The Iliad

Throughout this epic, we see hundreds, if not thousands, of people die on the battlefield. We learn of their fear of the consequences of battle, from Achilles’s death to Andromache’s enslavement by Greek victors. What might this epic be trying to teach us about war and about those who win and those who lose wars? How does this connect to the theme of the Fragility of Human Life and Creations?

Teaching Suggestion: So much of the power of The Iliad is in knowing that Troy will fall. Achilles loses his best friend. Andromache—with Hecuba, Helen, and Cassandra—will be taken from Troy. The story depicts a great tragedy. Encourage students to think about this and about what sticks with us about The Iliad.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle with speaking in front of people, an alternative approach could be to draw a portrait of one of the characters and to try to visually represent the stakes of the war for that character.