Homer and Classical Epic notes
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This GoConqr page gathers over 40 community-made notes on the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid, covering events, characters and themes. School students, university students and professional candidates can practice following episodes and comparing ideas, while teachers can find ready-made material; the notes span secondary and university levels. Choose a set of notes to start exploring.
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- Epic Conventions and Heroism16
- The Iliad: Plot and Books20
- Characters in the Iliad17
- Themes in the Iliad8
- Gods in the Iliad and Odyssey14
- The Odyssey: Plot and Books46
- Characters in the Odyssey35
- Odysseus: Character Analysis11
- Themes in the Odyssey20
- Hospitality in the Odyssey14
- The Aeneid: Background, Plot and Books17
- Characters in the Aeneid20
- Themes and Symbolism in the Aeneid16
- Gods in the Aeneid5
- Aeneid Scholarship and Criticism5
Notes
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ILIAD BOOK 1 NOTES Achilles Son of Peleus Lives in Phthia Agamemnon Son of Atreus House in Argos Argives killed by Apollo Claims to love the daughter of Chryses more than his own wife, Clytemnestra Son of Jove (another name...
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THE ODYSSEY ... The Crimes of the Suitors In the Odyssey the suitors are the villains, trying to destroy Odysseus's house by consuming the cattle which are his livelihood. In their assault on Odysseus's oîkos, they...
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Significant moments Book events: Book 1 v Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the Achaean army, takes Chryseis as his prize. Chryseis’s father, Chryses serves as a priest of the god Apollo, he begs Agamemnon to return his daughter and offer...
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Book 1 and 6 Iliad Major Themes in The Iliad Wrath and Pride The conflict in The Iliad is primarily driven by Achilles' anger towards Agamemnon, which leads to devastating consequences for both the Achaeans and Trojans. Agamemnon's prid...
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Book 11 - the Odyssey Book 11 - the Odyssey Summary :1. Odysseus tells the Phaeacians about going to the Underworld to hear the prophesy of Tiresias.2. Circe tells him of what he has to do in order to speak to the spirits of the dead....
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Chapter 9 - 12 Chapter 9Ody admits and tells who he is to King Alctinous and story of what happened to himFrom Troy, the winds sweep him and his men to Ismarus, city of the Cicones. The men plunder the land and, carried away by gree...
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Divine Intervention Divine intervention Trojans’ side – Apollo, Aphrodite Achaians’ side – Hera, Athena, Poseidon Indifferent – Zeus, Hermes Book 1 v Apollo sends a plague upon Chryses request. v Thetis works against the Achaians on requ...
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Achilles Achilles Epithets – swift-footed, godlike Book 1 v Impulsive – stands poised to draw his sword and kill Agamemnon – athene stops him v Angry – infuriated by Agamemnon’s request to replace his prize, Chryseis, with Bri...
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Side notes on Virgil and the Aeneid Background on Virgil and The AeneidVirgil Born 70BC and died 19BC Born in Mauritua His earlier works = Eclogues + Geogics Started off writing pastoral poetry The Aeneid Written from 30/29BC- 19BC & is a piece of Roman...
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Agamemnon Agamemnon Epithets – wide-ruling, godlike, lord of men Book 1 v Angry –he was so aggressive to the point where him and Achilles’s fight had to be split up by Athena v Selfish – steals Briseis v Arrogant – thinks he de...
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Women Women – Helen, Hekabe, Andromache, Briseis, Chryseis Epithets – Andromache of the white arms, Chryseis of the fair cheeks, Helen of the white arms, lovely haired Helen, long dressed Helen Book 1 CH - Valued – stolen b...
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Untitled Book 22 It all begins when Antinous gets shot with an arrow by Odysseus. Shortly after the killing, Odysseus gives a speech on how angry he was that his return was not anticipated. Then, ...
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Women or Men and Women The relationships between men and women in the Iliad lead to nothing but suffering. Do you agree?YES Paris and Helens relationship lead to the war Agamemnon and Breseis lead to the suffering of the Greek army Agamemno...
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Hektor Hektor Epithets – of the glinting helmet, tamer of horses, huge, glorious Book 1 - Book 3 v Strict/overpowering – taunts and scolds his brother for his cowardice forcing him into the duel with Menelaos Book 4 - Book 6...
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Fate Fate Something that is destined to happen, that can not ultimately be changed, that you can not escape Book 1 v Page 13 - Thetis says ‘because your fate is of short span’ and ‘it was a cruel fate under which I bore yo...
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Nausicaa's Hospitality Nausicaa's HospitalityWe must care for him, since all strangers and beggars come from Zeus, and even a little gift is welcome. So bring him food and drink, girls, and bathe him in the river wherever there’s shelt...
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Menelaos Menelaos Epithets - master of the war-cry, glorious, fair-haired Book 1 v Angry – Paris stole his wife, Helen from him Book 3 v Tactical – prays to Zeus before throwing his spear at Paris so that his throw will be mor...
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Patroklos Patroklos Epithets – great-hearted Book 1 - Book 3 - Book 4 - Book 6 - Book 9 - Book 11 v Obedient – follows Achilles orders to find out about Machaon v Caring/helpful – dresses the wound of a man named Eurypylus, who...
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Gods How important a part in the Iliad does Zeus play?IMPORTANT Zeus gives strategic advice to hektor via Iris to play defence Book 16 Achilles prays to Zeus to have the ships and Patroklos return safely - only did the shi...
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Paris Paris Epithets – godlike Book 1 v Superficial - steals Helen from Menelaos because she is very beautiful Book 3 v Cowardly – chickens out of his duel with Menelaos v Controllable/compliable – pushover to his brother H...
