Epic Characteristics
Book 1
Book 2
Terms
100

Greek epics begin with an invocation to the _________.

Muse.

100

Who is the leader of the Greek army?

Agamemnon

100

Who tells "evil Dream" to visit Agamemnon?

Zeus

100

Who are the "Danaans"?

The Greeks (Greek soldiers)

200

"Achilles of the swift feet" is an example of what device?

epithet

200

Name a god/goddess who we know is on the Trojans' side.

Apollo / Aphrodite

200

Name one animal that is mentioned in the prophecy from Kalchas.

Snake or sparrow

200

sacrifice of 100 oxen

hecatomb

300

What does "in medias res" mean?

"in the middle of things"

300

Name a god/goddess who is on the Greek side.

Athena; Hera

300

The _________ of __________ recounts all of the groups of Greeks that sailed to Troy.

Catalogue of Ships

300

an omen or sign of something to come

portent

400

A long comparison of two things in an epic is called a/an...

epic simile or Homeric simile

400

Explain specifically why one of the following is angry in Book 1:

Achilleus, Apollo, or Agamemnon

Achilleus - Agamemnon has dishonored him / takes away his war prize

Apollo - Agamemnon will not give Chryseis back to her father, the Trojan priest, Chryses

Agamemnon - he had to give his prize, Chryseis, back to her father; angry at Achilleus being disrespectful of his authority

400

What does "evil Dream" promise that Agamemnon and the Greek army will get to do?

Conquer the city of Troy (today!).

400

the Greek word for "rage", "anger", or "wrath"

menis

500

"Son of Atreus" is an example of what device?

patronymic 

500

Who is one of the "peacemakers" in this book?

(Between Achilleus and Agamemnon OR between Zeus and Hera)

Nestor; Hephaistos
500

Who reminds the soldiers of the prophecy from Kalchas?

Odysseus

500

The Greek word for "hospitality" or "kindness to strangers"

xenia

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