The Iliad by Homer (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Iliad by Homer. It provides a thorough exploration of the poem’s plot, characters and main themes, including heroism and history. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 23-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Homer
• Presentation of The Iliad
• Summary of The Iliad
• Character study
  • Achilles
  • Hector
• Analysis of The Iliad
  • From a “historical fact”…
  • …. To a myth: Homer’s literary work
  • The posterity of The Iliad

About The Iliad

The Iliad was written some time in the 8^th century. It is a Greek epos which tells the story of the ten year war which was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans.

The Iliad, together with The Odyssey, is one of the most famous pieces of classical Greek literature, if not one of the most well-known works of all time. It is followed by The Odyssey, which can be considered to be somewhat of a sequel.

About Homer

Nobody knows very much about Homer, the great Greek poet who is supposed to have lived sometime during the 8^th century BC. In fact, many experts have actually questioned whether or not he existed at all, arguing that it is perfectly possible that ‘Homer’ was actually a group of writers who composed The Iliad and the The Odyssey. What is more, there is no record of anyone with name Homer in the period when the man is supposed to have lived. The question is further complicated by the fact that the writer is now shrouded in myth and legend.

There are merits to both sides of the argument, and so it is possible that we will never learn the truth about this mysterious, extremely famous Greek writer.