now, as opposed to his sterile depictions of The Quarrel.
• Though Achilles is the protagonist, Homer isn't afraid to label his actions as "cruel." He's a flawed, proud dude -- Homer doesn't feel the need to keep Greece's golden boy up on a pedestal. Achilles is part god, but he's also just as human as the rest of us.