Reading guide for intro to The Iliad

• Homer

• Blindness/insight

• Bards/rhapsodes

• Trojan War legend:– Beauty contest: “To The Fairest”– 3 goddesses– An interesting dilemma for the males?– Paris/Helen/Menelaus/Agamemnon

• Epic Conventions (Purpose?)– Invocation of the Muse– In Medias Res– Epic simile– Dactylic hexameter– Stock epithet

• Material Possessions and honor (p.228)

AreteArete:Being the best :Being the best you can beyou can be

Homer’s epics celebrate Homer’s epics celebrate aretearete in the form in the form of his most honored human characters: of his most honored human characters:

Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, Achilles, Hector. The sense of arete is of Achilles, Hector. The sense of arete is of honor, of strength, of mobility and moral honor, of strength, of mobility and moral correctness, of courage and bravery, of correctness, of courage and bravery, of

intellect. intellect. If we value arete, then we value the If we value arete, then we value the

actions of human beings and measure our actions of human beings and measure our actions against those of other human actions against those of other human

beings.beings.

What is the value of aretearete?

How does such a commitment to excellence bind a culture together?

Do we Americans value arete in any form?

Is this a cultural value whose time has passed?

Do any subcultures that you are aware of practice the values of arete?