The acts and death of patroclus patroclus in pursuance of the request of nestor in the eleventh book. Summary and analysis of book 16 of homers iliad, with a focus on patroclus pride, lust for glory, and death. Antilochus, struck dumb at the news, rushes back to the achaean camp. Achilles retrieves a special cup and pours libation to zeus praying for patroclus to come back unharmed having gained glory. The trojans will think achilles has returned to battle, and patroclus will drive them back. With his last breath, patroclus predicts to hector that achilles will kill him.
This made achilles so angry, that he refused to rest until he had killed hector, and honored his friends death by solemn burial rites. He followed achilles to troy as his brotherinarms, and when achilles refused to fight in order to annoy agamemnon, patroclus appeared in achilles armor at the head of the myrmidons and was slain by hector. If he will not relent, achilles should at least let patroclus take his armor and troops into battle. Patroclus was enraged by the death of his comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings. Get an answer for what was achilless reaction to patroclus s death in the iliad. Read powerpoints on achilles in books 118 and the homeric gods. Hector sees this move, advances, and putting a spear through patroclus belly, kills him. Feb 24, 2014 a response to book xvi of the iliad, attributed to homer while patroclus weeping and achilles chastisement in the opening scene of book 16 are somewhat surprising, it is the end of book 16 that i found the most curious. Finally, because of patroclus inferiority to achilles in battle, he was responsible for his own death.
Troy 2004 the death of patroclus movieclips youtube. Zeus contemplates whether to save his son from being killed or not. This is written from patroclus point of view and is his confrontation with achilles up to his death. The relationship between achilles and patroclus is a key element of the stories associated with the trojan war. Murray 1 thus then they were warring around the wellbenched ship, but patroclus drew nigh to achilles, shepherd of the host, shedding hot tears, even as a fountain of dark water that down over the face of a beetling cliff poureth its dusky stream.
Engulfed in a cloud of grief, claws at his hair, begrimes his face with dirt. Menelaus sees the death of patroclus, and he goes to defend the body. The iliad book 16 death of patroclus american literature. The fate of patroclus in the iliad of homer schoolworkhelper. This is a crucial book and a turning point because in it zeus sits idly by knowing his son sarpedon will be killed, and achilles friend patroclus is also killed. In the tenth year of the trojan war, tensions are running high among the achaians a superancient name for the ancient greeks. Even so swiftly, o noble knight patroclus, did you make straight for the lycians and trojans to avenge your comrade. The death of patroclus in the iliad full free lesson. In the iliad, homer describes a deep and meaningful relationship between achilles and patroclus, where achilles is tender toward patroclus but callous and arrogant toward others.
The trojans see the coming myrmidons and believe that achilles has finally come to battle. Zeus knows that the death of patroclus will force achilles to fight for the greeks achaeansdanaansargives. This is an adaptationrewriting of the iliad book 16, inspired by scenes from silence of the girls pat barker and ransom david malouf. The seventh battle, for the body of patroclus the acts of menelaus the trojans and greeks fight over patroclus. Ledbetter does so by comparing how thetis comforts the weeping achilles in book 1 of the iliad to how achilles comforts patroclus as he weeps in book 16. During the trojan war, achilles refuses to fight after a quarrel with agamemnon, leader of the greek forces. After leading the greeks in battle against the trojans, disguised in the armor of the great greek hero achilles, patroclus is killed by the warrior hector, fulfilling a prophecy made by the god zeus. An example can be derived from a passage in book xvi from apollo to patroclus. Homer, iliad book 16 theoi classical texts library.
Hector taunts the fallen man, but with his dying words patroclus foretells hectors own death. Revisiting the apostrophes to patroclus in iliad 16. When antilochus brings word to achilles of patrocluss death, achilles loses control of himself. This is a crucial book and a turning point because in it zeus sits idly by knowing his son sarpedon will be killed, and achilles friend patroclus is. Homer, iliad book 17 theoi classical texts library. If youve read book 16, youll know that what patroklos says is technically true. Summary analysis menelaus, fighting nearby, watches the death of patroclus. Euphorbus strikes at him and misses only to be killed by menelaus. As he spoke death descended over his mouth and eyes, and patroclus set his foot on his chest, and drew the spear from the flesh, the whole midriff yielding with it, releasing the point of the blade and sarpedons spirit, while the myrmidons held the panting horses, the creatures eager to. Achilles reconciles with agamemnon and enters battle book 20. Meanwhile, patroclus goes to achilles tent and begs to be allowed to wear achilles armor if achilles still refuses to rejoin the battle himself.
