Introduction

The Iliad and the Odyssey, the two epic ancient Greek poems attributed to Homer, are widely considered to be foundational texts in Western literature. Yet, the poems contain many features that seem unusual or just plain weird to the modern reader. In order for you to be able to read and better understand the poems, you will be introduced to some of the major characteristics of Homeric poetry. This free course, Introducing Homer’s Iliad, will focus on the first of the two poems, which tells the story of the Trojan War. You will begin by learning about the wider cycle of myths of which the narrative of the Iliad was a part. You’ll then look more closely at the story of the poem itself and its major theme of the anger of Achilles, in particular in the opening of the poem. Using this opening, you’ll examine some of the characteristic features of the text: meter, word order (and its effects on the translation), and epithets. Finally, you’ll learn about one of the key features of Homer’s poetry, the simile. This should prepare you to read the Iliad, as well as the Odyssey, on your own with greater ease and interest.

Learning Outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the plot of the Iliad and the wider cycle of myths of which it was a part
• Identify characteristic features that show how the Iliad was composed orally
• Use these features to think about and interpret the poem.