5-page DOUBLE-SPACED essay (minimum length). Notes to consider:On page 284, Achilles decides to accept his fate. Achilles seems to be the only character here who has a choice about his own fate. Why? What are his choices? Does Hector have a comparable choice or not? How would you compare Achilles and Hector, in terms of their relative power to determine their own fate? What do you think Homer means by fate?On pages 291-296, Homer describes in great detail the shield that the god Hephaestus makes for Achilles. What does the shield depict and what do those depictions mean? Why these pictures and not some others? If the shield is such a fine work of godlike art, what is it meant to represent in the story? Why does Homer spend so much time describing it? What does he want his audience to think about as they listen to this description? Bear in mind that the shield is 1) an instrument of war, 2) a work of art, and 3) a gift to man from the gods. What else is it beyond these three things?Site from The Norton Anthology of World Literature 4th editionPlease be careful NOT TO PLAGIARIZE. *Any instances of plagiarism in the final essay will not result merely in a zero on the assignment but in a failure of the entire course.*
discussion.docx
Unformatted Attachment Preview
– Achilles fate is that if he kills Hector he will die shortly after, but he is not afraid of this
fate because he knows no one can escape their own fate. I would compare Hector and
Achilles in terms of how they determine their fate by saying they are both reckless and
will go to any extreme to win/get what they want. I think Homer would describe fate as
unavoidable. The shield depicts the two cities and what is happening within them, they
represent a city in Greece and Troy. For example on page 295 book XVIII it states,
“Daedalus created for Ariadne of the lovely hair.” This is just one of the personal
touches added to the shield. I think Homer spends so much time describing it because
he is so honored and thankful to have received this gift of armor. He wants his audience
to think about how this is so much more than just a shield of armor, it is a gift from the
gods that has so much life on it.
– Iris flies down to Achilles and lets him know that he needs to prepare for battle because
his dear friend Patroclus is dead and his body will soon be mutilated if he doesn’t do
anything about it. Iris lets him know that if he decides to do nothing, the dishonor will be
upon him when the beaten body arrives back. He is skeptical at first because he still
does not have the armor he was told about, and Iris lets him know that it is on the way.
Hector also has a choice of his own. Poulydamas advises him to leave before the
imminent attack takes place, but Hector says that he is not a coward and he is going to
fight. By fate, I think that no matter what, these two were going to fight. But Hector could
have fleed and made it farther along, and Achilles could have stayed back and
inevitably went later on. I believe that the shield depicts all aspects of life. Homer used
great imagery so that the reader could properly imagine exactly what was on the shield.
With peace and war, marriage, the sun and the moon, a normal working class and
upper class are just a few examples of what their whole society represented. Beyond
those three things, I think that it is a representation of creation and life. I think a good
discussion would be to pick a certain aspect of the shield and why you think it is
significant.
– Achilles has a direct lineage to the gods through his mother, Thetis. Unlike others in the
same situation, he and his mother share a tight bond and she watches over him very
closely. The gods have the power to shape anyone’s fate as they see fit. Achilles seems
to have somewhat of a choice in his fate due to the fact that he can call upon his mother
at any given time to receive information or to ask for favors from the gods. He knows
that he could sail home without honor or fight Hector and soon die with honor. Knowing
these for a fact, he is given the choice to select his own path. Thetis accepts Achilles’
decision and speaks, “Then you will die soon, my child, from what you say; for your fate
is prepared straightway after Hector’s” (Homer 95-96). Hector does not receive the
same advantages. He thinks that he has a chance to defeat Achilles and return home.
His fate was not a choice but instead was unknowingly bound to happen in the end.
These two men differ in terms of knowing when fate will arrive. Homer seems to refer to
fate as the time in which a life comes to an end.
