Funeral rites and revenge

  1. Funeral rites and revenge are expected to bring closure. Achilles has avenged Patroclus' death and given
    him the grandest funeral possible. But Achilles is still not sleeping, getting up every morning, and dragging
    Hector's dead body around. Why, in your opinion, hasn't Achilles found closure from everything he's done?
    Write two or three sentences, explaining your idea.
  2. Review pp. 324-325: To what values does Priam appeal? Have others, at other points, made similar appeals
    (and if so, who?)? Write 1-2 meaty paragraphs.
  3. Other people have noted Achilles' stubbornness. Thetis has suggested that Achilles let go of his grief and
    live his life. Why in your opinion does Priam’s appeal affect Achilles when others have not? Write one meaty
    paragraph
  4. What do you personally think is the most remarkable thing about the meeting between Priam and Achilles?
    What does it do for both of them?
  5. Look at p. 328, lines 710-725. This is the last time Achilles is seen in the epic. What do the words and tone
    of this exchange and their going to sleep add to this epic’s depiction of war and individual’s experience of it?
    We know what the future will be for both these men, as so do they (death): but what does this present moment
    tell us about them?
    Write 2 meaty paragraphs.
  6. The last line of the Iliad is “That was the funeral of Hector, breaker of horses” (24.860). Is this a fitting end for
    the story? Why or why not? Give your opinion and explain in at least 4 sentences.

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