(Homeric) Heroism

(Homeric) Heroism

1. DEFINITION: 'be the best and excel all others'- to never disgrace your forefather

2. There are certain qualities that you must have in order to be a Homeric Hero.

3. Heroes must be of noble birth

   • "Achilles son of Peleus" "Olympian-born son of Peleus"
   • using patronymic terms

4. Heroes must be mortal

   • BOOK 1: "bore me to live the briefest of lives" "he is already singled out for an early death."
   • BOOK 22: "Life left his limbs and took wing for the house of Hades"

5. Heroes must attract the attention of the immortals

   • BOOK 1: "The goddess white armed Hera had sent her because she felt equally close to both men."
   • Book 16: "Phoebus Apollo heard him and and at once relieved the pain..."

6. Heroes have epithets which reflect their heroic qualities

   • "Menelaus master of the war cry"
   • "Horse taming Hector"
   • "wide-ruling Agamemnon"

7. Fighting is an obligation to one's family, ancestors and community

   • BOOK 16: "I want you to win me great honour and glory"

8. Heroes fight for their own glory and as individuals

   • BOOK 1: "It was no quarrel with Trojan warriors that brought me here to fight... we joined ... to please you, to get satisfaction from the Trojans for Menelaus."

9. Heroes should be courageous

   • BOOK 16: "He leapt in like something superhuman..."

10. Heroes look impressive

    • BOOK 16: p278 description of Patroclus "gleaming bronze" "silver ankle-clips" "glittering and starry"

11. Heroes are ferocious when they fight

    • BOOK 16: "So with his bright spear Patroclus hauled his gaping catch out.... and dropped him on his face to die."
    • BOOK 16: "As two vultures with their crooked claws and curved beaks fight on a rocky height and scream as they fight..."

12. Skilled with words

    • BOOK 9:"But godlike Odysseus caught the signal and... drank to Achilles."
    • BOOK 1: "attended no meetings of the assembly where men win glory."

13. self-control

    • BOOK 22: "But the dogs and birds of prey will divide you up..." "you dog...."
    • BOOK 24: "Achilles was afraid that Priam, if he saw him, might in the bitterness of his grief be unable to control his anger... own feelings would be provoked."

14. Honour amongst heroes

    • BOOK 6: "Surely your family and mine are linked by old-established ties... let us exchange armour."
      • The story of Bellerophon, Glaucus + Diomedes
    • BOOK 22: "but the dogs and birds of prey will divide you up, leaving nothing."

15. Heroes maintain civilised behaviour

    • BOOK 24: "With these words he took the old man by the wrist of his right hand to banish all fear from his heart."

16. showing emotion is heroic

    • BOOK 1: "Withdrawing from his men, Achilles broke into tears."
    • BOOK 18: "A black cloud of grief engulfed Achilles. He picked up the sooty dust in both his hands and poured it over his head."