How Important Is P To Illad Flashcards
(6 cards)
What is the most important aspect for Patroclus
His death brings Achilles back to the fight (crucial to the plot)
- book 9 Achilles refusal to return despite dire situation and unlimited gifts but book 17 he is eager to return after a brief period of mourning only stopped by his men and Thetis
- without P Achilles likely never returned to back the battle perhaps without his death Hector destroyed the Greek ships
How is Patroclus an important character to the Iliad with his close relationship to Achilles ?
- point: close relationship
- example: book 9 the pair communicate through facial expressions ‘movement of his eyebrows’
Book 16: Achilles prays that Patroclus will return safe to the ships and goes so far as to imagine the pair conquering Troy - Explain: private and human side of Achilles as Patroclus is used by Homer as his sounding board its clear Patroclus is the one person he cares about other than is own interests (book 9 embassy refusal to return)
Why is Patroclus important to the plot as ‘great hero’ ?
Book 16 ‘three times he killed nine men’ he is given an artistia
Book 16 kills Sarpedon and is described as ‘Lion’
Book 11: cares for injured Eurpylus
Book 16: two mortal men and Apollo to kill him even then Euphorbus defeats after stabbing him ( feared)
Patroclus changes momentum of battle in Greek favour fulfils expectation of fighting skills of great hero
- aristeia conventional and reserved for great hero’s exacerbates this
The force required to kill him heightens his heroic status
Appealing to a modern reader shows compassion and empathy
How is Patroclus important to the illiad as a tragic character ?
Book 16: apostrophe ‘Phoebus encountered you, Phoebus most terrible’ +’ the gods summoned you to your death’
Book 16 foreshadowing: ‘one half the father granted but not the other’ and Patroclus leaves Achilles’ spear
- long build up to tragic climax with Homer showing frustration and empathy to his death. Homers entry into the narrative informs us of Patroclus impending doom and increases anticipation. Very drawn out
- nature of death, hubristic and over confidence typical of a great hero’s exacerbates this fits his position as the tragic hero, tragedy intestified by Achilles warnings and Zeus’ denial of Achilles prayers adding to the foreshadowing and sense of impeding death
Other characters more important than Patroclus ?
Agamemnon book 1: refusal to return Chryseis without compensation instead taking Briseis
- entire reason for Patroclus death is Achilles subsequent refusal to return
Even after his death how is he important?
Patroclus body is vital for the narrative
- book 17: other hero’s Ajax and Menelaus gain Kleos in battle Menelaus kills Euphorbus
Even after his death his body guides the narrative for the next book which is one the longest within the epic poem- importance of gaining the body’s
