Compare and contrast the Homeric gods, as they are depicted in the Iliad, with the Biblical God and the gods in Gilgamesh.
Discuss the nature of conflict as it occurs between men and men, gods and men, and gods and gods. How do the sources of their conflict differ? How do they resolve conflict?
We know from the opening lines that Iliad is going to be largely about μῆνιν Ἀχιλῆος––“the rage of Achilles.” What are the sources of his rage and how is it characterized in the epic? Can you predict how Achilles’s rage will effect the outcome of the war?
What is the purpose of the episode in Book VI between Glaucus and Diomedes? What do we learn not only about the ethics of war, but also about the function of epic narrative from this scene?
Although the Trojan War is prosecuted by men, it has particular and wide-ranging effects on the women of Troy and the surrounding area. Describe women’s role as both agents and casualties of war.
Stanley Lombardo’s popular translation renders the dialogue in a refreshingly colloquial manner. Find some examples and describe how his translation choices effect characterization.