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Priam Priam Epithets – huge, godlike Book 1 - Book 3 v Kind – agrees to return Helen to the Achaians Book 4 - Book 6 - Book 9 - Book 11 - Book 16 - Book 18 - Book 19 - Book 22 v Concerned - begs Hektor to come inside the ci...
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Illiad Background Thetis marries Peleus, the King of Phtia. Eris (Goddess of Mistakes) isn't invtied so she throws a golden apple for the most beautiful to collect.Three reach for it: Hera - Goddess of Marriage, wife/sister of Zeus Ath...
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The Iliad of Homer: Books I - XXIV BOOK I Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vulture...
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Untitled This summary is the bare bones of an epic poem that consists in the original Greek of 15,693 lines of hexameter verse, composed-probably in the late eighth or early seventh century R.c.-by a poet known to later ages a...
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The Odyssey - Reader's Notes 1. EPITHETS 1. Zeus 2. Hermes 3. Calypso / Deméter 4. Poseidon 2.&nbs...
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Chapter 5 - 8 Chapter 5 herme's was sent to ask calypso to release odycalypso agreed to release ody so she doesn't refuse zeus wrath ody first refuse to set in ship until calypso make a oath nothing will hurt himcalypso ...
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Chapter 1- 4 first word is manCalypso holding ody captiveall god took pity except Poseidonodysseus trap by daughter of atlas poseidon angry of odysseus blinding son zeus and athenia agreed help odyathena see telemachus ...
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Odysseus approaches Nausicaa Odysseus approaches Nausicaa‘Princess, see me at your feet. Are you mortal, or a goddess? If a goddess, one of those who keep the wide heavens, you seem to me most like Artemis, great Zeus’ daughter, in beau...
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Athene Visits Nausicaa Athene visits NausicaaThe goddess flew to the girl’s bed like a breath of air, and taking the form of the famed ship owner, Dymas’s daughter, a girl of similar age to Nausicaa, and dear to her heart, she leant ov...
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Odysseus emerges from hiding Odysseus Emerges from HidingWhen the princess threw the ball to one of her maids, she missed the maid, and it landed in deep water. At their cry, noble Odysseus woke, sat up, and thought: ‘Oh, what mortal place h...
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Long-Enduring Odysseus Long-Enduring OdysseusTwo nights and days he was tossed about on the swollen sea, and many a time he thought himself doomed.As he considered all this in heart and mind, a large wave drove him towards the splintered sh...
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The Iliad by Homer - created from Mind Map Gods Thetis Sea Goddess Cronus + Rhea Zeus (zoos) + Hera King of Gods Zeus + Leto many gods and men Apollo m (a-POL-oh) aka Phoebus Apollo Patron of Music and the Arts Protector of Trojans Twin of Artemis Artemis m Mo...
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Poseidon's Storm Poseidon's Storm With that, he gathered the cloud, and seizing his trident in his hands, stirred up the sea, and roused the tempest blast of every wind, and hid the land and sea with vapour: and darkness swooped ...
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Description of Calypso's Home A great fire blazed on the hearth, and the scent of burning cedar logs and juniper spread far across the isle. Sweet-voiced Calypso was singing within, moving to and fro at her loom, weaving with a golden shuttle...
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Hero's Journey in the "Odyssey" - created from Mind Map 1- Odysseus is with his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus; Ithica 12-Odysseus has returned home and reunited with his family; he has restored order throughout Ithica 2- Odysseus must go fight in the Trojan War
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Untitled 850-800 BCE, Homer Mythology: Collection of stories that a society tells to explain their history + the natural world Epic Poem: Long Narrative poem about hero (usually based on mythology) Conventio...
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Ino's Instructions Ino's Instructions'You seem a man of sense, so do as I tell you. Strip off these clothes, and let the wind take your raft, while you swim hard towards the Phaecian coast, where you are destined to escape the wave...
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Odysseus builds his raft She gave him a bronze double axe that fitted his hands well, one with its blades both sharpened, its fine olivewood handle firmly fixed, and a polished adze as well. She led the way to the fringes of the island ...
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YT comment on themes Another idea i think is worth mentioning is the vicious circle of violence, which cannot be broken until Athena, the goddess of wisdom, steps in. Also mentioning that Odysseus "wanders" for 20 years metaphorically rec...
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Athene pleads to Zeus Athene pleads Zeus for Odysseus' FreedomAll of the gods are sat down in assembly and Athene pleads Zeus for generosity and kindness to release Odysseus from Calypso's home where he was imprisoned. Athene is Zeus' patr...
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About homer and classical epic notes
GoConqr OriginalHomer and Classical Epic notes
These notes offer different ways into the texts. Nausicaa's Hospitality focuses on an episode in the Odyssey, while Side notes on Virgil and the Aeneid provides background on Virgil and the poem. For the Iliad, Significant moments brings together events from its books.
Choose a focus
Start with Significant moments if you want to follow events in the Iliad. If you are studying a character, Achilles gathers details about his actions and qualities. For a theme, Divine Intervention lists gods and examples of their involvement.
As you read, make a short outline of the events or ideas in a note, then check it against the original. Compare the character and theme notes when preparing an argument. If you want to test your recall or organize ideas visually, switch to a quiz or mind map on the unit page. Pick a note and begin with the topic you are studying.
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Which notes are useful for starting the Iliad?
Significant moments is a useful starting point for following events across the books. For a more focused approach, Achilles collects details about the character, while Divine Intervention gives examples of the gods’ involvement. You can compare these notes as you prepare an argument about the text.
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Who are these notes suitable for?
The collection spans secondary and university levels. It can help school students, university students and professional candidates practice following episodes and exploring characters and themes. Teachers can also use the notes as ready-made material. The listed resources mention courses including GCSE and A-level Classical Civilisation.