Tragically, patroclus is begging for his own death. The acts and death of patroclus patroclus in pursuance of the request of nestor in the eleventh book entreats achilles to suffer him to go to the assistance of the greeks with achilles troops and armour. Here, in book 16, achilles story becomes a new version of. Enraged at the death of his dear friend patroclus, achilles is driven to seek.
Thoughout the whole book, zeus outlines the rest of the iliad and beyond, predicting even the eventual fall of troy, which occurs after the end of the poem. No one else made the decision to attack, therefore, only patroclus is to blame for his narrow minded decision which led directly to his untimely demise. In this book patroclus has watched the suffering of the greeks. The armies fight over the body and armor of patroclus book 18. Patroclus adds that achilles will soon kill hector. No doubt the large number of apostrophes directed at patroclus, all confined to book 16, contributes to heighten the pathos and overall emotional effect of his excruciatingly slow and horrible death at the hands of apollo at the end of the book. Achilles declines to fight but agrees to the exchange of armor, with the understanding that patroclus. How is patroclus death further foreshadowed in the arming scene. So patroclus made his request, fool that he was, for his own doom and an evil death were the. In fact, one rarely sees patroklos as an individual. This lesson will summarize the events surrounding the heros end, and explain its significance for the epic as a whole. Achilles and patroclus met again in the lower world, 20 or, according to others, they continued after their death to live together in the island of leuce. Murray 1 and the son of atreus, menelaus, dear to ares, failed not to mark that patroclus had been slain in battle by the trojans, but fared amid the foremost fighters, harnessed in flaming bronze, and bestrode the dead, as over a calf standeth lowing plaintively its mother, that hath brought forth her firstborn, ere then knowing naught of motherhood. In two and a half lines of simple diction, antilochus tells achilles what has happened.
Ledbetter believes this puts patroclus into a subordinate role to that of achilles. Patroclus death in book 16 of the iliad vations in pursuit of his own kleos. Patroclus simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. See the directors cut version under video responses. What was achilless reaction to patrocluss death in the. Book xvi thus did they fight about the ship of protesilaus. Zeus begins moving the battle in the trojans favor but relents long enough for menelaus and meriones to carry away patrocluss body. The sixth battle, the acts and death of patroclus, the iliad, lit2go edition, 1899, accessed january 10, 2020. Patroklos glory of the father, was the son of menoetius, grandson of actor, king of opus, and was achilles beloved cousin. The desire to protect sarpedons body motivates hector to return to battle where hector and patroclus face off in a literal tugofwar over the body of hectors driver. He tells achilles of the dire situation facing the achaeans, and begs him to help. So they fought to the death around that benched beaked ship as patroclus reached achilles, his great commander, and wept warm tears like a dark. Homer describes the heroic deeds of patroclus in book xviof the iliad, which is named patrokleia.
Zeuss speech makes it clear to the reader that a predestined. Character profile for patroclus from the iliad page 1. He remains in his home with his beloved wife, but he returns from battle because of the threat to her safety. He tells patroclus that achilles cannot save him now.
Even though patroklos is an important character in the iliad, homer gives little attention to him until the ninth book, and even then, the focus is not on patroklos himself, but on his relationship to achilles. Achilles is revengeful, gladly permits patroclus to fight. Explain the meaning of the sunless ocean and the towering blank rocks 16. Achilles uses a simile containing a young girl tearfully looking at her mother to complete the comparison. Mar 24, 2018 this feature is not available right now. Patroclus charges him with obduracy and offers to fight in the battlefield. The sixth battle, the acts and death of patroclus the iliad. Achilles declines to fight but agrees to the exchange of armor, with the understanding that patroclus will fight only long enough to save the ships. If achilles will not return to the fighting, patroclus asks that he at least give patroclus his armor.
Battles over fallen comrades become more significant in book 16. And the brilliant runner achilles saw him coming, filled with pity and spoke out winging words. Menelaus finds antilochus and asks him to relay the news of patroclus death to achilles. He was praying for his own death, his dreadful fate. Summary of the iliad book 16 click to set custom html quotations from the iliad book 16 the death of patroclus powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. He was the son of menoetius, and is most famous as being the dear companion of achilles. Menelaus and meriones pick up patroclus body while the aeantes defend them from the trojans. He agrees to it, hut at the same time charges him to content. The sixth battle, the acts and death of patroclus patroclus asks a favor of achilles, who is still absent from the battle. His bones were mingled with those of patroclus so that the two would be companions in death as in life and the remains were transferred to leuke, an island in the black sea. Sent tumbling, patroclus is speared by the young trojan euphorbus. It is described and depicted in the same manner a wife would mourn her husbands deathcrying wretched tears, beating ones chest, keening like a banshee, etc. So they fought to the death around that benched beaked ship as patroclus reached achilles, his great commander, and wept warm tears like a dark spring running down some desolate rock face, its shaded currents flowing.
