HOMER, THE ILIAD, Pt. 2
Books III-IV

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Paris attempts to prove his own valor by offering to fight Menelaus man-to-man and end their dispute over Helen. Being that this whole war was really just a personal conflict it is surprising that Paris has taken nine years to actually offer this resolution.  Maybe it took him nine years to get up the courage? Why do you think it took him 9 years to finally make this offer?

2. If the Trojans wanted to get rid of Helen and end the war, why haven't they just gotten together and told Paris to give her back?

3. Helen is central to the Trojan War. Whether she takes pride in this position or finds it burdensome is something that Homer does not make clear. Do you think that she enjoys her position?

4. You might think it strange that Priam has only chosen to ask Helen to tell him about these Greek soldiers after the war has been going on for nine years. Why do you think he waits so long?

5. What turns the battle decisively in the Trojan’s direction?

6. What turns it back to the Achaians?

7. One of the most interesting literary techniques that Homer uses is the chiasm. The chiasm is a structure that looks like this;

    A

        B

            C

                D

            c

        b

    a