CLASSICS 2D03 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Iliad, Odysseus, Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences
13 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
The Iliad ( TEST) – WEEK #8
Book 3:
• The Trojan army marches from the city gates and advances to meet the Achaeans.
• Paris, the Trojan prince who precipitated the way by stealing the beautiful Helen from her
husband Menelaus, challenges the Achaeans to a single combat with any of their warriors.
▪ When Menelaus steps forward, however, Paris loses heart and shrinks back into the Trojan
ranks
• Hector, Paris’s brother and the leader of the Trojan forces, chastises Paris for his cowardice.
Stung by Hector’s insult, Paris finally agrees to a duel with Menelaus, declaring that the contest
will establish peace between Trojans and Achaeans by deciding once and for all which man shall
have Helen as his wife.
▪ Hector presents the terms to Menelaus, who accepts. Both armies look forward to ending
the war at last.
• As Paris and Menelaus prepare for combat, the goddess Iris, disguised as Hector’s sister Laodice,
visits Helen in Priam’s palace.
▪ Iris urges Helen to go to the city gates and witness the battle about to be fought over her.
▪ Helen finds the city’s elders, including Priam King of Troy and father of Paris, gathered
there.
• Priam asks Helen about the strapping young Achaeans he sees, and she identifies Agamemnon,
Ajax, and Odysseus
▪ Priam marvels at their strength and splendor but eventually leaves the scene, unable to bear
watching Paris fight to the death
• Paris and Menelaus arm themselves and begin their duel. Neither is able to fell the other with
his spear
▪ Menelaus breaks his sword over Paris’s helmet. He then grabs Paris by the helmet and
begins dragging him through the dirt, but Aphrodite, an ally of the Trojans, snaps the strap
of the helmet so that is breaks of in Menelaus’s hands.
▪ Frustrated, Menelaus retrieves his spear and is about to drive it home into Paris when
Aphrodite whisks Paris away to his room in Priam’s palace. She summons there too, Helen
▪ Helen, after upbraiding Paris for his cowardice, lies down in bed with him.
• Back on the battlefield, both Trojans and the Greeks search for Paris, who seems to have
magically disappeared.
• Agamemnon insists that Menelaus has won the duel and he demands Helen back
❖ The two armies approach each other on the battle field, the Trojans with war cries and the
Achaeans in silence.
❖ Paris appears in front of the Trojan force, challenging the Achaeans to fight him one on one
▪ Menelaus notices Parris and gleefully plans to fight him for revenge.
▪ Paris, seeing Menelaus, retreats into the Trojan lines.
❖ Hector criticizes Paris’ cowardice, telling him his talents and looks are useless on the battlefield.
▪ Paris agrees that Hector’s chastisement is appropriate, but that the gifts given by Aphrodite
should not be rejected either
❖ Paris tries to save face from Hector’s criticism by offering to fight Menelaus in a single combat
while both armies watch. The winner of the duel will take Helen home along with a vast
treasure, ending the wat without further bloodshed
▪ Hector happily agrees and strides out in front of the battle to declare a temporary truce