The more that patroclus distinguishes himself in battle, the more tragic his death will be. Read book 16 death of patroclus of the iliad by homer. From the original version of the movie, not the extended directors cut. In book 16 of the iliad, patroclus asks achilles if he can borrow his armor to join in the fighting and drive the trojans away. During the battle in which patroclus is killed, the singer switches to a second person pointofview. All the same, it definitely sounds like patroklos is trying to knock hektors ego down a few notches, basically telling him he talks the talk, but doesnt walk the walk. Each main character, either by a spear or merely a scratch from an arrow, was wounded or killed during the progression of the story. He and euphorbus trade insults, and menelaus reminds him that he killed euphorbus brother hyperenor. There is no dramatic character development, but one does see patroklos as a character perpetrates dramatic events and provides a. As they fought on around the benched ship, patroclus, hot tears pouring down his face like a stream of dark water flowing in dusky streaks down the face of a sheer cliff, returned to achilles, leader of men.
At the end of book 16, hector kills patroclus, fulfilling zeus prophecy. Dec 31, 2018 the death of patroclus is a pivotal moment in homers iliad. Book 17, line 5 the trojan euphorbus comes to take the body but king menelaus will not yield. Patroclus eventually wins these faceoffs and gains the glory of stripping the bodies of armor. The achaeans beat a retreat, with hector and aeneas in pursuit.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Their souls were reportedly seen wandering the island at times. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The death of achilles is given in sources other than the iliad. Quotes about the death of patroclus from the iliad. Patroclus dying says to hector that zeus and apollo have made hector the victor, although he shares the mortal share of death with euphorbus. Patroclus death in book 16 of the iliad efimia karakantza academia. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the iliad and what it means. Achilles does not feel moved at the plight of the greeks, rebukes him for the sentimentalism. The fate of patroclus in throughout the iliad of homer, the constant theme of death is inherently apparent. The iliad of homer popebook 16 wikisource, the free. Book 16 patroclus borrows achilles armor enters battle. Menelaus observes the death of patroclus and runs to guard his body like a mother cow lowing over a calf.
Eventually comes across a trojan soldier, sarpedon, who is the mortal son of zeus. Patroclus is slain, but not before telling hector of his own dire fate. Sep 18, 2011 hector taunts the fallen man, but with his dying words patroclus foretells hectors own death. The death of patroclus is reported in brief words to achilles. The myrmidons swarm like bees as patroclus sounds the charge and fills them with courage. What was achilless reaction to patroclus s death in the iliad. Patroclus tells achilles how badly the battle is going and scolds him for his rage. Hektor was only the third person to strike him though he was the only one to deliver a fatal blow. Wyatt 1982, 260 suggests that ate book 16 is achilles throughout, because patroclus acts as an agent or surrogate of achilles ate. Hector is bold, telling patroclus as he kills him that here the vultures shall eat you. In what sense is patroclus responsible for his own death. Menelaus sends antilochus for help from achilles, who still doesnt know of patrocluss death. Book 16 meanwhile, patroclus goes to achilles tent and begs to be allowed to wear achilles armor if achilles still refuses to rejoin the battle himself. Jun 18, 2017 this latter theory is not as popular among the research of art historians, due to the artistic and literary emotional and mental breakdown of achilles at patroclus death.
First, the priest chryses comes to ask their leader, king agamemnon, to release his daughter, whom agamemnon was holding captive. Achilles learns of the death of patroclus and receives a new suit of armor book 19. He stays with his dearest companion, his wife, just as achilles withdraws to his encampment with patroclus. Hector, his attention focused on the fleeing horses of achilles, is made to look at the scene by apollo. How does achilles react to the news of patroclus death. The death of patroclus is one of the most powerful scenes in homers iliad. The death of patroclus is a pivotal moment in homers iliad. Achilles agrees but tells patroclus he should only drive the trojans back from the ships, not follow them to. Its exact nature has been a subject of dispute in both the classical period and modern times. Patroclus borrows achilles armor, enters battle, kills sarpedon and then is killed by hector, who thinks he is achilles.
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