narrative arc

... ptron ‘scepter’ that he holds and then throws down to the ground. This oath of Achilles is correlated with the plot or narrative arc of the Iliad, starting from a point in time when Ach ... Continue reading

... .233–246]] To the extent that the Oath of Achilles is sacred, so too is the coextensive plot of the Iliad. This plot or narrative arc, leading to devastation for the Achaeans, will be en ... Continue reading

In the words of the immortal goddess Thetis, speaking to the all-powerful god Zeus on behalf of her mortal son Achilles, the status of this hero as ‘best of the Achaeans’ is linked ... Continue reading

The Will of Zeus, which is made coextensive with the plot or narrative arc of the Iliad, is formalized by the all-powerful god when he nods his head, as he does here at I.01.524–530. When Zeus nods his head here to si ... Continue reading

The action of Zeus in nodding his head to express his Will results in his making contact, by way of metonymy, with the emotions of Achilles. The effect of such divine metonymy in m ... Continue reading

... erence here to the Will of Zeus, as recapitulated in the words of the goddess Hērā, repeats a main theme in the plot or narrative arc of the Iliad: the damaging of the tīmē ‘honor’ of Ac ... Continue reading

... at is sent by Zeus to the sleeping Agamemnon is a false Will of Zeus. Whereas the true Will of Zeus is the real plot or narrative arc of the Iliad, as noted in the comments on I.01.005 a ... Continue reading

... a chance to qualify as the ‘best of the Achaeans’, aristos Akhaiōn. In the long run, however, in line with the plot or narrative arc of the Iliad as we have it, Diomedes fails to qualif ... Continue reading

analysis of the application of aristos Akhaiōn to Diomedes in his aristeiaAlthough Diomedes is recognized as aristos Akhaiōn ‘best of the Achaeans’ here at I.05.416, in the present ... Continue reading

This narrative centers on the aristeiā ‘epic high point’ of Agamemnon in the Iliad. On aristeiā ‘epic high point’, see the comment on I.05.103.This narrative centers on the aristei ... Continue reading

who is the best of Achaeans, analysis of the application of aristos to AgamemnonHere at I.11.288, Hector is boasting that Agamemnon, ‘the best man’, ho aristos, is now out of the p ... Continue reading

comment on the diction of Homeric poetry affirming that the wounding of a hero thwarts his aristeiaThe wounding of a hero, as in the case of the wound suffered by the hero Makhaon ... Continue reading

... , he reaffirms his plan. And this Plan of Zeus, which is the wish or Will of Zeus, will be coextensive with the plot or narrative arc of the Iliad, starting with the original promise of ... Continue reading

When Zeus sees Hector putting on the armor of Achilles, he nods his divine head, thus signaling his will, which in this case is a specific plan to make into a part of the overall n ... Continue reading