The Shield of Achilles (Book 18)
When he learns of Patroclus’s death, Achilles is overwhelmed by this emotion.
What is grief (or rage)?
Patroclus wore this piece of Achilles’ gear when he went into battle.
What is Achilles’ armor?
Hector ignores this family member’s plea not to face Achilles outside Troy’s walls.
Who is Andromache (his wife)?
This god briefly gives Achilles superhuman strength in battle.
Who is Athena?
Achilles returns to battle after making peace with this leader.
Who is Agamemnon?
Thetis seeks this god to forge new armor for her son.
Who is Hephaestus?
Achilles vows not to eat or drink until he avenges this man.
Who is Patroclus?
Before their duel, this god tricks Achilles by taking the shape of Hector’s brother.
Who is Apollo (in the form of Deïphobus)?
Zeus weighs the fates of Hector and Achilles using this image.
What is the golden scales (scale of fate)?
Achilles’ rage is described as this driving force of both destruction and destiny.
What is the “mēnis” — sacred, godlike wrath?
The shield of Achilles famously depicts both this — a city at peace and a city at war.
What are two cities, one celebrating and one besieged?
Achilles’s mother delivers a prophecy tied to his revenge. It foretells this.
What is Achilles’ own death soon after Hector’s?
Hector’s courage fails momentarily, and he does this around the city.
What is runs three times around Troy?
The River Scamander, enraged by Achilles, takes this form to fight him.
What is a river god (Xanthus) rising as a wave?
Priam moves Achilles to pity by doing this.
What is kneeling and kissing Achilles’ hands (the hands that killed his son)?
This goddess wraps Achilles in divine light to protect him before he reenters battle.
Who is Athena?
Before battle, Achilles performs this ritual to honor Patroclus.
What is sacrificing at his funeral pyre (including captives and horses)?
Achilles kills Hector with this weapon.
What is a spear (thrust into his neck)?
This god rescues Hector’s body from Achilles’ abuse.
Who is Apollo?
Through Priam, Achilles finally does this symbolic act toward Hector’s body.
What is returns it for burial?
The shield represents this larger concept about humanity and fate.
What is the totality of human life — its joys, sorrows, and inevitability under fate?
The interactions between Patroclus and Achilles reveal this core theme of The Iliad.
What is the tension between human affection and heroic duty (or rage and compassion)?
After Hector’s death, Achilles commits this act of desecration.
What is dragging Hector’s body behind his chariot around Troy?
The gods argue over Hector’s burial; this one finally commands Achilles to release the body.
Who is Zeus?
The closing of Book 22 foreshadows this inevitable destiny for Achilles.
What is his own death soon after, fated at Troy?