Comparing Book 9 And Book 24 Of Homer s Iliad - 951 Words

In this paper I will attempt to compare and contrast book 9 and book 24 of Homer’s Iliad, which touch upon similar issues, themes and characters, but often with a different intention and result. In particular, both books begin with a time of sorrow and feature examples of supplication and reconciliation, but in book 24 the mood gradually changes, while book 9 ends very much on the same note as it begun. Naturally, as the very first line of the Iliad states â€Å" Sing, goddess, the anger of the Peleus’ son Achilleus† (Iliad 1.1), the issue of Achilleus’s anger and his conflict with Agamemnon is central in both books and Iliad as a whole. In book 9 Achilleus is still very much consumed with his anger and not ready to let it go, even after Agamemnon recognizes his part in the conflict - â€Å"I was mad, I myself will not deny it† (Iliad 9.116) and sends an embassy to Achilleus in an attempt to honor him with great gift and reconcile, nor is he moved by the speech of Phoinix. In contrast, book 24 also starts with Achilleus’s anger, as Achilleus drags Hektor’s dead body across the tomb of his fallen companion Patroklos, but his anger subsides as Priam comes to his camp, supplicates him and evokes the thoughts of Achilleus’s own father, which causes Achilleus to think of how he would mourn him when his own death comes. This difference betw een book 9 and book 24 is very important in regards to the development of Achileus’s character. In book 9, his inability to see past hisShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Memory : Importance Of Memory1960 Words   |  8 PagesThe Importance of Memory Memory plays a significant role in a person s everyday life. Actions and emotions are based on the memories that are stored in a person s head. People then act in certain ways because of the thoughts that run around within their brains. These thoughts are born from the memories of past experiences and a person can recognize the emotions they felt when they were in a certain situation. Without these memoires, people would not know how to react under certain circumstances