Zeus is trying to hide Thetis from Hera because he knows that she will throw a fit. However, Hera found out and she lost her nerve. The gods was about to have a feast so Hephaestus said “Mother, please, I don’t have to tell you, You have to be pleasant to our father Zeus So he won’t be angry and ruin our feast.” (Homer, Book 1-610). It looks like that Zeus is afraid of Hera and the irony is everyone is afraid of Zeus. This gives me a picture of a father and a mother having a quarrel and the child is trying to mediate the situation.

How could Zeus have a small problem like this if he if the top dog? I wonder where he consul for advice if he is able to do everything with all his might. I do believe that everyone has a match as Zeus found his match, which is Hera. This shows that Zeus is not perfect at all.

This part really standout for me. We have been speaking that women is just an object or a possession. The woman needs to be protected because of honor. Man does not want anybody to touch his property. It seems like woman does not have any say and they are being pass around like a piece of object or a prize. In contradiction, in Zeus household Hera has a say on everything Zeus does. I do think that most of Zeus decision in the book comes from Hera.

• In several places, Patroclus is addressed directly, in the 2nd person, by the speaker of the epic (XVI.615; XVI.721; XVI.826). Why does Homer do this and what effect does this have on the narrative?
• Compare Achilles’s reaction to the death of Patroclus to Gilgamesh’s reaction to the death of Enkidu. In addition to the emotional content of their responses, what specific acts or rituals does each perform and what are their meanings in the face of death?
• What is the meaning of the tableaux rendered by Hephaestus on the shield of Achilles? How are the scenes related to each other? To the rest of the narrative?
• What is the dramatic effect of Priam’s meeting with Achilles to retrieve Hector’s body? What does Achilles see in Priam that moves him so?

The ineluctable fate is well known in most of literature.

In this old text, The Iliad written by Homer also addresses the particular topic.

In the book Ⅸ, Achilles refuses to re-join the war between Greek and Trojan due to several reasons and he does not want to fight for the glory and honor of being a Greek. Therefore, he had no reason to fight with the Trojan.  Moreover, Achilles knows that he would face his dark death which is his fate if he participate the war. Therefore, he refuses to re-join the war against his own fate.

In addition Achilles underestimates Hector’s honor which is his priority of war. Achilles assumes that “Hector wouldn’t come out farther from his wall than the oak tree by the Western Gate.”(Homer Ⅸ. 363-364).     As the result of Achilles’ absence in the war and underestimation of Hector, Achilles’ beloved friend Patroclus faces his death by Hector who is fighting for his glory and honor, so Achilles re-joins the war with his rage which is the reason of participating his last war and dies.

Hector also knows that he would face death if he defeats Patroclus because the greatest hero, Achilles would chase him down. However, he did not deny his fate even after his parents’ persuasion.  “Now what? If I take cover inside, …. I’ll be much better off facing Achilles, either killing him or dying honorably before the city.”(Homer. XXII. 115-125). At the end of his fight, he is defeated by furious Achilles.

The two heroic characters face their fates differently. Hector chooses to die for his honor and reputation while Achilles choose to fight for Patroclus.  Achilles seems like he is a individualist and selfish because he only cares about his own personal life and feeling towards the war and Hector seems more heroic to the public in Iliad.

Hector Admonishes Paris for His Softness and Exhorts Him to Go to War by J.H.W. Tischbein (1751–1828)

At the end of the Iliad, book VI, there is an important discussion between the brothers Paris and Hector, both sons of Priam. Paris is described as, “A glorious animal, head held high, mane streaming…”(Homer I.536). In short Paris is described as a pretty boy, almost weak and not fit for war. When Paris and Hector meet, Hector confronts his brother and says: “You’re a strong fighter, but you slack off – You don’t have the will” (Homer I.551-552).

In the painting above, it is easy to visually see the contrast between the two brothers, Hector and Paris. From the skin color, Hector looks darker. This shows that he is out in war and constantly under the sun. On the other hand, Paris’ complexion shows that he has been indoors most of the time. The painter, J.H.W.Tischbein, presents one character sitting and the other standing. Also, the character, Paris, is surrounded by women, looks slightly feminine while his brother, Hector, has his armor on and a spear in one hand. Paris does not even have shoes on.

Between the book and the painting, it is clear that two brothers are very opposite from one another. Hector is prepared for war and ready to protect his city and people. Paris seems to be immature and almost careless about the war. Hector tries to guide Paris in the right direction to save Paris’ reputation as a prince and save the city. In the book and in the painting, it also shows that Hector supports his brother despite their differences.

• 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?
• 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.
• 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?
• Stanley Lombardo’s popular translation renders the dialogue in a refreshingly colloquial manner. Find some examples and describe how his translations choices effect characterization.

