The Reaction Of Book 15 (Chapter 15) Of Homer's Iliad Book Review Example

Main Idea:

The book Iliad by Homer glorifies the war and the life of the warriors but the depiction of everyday life which appears on the shields seems to have the same importance or even more, being seen as equally noble, suggesting that every actions in life has its own importance.

Supporting point:

Power-symbolic, implicit and explicit is very powerful in this story. The Iliad by Homer treats a lot of themes from human experience being one of the most compressed narrative stories. One of the elements which represent power as a symbol is the shield of Achilles which is even a single piece of armor, related to one single man, the shield symbolizes perspective on the entire war, the world beyond the battlefield, the war being seen as only as another aspect of life. Human beings are seen where not only as warriors but they serve also as labors and artisans in the field.
Two sides of the glory coin-killing and dying in the battle makes a strong argument that Iliad is celebrating the war. Characters are sorted by their degree of bravery and competence in the battle. The story doesn’t ignore the realities of war as women becoming concubines or slaves, men die gruesome deaths; estrange from the family and in the face of the horror in the end the both armies’ regrets that the war even began.
Hierarchy of the gods becomes here in the book, a hierarchy of masculinity putting the gods who correctly express balanced masculinity and equilibrium at the top. The amount of influence on goddess and god is proportionated with the masculine expression of power, supported by deeds of words.

Summary:

When Zeus wakes up, he sees the disaster provoked by Poseidon and Hera that happened when Zeus was in his magic sleep. Hera blames Poseidon about helping the Achaeans of his own free will but the situation is saved by Zeus who comforts her that Zeus has not clear interest in defeating Achaeans in order to proclaim the Trojan victory. Zeus offers help and support to Hera and fro their army but even with that the destiny of Troy will still collapse and also the end of Hector will come, after he will kill Patroclus. Zeus sends Hera to go to Olympus to bring Apollo and Iris. Back in Olympus, Hera meets the furious Ares who is preparing on going down on the battle to revenge the death of his own son. Irish goes to see Poseidon and order him to drop the battle field, while Apollo goes on searching Hector and his companions which fills them with fresh strengths.
Hector will lead a battle against Achaeans but the enemies are in control of the fight until Apollo joins the army and the Achaeans will retreat in fear. The great warrior, Toast recognizes that Hector is helped by some god and suggests to Achaeans forces to return and defense their ships, while him; the greatest warriors will try to hold back Hector a little bit longer. But the Trojans are smarter and they are rounding the Achaeans cutting down the warriors from right and left. The long path thru ships, the army will fight until the finally rich it and there the one to one struggle breaks out. Teucer rich to fell of some Trojans but when he got in viewpoint Hector’s silhouette, Zeus snaps his bowstring. From one ship, Ajax encourage the troops but Hector assemble all Trojan warriors and gain ground step by step until Hector has close enough to feel the ship on his back.