You will want to have the Stanley Lombardo translation of Homer's Iliad by next Monday.

As we read through Homer’s work, I would like you to annotate for the following themes. We will discuss The Iliad with these themes in mind, starting class by clearing up any comprehension questions. Discussion will primarily be focused upon what we learn about the culture in mythological terms, o these themes. At the end of discussion, we will shift to contemporary connections that we make with epic-poem. The themes:

Leadership – strong and poor, skills needed, internal/external conflicts leaders face, resolve conflict, success/failure, etc.
War—why one must engage in war, what rules must one follow, what lessons emerge from war, what impact war has on society (and soldiers)
Women – role, portrayals, as objects, positive/negative effects on men, archetypal roles, etc.
Weakness – emotions/actions perceived as weak, consequences of, perceptions of, effects of (fear,
rage, greed, guilt, pride, etc.)
Honor – source of, attainment of, as motivation or obstacle, quest for, actions that taint warrior’s honor, etc.
Alliances – how and why are alliances formed, hinder or help, forged or broken, how formed, etc.
Death – causes of, consequences of, coping, honor dead, rights of dead, archetypal patterns, relationship between death and war, etc.