116 pages • 3 hours read
The Iliad
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Adult
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Introduction
The Iliad
- Genre: Fiction; heroic epic in verse
- Originally Published: Unknown; written origins often dated to 8th century BCE; translation by Robert Fagles published in 1990
- Reading Level/Interest: Grades 11-12; college/adult
- Structure/Length: Approx. 15,700 lines of dactylic hexameter divided into 24 books (original Greek translation)
- Protagonist and Central Conflict: The epic poem follows Greek hero Achilles into the later violent and deadly episodes of the Trojan War, exploring themes of fate, anger, pride, and the hero’s journey.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: War; death; violence; objectification of women
Homer, Author
- Bio: The authorship of The Iliad and The Odyssey continue to be debated; in fact, the name “Homer” may refer to the tradition of epic hexameter verse rather than a writer. Scholars tend to think the poem was established in the oral tradition over centuries, then written down sometime around mid-8th century BCE.
- Other Works: The Odyssey (Greek epic poem typically attributed to Homer); other Robert Fagles translations: The Odyssey (1996); The Aeneid (2006)
- Awards: Academy of American Poets Harold Morton Landon Translation Award (1991)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:
- Journey of the Hero
- Fragility of Human Life and Creations
- Poetry as a Medium of Immortalization
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:
- Develop an understanding of the historical contexts of oral traditions and Poetry as a Medium of Immortalization.
