Iliad (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Homer
- First Published: 750
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Epic
- Time of Work: The Trojan War
- Setting: Troy
- Genres: Poetry, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Mythology or myths, War, Kings, queens, or royalty, Legends, Gods or goddesses, Heroes or heroism, Greek or Roman times, Battles, Greece or Greek people, Trojan War, Bronze Age
- Locales: Troy, ancient, Hades, Mount Olympus (mythic)
Characters Discussed
Achilles (uh-KIH-leez), the son of Peleus and the Nereid Thetis, prince of the Myrmidons, and mightiest of the Achaian warriors at the siege of Troy. At his birth, his mother had dipped him in the Styx, so that all parts of his body are invulnerable to hurt except the heel by which she held him. A young man of great beauty, strength, courage, and skill in battle, he nevertheless possesses two tragic flaws, an imperious will and a strong sense of vanity. Enraged because King Agamemnon orders him to surrender the maid Briseis, whom Achilles had taken as his...
[The entire page is 2544 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
Related Topics
