Why do the myths, works of art and literature history and artwork concerning the Trojan war furnish such a great opportunity to engage all the major questions of life and society and of the humanities
The Trojan War which is a legendary conflict between the people of Troy and the Greeks is said to have been fought for about 10 years with great influence from the gods. The myths and the arts value the Trojan War because it shows that mortals are subject to the fate decided upon them by the gods. In this case, Zeus saw that the number of human beings populating the earth was so high and he decided to depopulate the earth through a war. In addition, Zeus had fathered many children with mortal women and it was time to get rid of his many offspring fearing that some of his sons would overthrow him just as he had done to his father Cronus.
Give a broad overview of how the gods are depicted by (1) Homer (2) Euripides
Homer portrays the gods as arrogant and selfish creatures. Although the gods are at times shown to be loving and caring, they always hold some self-serving reasons behind any help they offer to humans. Homer uses the selfish and arrogant nature of the gods including their fight for superiority among themselves to his advantage. Homer, for instance, takes it as comic relief when the gods argue among themselves because the subject of their argument is usually something funny or stupid.
Euripides depicts the gods as taking extreme advantage of humans and creating strife between the two parties. There are several human surrogates used by the gods. The human beings seem conquered and the only reason for which they worship them gods is a desire to escape the wrath of the gods and some piety.
Give a broad overview of free will and fate in the (1) Iliad (2) odyssey and (3) a play by Euripides
In the Iliad, only the gods have free will. The mortals do not have it and in all they do they can only try and alter fate without any major effects. The Iliad shows that fate is predetermined and it is the destiny of mortals since it cannot be changed. Freewill is farfetched among mortals since it means doing something without fate or constraint.
In the Odyssey the characters have significant control or responsibility over their lives and everything is not up to fate. In this case the gods engineer fate and make several things to happen such. In other words, the gods make up the plans and even choose the path that people have to walk and it is in the walking that one can alter their fate slightly.
Discuss the significance of the following scenes/episodes (1) the embassy to Achilles (2) Odysseus’ trip to the Deadlands (3) Hecuba’s debate with Helen
Homer was faced with great difficulty in keeping Achilles who has chosen to withdraw from the battle and leave Agamemnon after their quarrel. Agamemnon visits Achilles to give him an opportunity to speak and resolve their differences.
Odysseus’ trip to the Deadlands or the underworld was to make offerings in accordance with the instructions given by Circe. He gathers the shades or ghosts of the dead to drink blood as they talk about his fate. The ghosts state that Odysseus will get home safely although he will be troubled and all his companions will die.
Hecuba’s debate with Helen concerned the fate of her death. She argued that she could not he justifiably punished with death because she had served as the tool of a powerful goddess. However, Hecuba discredited Helen because she wanted to prevent Helen’s reinstatement and she (Hecuba) wanted Menelaus to kill Helen.
Discuss the significance of the following episodes (1) The encounter of Nestor and Patroclus (2) Penelope’s testing of Odysseus (3) Polyxena’s behavior when she sacrificed in the Hecuba
The encounter of Nestor and Patroclus shows the differences in the attitudes between not only Nestor and Patroclus but between Achilles and Patroclus as well. The encounter shows that Patroclus shares in Achilles’s anger.
Penelope tested Odysseus to assure herself of his identity in personality, clothing and travels.
Polyxena’s behavior when she sacrificed in the Hecuba was a way to show that she could not escape her fate as she started to prefer death to slavery.
Give a broad overview of considerations of justice in (1) Iliad (2) Odyssey (3) the Trojan women
Justice in the Iliad and the Odyssey is informed and guided by the whims of the gods whose divinity influences the actions and decisions human beings take whenever meting out justice. The divide issues of cause and effects are the central ways in which justice was defined and practiced. However in the Odyssey significant freewill among mortals influences how justice is meted out. In Trojan Women, it is futile for people to find justice because the gods are not willing to give out wisdom and justice.
Works cited
Homer, The Iliad. Web 14 Jan 2017 http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.html
Homer, The Odyssey. Web 14 Jan 2017 http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.html
Euripides The Trojan Women Web 14 Jan 2017 http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/troj_women.html
