The Iliad

• Genre: Fiction; heroic epic in verse
• Originally Published: Unknown; written origins often dated to 8th century BCE; translation by Robert Fagles published in 1990
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 11-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: Approx. 15,700 lines of dactylic hexameter divided into 24 books (original Greek translation)
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: The epic poem follows Greek hero Achilles into the later violent and deadly episodes of the Trojan War, exploring themes of fate, anger, pride, and the hero’s journey.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: War; death; violence; objectification of women

Homer, Author

• Bio: The authorship of The Iliad and The Odyssey continue to be debated; in fact, the name “Homer” may refer to the tradition of epic hexameter verse rather than a writer. Scholars tend to think the poem was established in the oral tradition over centuries, then written down sometime around mid-8th century BCE.
• Other Works: The Odyssey (Greek epic poem typically attributed to Homer); other Robert Fagles translations: The Odyssey (1996); The Aeneid (2006)
• Awards: Academy of American Poets Harold Morton Landon Translation Award (1991)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Journey of the Hero
• Fragility of Human Life and Creations
• Poetry as a Medium of Immortalization

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical contexts of oral traditions and Poetry as a Medium of Immortalization.