The Song of Achilles

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual violence, graphic violence, and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Miller chooses to tell this classic myth through Patroclus’s eyes rather than focusing primarily on Achilles. What impact did this narrative choice have on your experience of the story? Did it change your perception of this famous Greek legend?

2. Which scenes or passages stood out to you as particularly beautiful or evocative? What made these moments resonate with you on an emotional level?

3. The tender love story between Achilles and Patroclus contrasts sharply with the brutal war narrative. Have you read other retellings of Greek myths, like Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls or Natalie Haynes’s A Thousand Ships? How does Miller’s focus on love between men compare to these woman-centered perspectives?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Patroclus struggles with living in the shadow of someone extraordinary. Have you ever experienced a similar dynamic in your own relationships? How did you navigate those complicated feelings?

2. The concept of fate and destiny runs throughout the novel. Do you believe in fate? What helps you balance accepting what seems inevitable with making your own choices?

3. Discovering his calling as a healer transforms Patroclus and gives him purpose. When have you uncovered an unexpected talent or passion that went against others’ expectations but felt true to your authentic self?

4. Achilles chooses to pursue glory and immortality through fame, even knowing it will lead to his early death. What would you sacrifice for lasting recognition or achievement?

5. Both Achilles and Patroclus must navigate complex relationships with parental figures who have strong opinions about their choices. In what ways have your own parents’ expectations influenced your major life decisions? Have you ever had to choose between pleasing a parent and following your heart?

6. Empathy drives Patroclus to risk himself repeatedly for others, culminating in his ultimate sacrifice. Has there been a moment when you put yourself at risk to help someone else? What values motivated that decision?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The treatment of women as war prizes and possessions reflects historical realities of ancient warfare. Through characters like Briseis, how does Miller humanize these experiences? What parallels exist with modern discussions about gender-based violence and objectification?

2. Greek society valued achieving glory and being remembered eternally above almost all else. In what ways do modern societies continue or reject this emphasis on posthumous fame? Have collective values evolved regarding the commemoration of lives?

3. Different definitions of heroism emerge through characters like Achilles (the traditional warrior) and Patroclus (the healer and companion). What qualities do contemporary societies value as compared to those celebrated in ancient times?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Miller’s extensive use of foreshadowing creates a sense of inescapable destiny. What effect does knowing Achilles and Patroclus’s ultimate fate have on your reading experience? Does this foreknowledge enhance or diminish the emotional impact of the story?

2. Thetis represents divine ambition and immortality in contrast to human love and mortality. What might Miller be suggesting about the tensions between these forces?

3. The motif of competition functions differently across various relationships in the novel. In what ways do competitive dynamics shape the characters’ development? What commentary might Miller be making about the nature of rivalry and excellence?

4. Peleus nicknames Patroclus “Skops,” meaning owl, a symbol of wisdom. How does this symbolic association reflect his character development throughout the novel? In what ways does his quiet observance serve as a counterpoint to Achilles’s more brilliant but impulsive nature?

5. Characters repeatedly make choices that fulfill prophecies they actively try to avoid. How does this paradox drive the narrative forward? What statement might Miller be making about the relationship between fate and free will? 

6. Through her adaptation of the kinds of Homeric similes that feature in the Iliad and Odyssey, Miller connects her contemporary novel to ancient epic traditions. Select a few examples that particularly struck you and discuss how these extended comparisons enhance the story.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If Madeline Miller were to write a companion novel from another character’s perspective, whose viewpoint would most interest you? What new insights might that perspective offer about the events and relationships portrayed in The Song of Achilles?

2. The novel concludes with Patroclus and Achilles reuniting in the afterlife. Imagine their eternal existence together beyond the final page. What form might their relationship take now that they are free from prophecy, war, and mortal limitations?

3. Reimagining this story in contemporary times, what modern settings or professions would best capture the essence of these characters? Would Achilles be an Olympic athlete, a renowned surgeon, or something else entirely?

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