CAH1ANG Ancient Greece: Myth, Art, War

Assessment 1: Source Analysis Essay (1500 words)

Choose one of the questions below for your first assessment. Each question refers to a set of passages (listed) in the Iliad. The line numbers are those of the Lombardo translation – use the Library e-book of this translation to check the passages so you can find them if you have a different translation with slightly different line numbering.

Your essay should be a close analysis of all the set passages in response to the question (this is known as a ‘source analysis’ essay). You are encouraged to find and incorporate other relevant Iliad passages in your essay, but the set passages should form the main basis of your answer.

You should also read and incorporate secondary sources in your essay – start with the readings listed below for each question, as these will give you ideas for your essay and help you to understand the relevant debates and issues which you need to address. You encouraged to go on to find other relevant secondary sources also – look at the ‘Further Reading’ lists for the seminars, and use the library catalogue for more useful scholarly discussions of the themes for your chosen question

Qu. 1. How does Homer interweave reminders for his audience of past events and the future of Troy into a poem which technically narrates the events of a just few weeks towards the end of the 10-year Trojan War?

Set passages:

Iliad 3.145-204: Helen and Priam view the battlefield from the walls of Troy

Iliad 6.426-528: Andromache and Hector speak before Hector leaves for battle

Iliad 22.450-575: The Trojans react to the death of Hector

Secondary reading:

Scodel, R 2011, ‘Foreshadowing’, in M. Finkelberg (ed) The Homer Encyclopedia (start with this to give you some ideas of what to look for in the Iliad)

Kullmann, W 2001, ‘Past and Future in the Iliad’, in D. L. Cairns (ed) Oxford Readings in Homer’s Iliad, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 385-408 (pdf in the essay resources folder)

Karanika, A 2013, ‘Wedding and Performance in Homer: A View in the “Teichoskopia”’, Trends in Classics 5/2, 208-233

Qu. 2. Are there any limitations on Zeus’ power in the Iliad? How does his power relate to fate? Could Zeus actually change fate if he really wanted to?

Set passages:

Iliad 1.410-441: Achilles’ recalls the story of Thetis freeing Zeus from chains

Iliad 16.469-496: Zeus ponders whether to save his mortal son Sarpedon

Iliad 22.190-240: Zeus asks the gods if they should save Hector and weighs his soul

Secondary reading:

Edwards, M 2011, ‘Fate’ in M. Finkelberg (ed) The Homer Encyclopedia (start with this to get an idea of the complexities of ‘fate’ in the Iliad)

Morrison, JV 1997, ‘Kerostasia, The Dictates of Fate and the Will of Zeus in the Iliad’, Arethusa

30/2 276-296

Wong, E 2002, ‘The Harmony of Fixed Fate and Free Will in the Iliad’, Antichthon 36, 1-18

Qu. 3. Compare and contrast the responses of Achilles to supplication in the passages below. How far are his responses appropriate in the context of the ancient Greek supplication procedure and how do they compare to the responses of other characters in the Iliad to supplication? What do they reveal about

Achilles’ character throughout the Iliad?

Iliad 1.18-55: Chryses supplicates Agamemnon, Agamemnon rejects his request

Iliad 1.524-560: Thetis supplicates Zeus, Zeus grants her request

Iliad 6.436-449: Andromache describes Achilles’ past behaviour

Iliad 21.68-142: Lycaon supplicates Achilles, Achilles kills him

Iliad 22. 374-400: Hektor supplicates Achilles, Achilles rejects his request

Iliad 24. 507-560: Priam supplicates Achilles, Achilles grants his request

Secondary reading:

Alden, M 2011, ‘Supplication’ in M. Finkelberg (ed) The Homer Encyclopedia (read this first to make sure you understand exactly what is meant by supplication – it contains references to further examples in the Iliad also)

Kelly, GP 2014, ‘Battlefield Supplication in the Iliad’, Classical World 107/2, 147-167

Pedrick, V 1982, ‘Supplication in the Iliad and the Odyssey’, Transactions of the American Philological Association 112, 125-140

Please note:

Your essay must be fully and correctly documented, ie have in-text references (with page numbers) and a bibliography using the Chicago system. Marks will be deducted if this is not done. For guidance please refer to the referencing instructions on LMS.

You are required to submit this essay electronically via Turnitin by the deadline. This should be done by clicking on the Assessment 1 Turnitin icon in LMS, which will instruct you to upload your essay. More information on Turnitin is available on LMS. Please note that you can resubmit your essay as many times as you like if you have made alterations between the activation of Turnitin and the deadline, but that after the deadline you will not be able to resubmit your essay.

You can view your own “originality report” if you have concerns about over-dependence on secondary sources – please contact Gillian Shepherd if you have any questions about the report.

Please retain the Turnitin receipt as proof of your essay submission.

The date and time of your submission as recorded by Turnitin will be referred to if there is any doubt about the receipt of your submission. Please note that the penalties for late submission are severe. If you have any problems such as illness which may affect your ability to submit the essay on time, please apply for an extension in advance of the deadline and supply third party supporting evidence (see SLG for information on how to apply)

If you read an academic article or book via an electronic resource you should cite it as hardcopy, not by the URL.

REMEMBER: Websites are NOT acceptable secondary sources