– Before charging into battle, Achilles needs to acquire a new set of armor. His mother,
Thetis, goes to ask Hephaestus to create some sturdy and beautiful armor. Among this
armor is a great shield with many depictions. Hephaestus states, “Would that I were so
surely able to hide him away from death and its hard sorrow, when dread fate comes
upon him, as he will have this splendid armor, such as many a man of the many men to
come shall hold in wonder, whoever sees it” (Homer 463-467). The images on the shield
reveal the life between both the Greeks and the Trojans. Struggles and beauty shine
across the entire work, revealing that they really aren’t as different as the mortals may
believe. The shield represents the existence of all life and also that the gods created life
for the people. Upon giving life, the gods also have the power to take it away just as
easily. Homer speaks with heavy lungs about the shield to show how important people
are to each other and to the gods. Among other things, the shield is a device that can
inform people on the greatness of the gods creations including the human race.
– Achilles did seem to be the only character that had a choice by his fate because if he
killed Hector he will not live much longer. Achilles’s mother states in lines 95-100, “Then
you will die soon my child, from what you say, for your fate is prepared straightway after
Hector. The greatly troubled swift-footed Achilles spoke to her: “Straightway may I die,
since I was not destined to help my companion as he was killed; and a very long way
from his fatherland, he he perished and lacked me to be his defender against harm.
Achilles does just what he wants to do. Achilles had a choice to go home and live long
with out glory and if he goes home, he will live long without glory. If he stays he will have
lots of glory, but plenty of short life. His choice is important because glory of gods don’t
control fate; there are times when they consider acting against it. Achilles wanted to
battle. Hector does not have a comparable choice. Achilles is being held responsible for
his own actions and decisions. Achilles don’t mind fate because he knows that it can’t
be escaped. He is good with living in peace. Hector on the other hand believes that if he
could avoid fate he would. Achilles shield that he depicts represents the outside of the
world of the Trojan War which means scenery of war and peace. Hector wants Achilles
to think about all what they have been through.
– Gods have the power to decide the fates that they see fit. Unlike the others, Achilles
mother is a god, so he has the upper hand of foreseeing his future. Although Achilles
seems to be the only character there who has a choice about his fate, he could either
choose to cowardly stay at home or he could kill Hector and experience the same
consequences soon after. Whereas Hector, despite not having a god for a mother also
had a choice. He could stay inside the walls of Troy or go out and fight Achilles. Both
Achilles and Hector had the power to make a different decision. But it seems that
everything is already fated to happen. Throughout the Iliad, it would as Homer describe
both their fate as inevitable. Before heading off the battle, Achilles acquires a new
shield. The shield is a microcosm of life on Earth because it depicts scenes from all
aspects of life war and peace, labor and holiday, birth and death. I believe that the
shield represents the cyclical nature of time and human events as ones turn the circular
shield, one sees scenes of war and then peace and then war again.
– Achilles feels that if he kills Hector he will soon die as well. He was warned that if he did
not battle against Hector he would be shamed upon when he or his body returned back
home. In those days, people believed that the Gods determined fate, but because he
felt his mom could receive information from the Gods, he could make special request
upon his behalf for his choice to be for the better. Either way he knew what the outcome
would be in the battle against Hector: honor or dishonor. By understanding this, he is
given the option to make his own choice. Archilles accepts the fact that he will battle and
understands that he will soon die. He is willing to sacrifice his life so that his name will
be remembered. He seems to believe his pride is more important and is willing to let his
emotions over power him to retaliate against Hector. Hector happens to be one of the
best warriors of the Trojans. Hector believed war and battle are evil and could never
equal happiness, but he understood his motivation and bravery was more important
than his pride. His loyalty is to his land and people by keeping it peaceful and safe.
Hector understood that he would be celebrated as a hero with either choice that he
made.
– Homer expressed fate as each man for themselves. Each man understands what could
happen in battle and they both had their own choices to make. We tend to make men
responsible for their actions and own up to their responsibilities in their life; I believe
Homer wanted each character to express their roles in their homelands and be able to
choose their own destiny. Each man understood their fate in different ways. In my
opinion it reminds me of how some people worship the bible and believes in the power
of after life with Jesus and how others live by the ten commandments of the bible, whom
may not believe in after life with a higher power. Homer used descriptions to help the
audience visualize what the shield was made of and how it was designed. Each design
had a meaning for life itself.
…
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
