With 19,000 lines of poetry and a huge cast of characters, human and divine, Homer’s Iliad can be confusing, even intimidating. Yet behind its complex façade is a poem that is unsurpassed in its ability to convey human emotions and relations. We will read selections from the Iliad with special attention to the place of the Iliad in the legend of the Trojan War and the poem’s concept of a hero. We will meet aspects of the human experience that are still with us: quarrels between two selfish egos, deep bonds of affection between husband and wife, and the agony of parents as they watch their children die. The poet’s gift for storytelling has created a powerful narrative that continues to move us today.
Suggested Reading: An English translation of the Iliad. Robert Fagles’ translation is recommended but other translations can be used.