“The heroic code” in the Iliad leads characters to make important decisions. The heroic code is a set of principles based in honor. Achilles feels dishonored by Agamemnon because Agamemnon took his prize of war “Briseis”. Achilles states “Nothing is worth my life” , he declares, since prizes of honor can always be replaced but “a man’s life cannot be won back” (Homer I. 225). Honor is gained in threatening activities such as battle and determined by the possession that acquires.

Hector is the most human of the characters. Even though heroes are in death situations in which is kill or be killed. Hector, the Trojan hero, make his decision in going to fight to protect his wife and son. If he decides not going to fight he will look like a coward. Hector answered to his wife Andromache: “Yes, Andromache, I worry about all this myself, But my shame before the Trojans and their wives, With their long robes trailing, would be too terrible If I hung back from battle like a coward.” (The Iliad, Book VI. 463-466).  Instead he thinks that in going to fight he will give his family a recognition of his heroic action. Hector knows he is not coming back alive but for him honor is what makes him alive.

In addition the topics we didn’t get to cover on Monday, consider these issues:

• Look up the various meanings of literary irony. How does irony function in the story of Joseph?
• Why do Jacob and his “seed” end up in Egypt if God promised that he would give them “the whole land of Canaan, as an everlasting holding”?

The Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible is filled with many stories and lessons. The story of Joseph is on of the more profound and interesting stories. Joseph was the last son of Israel and his favorite, but he was not treated kindly by his brothers because they were jealous. In addition to this God had a special purpose for Joseph through fulfilling his dream. Joseph recalls his dream to his Brothers.

“Listen, pray to this dream that I dreamed. And, look, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, look my sheaf arouse and actually stood up, and look your sheaves drew round and bowed to my sheaf. And his brothers said to him, “Do you mean to reign over us, do you mean to rule us”. -The Hebrew Bible, Genesis Chapter 37

In this passage as they were shearing sheaves in the field Joseph’s sheave arouse which means it was not always upright. Joseph began as a prisoner and he arose to eventually become the Pharaoh’s interpreter of dreams. Another interpretation of this passage is that all men reap what they sow. Sheaves that were not upright and tall were considered as not fully matured to farmers. His brothers plotted against him and God used their plan to save the Israelites from famine and starvation. In the story of Joseph you notice a pattern of misfortune  to then being favored. He arouse as the sheaves did from his misfortune. Joseph began in Egypt by being sold into the Egyptian’s household. Joseph then secured his position as an appointee to the Egyptian master’s household. Joseph became a prisoner and then after the pharaohs interpreter of dreams. At the end of the story Joseph became a trusted advisor to the Pharaoh himself. There is no one higher then the Pharaoh in Egyptian culture and Joseph became his trusted advisor. His dream of reigning over his brothers really came true, but by constant misfortune did he rise to reign over his Brothers.

The book of Genesis, from the Hebrew Bible, starts off with God’s creation of the world, the man and the woman. According to the book, in the garden of Eden, where the couple used to live, God had planted the tree of knowledge, and He ordered them to not eat any fruit from this particular tree. Being omniscient strengthens the idea that He knew what was going to happen in advance, regarding planting the tree of knowledge, His order, the couple’s disobedience, and their punishment. Also, nothing happens without God’s permission, therefore He was the one who has allowed the serpent to approach Eve saying that after eating the fruit she would become as knowledgeable as gods.

According to the book, Eve does not resist the temptation, eats the fruit, and she also convinces Adam to eat it. If I were one of them, I would have eaten the fruit as well, because besides thinking that God sent the persuasive serpent, I would not have known the difference between good and evil back then. Also, if He had planted a tree with such a tempting name, and yet with a forbidden fruit of it, perhaps it was God’s intention to start some drama since the beginning in order to have an interesting story to tell the readers about. Otherwise, the Hebrew Bible would have consisted of only one book and three chapters, instead of becoming one of the greatest books of all times.

• How does reading the Bible as literature differ from reading it as scripture? Do you focus on different elements? Have different expectations for the characters, conflicts, and action?
• How would you describe God as a literary character? Does God develop as a character over the course of the readings? How would you describe his relationship with creation, including his people?
• What changes in the world after Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s command (the first literary “crisis” in the Bible)? How does humanity’s relationship to God and the world change as a result?
• Compare and contrast the flood stories in Gilgamesh and Genesis. What do their differences say about their functions in the larger texts and the worlds they are a part of?
• Is there pathos in the story of Abraham and Isaac? If so, where does it come from? How is the reader supposed to feel about God’s testing of Abraham?
• As always, come up with at least one questions or topic of your own you’d like to discuss.