Throughout The Iliad, Robert Fagels describes the deaths of Pratroclus and Hector in an utmost descriptive and graphic way. The vividness in the words creates a different perspective to looking at the deaths of these men. The translator's choice of words when describing the deaths of Hector and Patroclus goes beyond the literal meaning and often portrays some underline value in it. I chose to look at both deaths and create explanations for the choice of words used, and discover any common ground found between the two deaths.
In Patroclus's death there is a point where he is trying to "stagger free" with only a wound (line 453). This determination to live represents the importance of survival for both Achilles and Patroclus's sake. He attempted to stagger free because it was not his time to die. Achilles should have been in battle, and Patroclus should have never approached the city. This attempt to stagger free was demolished when Hector "rammed his spearshaft home, stabbing deep in the guts, and the brazen point went jutting straight out through Patroclus's back" (line 457). The words portray complete termination. The spearshaft is completely through Patroclus's body, giving his biological makeup a hollow sense, as if his spirit is now with the gods, stressing his mortality. Hector "tore the life from the fighting son of Meneotius," and wished vultures to eat upon his body (line 467). The reference to the lineage of someone reminds us of their humanness. We are reminded that Patroclus is the son of someone, someone will deeply mourn his loss. Patroclus accepted the loss of life because when the time came for him to die, he knew it was in the hands of the Gods, not necessarily Hector.
Hector who anticipated vultures feeding off of Patroclus; begged Achilles to have mercy on his dead corpse, and allow there to be a proper burial (rather than eaten by dogs). Hector receives the same response to his wish, as Patroclus would have if he wished the same.
The Illiad is one of the greatest artifacts of Western civilization. ... He says that the Illiad is more like a heroic epic. He informs us that the Illiad has a narrative impact and brilliant imagery. ... The Illiad is by for most a great epic poem. ... The Illiad is the oldest and in some ways. ...
In the Illiad, Zeus takes an impartial stance with the war unfolding, not choosing a side over the other. ... Virgil takes a similar situation from the Illiad and uses it in the Aeneid. ... This is similar to the situation in the Illiad where Athene shows Diomedes the gods on the battlefield. ... Virgil parallels the climactic combat between Turnus and Aeneas with the fight of Achilles and Hector in the Illiad. But unlike in the Illiad, the outcome of the battle is predetermined in the eyes of the gods, with Aeneas as the victor. ...
This continuing evolution is evident in Homer's prolific poems the Illiad and the Odyssey, Whether mortal or immortal, caregiver or monster, the women in each tale played various important roles as each story is set within the timeframe of the Trojan War. ... A key evidence of this is in Book 1 of the Illiad when she uses Athena to appear before Achilles as he prepares to kill Agamennon, the Achaen commander. ...
On the other hand, the Greeks and Trojans in the Illiad fought their wars as if it was game . ... The battles between the Greeks and Trojans in the war of the Illiad, however, were much different from the primitive holy wars of the Bible. ... Therefore, the battles of the Illiad only involved the men, unlike the book of Joshua. ...
This flaw shared by many other heroes of the Illiad, is the reason I see these two men as cursed, not heroic. In the beginning of the Illiad, Agamemnon has been counseled by the seer to return the priests daughter to him at once. ... His stubborn pride will stay intact through out the majority of the Illiad. ...
The Odyssey, told by "Homer", is one of the most famous poems ever. Many ideas, phrases, and references from the story and the Illiad, such as the infamous Trojan Horse, are emulated in various cartoons and movies. The story tells about the travels of Odysseus, a war hero in the Trojan War. He is...
Many epic poems such as The Illiad, and The Odyssey were also written, as well as historical accounts depicting the Persian Wars, and the Peloponnesian War. ... Is not The Illiad still read in our schools, portraying war itself as an artform? ...
Many epic poems such as The Illiad, and The Odyssey were also written, as well as historical accounts depicting the Persian Wars, and the Peloponnesian War. ... Is not The Illiad still read in our schools, portraying war itself as an artform? ...
