Summary of Iliad by Homer

Homer’s Iliad tells a tale of war: war as the moment when men can become great, as the moment when men reveal their flaws, and as the tragedy of suffering and lives lost – individual, personal and pitiable. In Homer’s story, neither side is right or wrong, heroic or villainous. They’re both broadly of the same culture, share the same hopes and dreams, suffer the same fears and pains, and at another time could be sharing each other’s hospitality. The events that brought the Archaic Greeks to the walls of Troy aren’t entirely within the control of the human protagonists, and even when they attempt to halt the bloodshed, outside forces (the gods) conspire against them. And yet, this seemingly meaningless endeavor is what gives each warrior the chance to achieve immortality through his actions. Even today, when many see war as distant and far removed from their day-to-day lives, this central contradiction of human activity remains at the heart of life. Being human is about getting up and facing challenge. This tale of a strange war in a strange time continues to resonate across the centuries.

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Release date

E-bog: 17. september 2019