Reading Homer’s Ilias
Juraj Franek (j.franek@mail.muni.cz)
Basic information
• Attendance is not required, yet highly recommended
• Reading materials will be available in the IS (section “study materials”)
• Credit test (20 questions, multiple choice, 4 answers)
• Correct answer = 1 point; Incorrect answer = 0 points; No answer = 0 points
• Pass mark = 14 points, i.e. 70%
• Scope of the test: Lectures + reading materials
• There will be at the minimum 5 dates for the test during the examination period
• The number of dates is final
Mock test-question I
• In the third book of the Iliad, two heroes agree to a duel that would
decide the fate of the war. Who are they?
• (a) Achilles and Hector
• (b) Patroclus and Sarpedon
• (c) Nestor and Priam
• (d) Menelaus and Paris
Mock test-question II
• Iliad contains a great deal of fighting type-scenes. How would you best
describe the nature of these fights?
• (a) Both Greeks and Trojans first form a phalanx and then clash together in these
tightly knit formations.
• (b) Greeks and Trojans fight predominantly on horsebacks using spears.
• (c) Greeks rely on cavalry while Trojans use mainly infantry with the heavy
support of archers.
• (d) Greek and Trojan forces fight predominantly in one-on-one melee combat.
Themes of specific lectures
1. General introduction to Homeric poetry
2. Book I: Quarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon; Muse as inspiration of the poet
3. Book III: Teichoskopia; duel between Paris and Menelaus; Helen and moral responsibility
4. Book VI: Duel between Diomedes and Glaukos; Hector’s farewell; War and non-combatants
5. Book IX: Agamemnon’s embassy to Achilles; Hero and his kleos
6. Book XVI: Patroclus’ fight and death; Homeric warfare
7. Book XVIII: The rage of Achilles; Achilles’ shield; Homeric society
8. Book XXII: Duel between Achilles and Hector; Homeric gods and their interventions
9. Book XXIV: Priam and Achilles; Death and humanity
10. Concluding remarks and discussion
Bibliography
• Lattimore, Richmond (trans.) (2011). The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
• West, Martin L. (ed.) (1998-2000). Homerus: Ilias (2 vols.). Stuttgart - Leipzig: Teubner.
• Wace, Alan J.B. – Stubbings, Frank H.A. (eds.) (1962). Companion to Homer. London: Macmillan.
• Schein, Seth L. (1984). The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer’s Iliad. Berkeley – Los Angeles: University of California Press.
• Edwards, Mark W. (1987). Homer: Poet of the Iliad. Baltimore – London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Redfield, James M. (1994). Nature and Culture in the Iliad: The Tragedy of Hector. Durham - London: Duke University Press.
• Vidal-Naquet, Pierre (2000). Le monde d’Homère. Paris: Perrin.
• Fowler, Robert (ed.) (2004). The Cambridge Companion to Homer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Rengakos, Antonios – Zimmermann, Bernhard (eds.) (2011). Homer-Handbuch: Leben – Werk – Wirkung. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler.
• Morris, Ian - Powell, Barry (eds.) (2011). A New Companion to Homer. Leiden – New York: Brill.
• Slezák, Thomas A. (2012). Homer oder Die Geburt der abendländischen Dichtung. München: C.H. Beck.