A Heroic Epic — an Analysis on the Themes and Leading Character in Iliad 英语毕业论文.doc

A Heroic Epic ?an Analysis on the Themes and Leading Character in Iliad Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Introduction to Iliad Homer’s Epics, Iliad and Odyssey, are regarded as the “Bible of Greek” and have become the source of western literature. They not only have a high value in literature, but also show invaluable information on the subject of geography, archaeology and folklore to future generation. They are the only written historical records during the eleventh century B.C. and the ninth century B.C. in the Greek history known as the “Homeric” period, and are also the common wealth of mankind. Iliad, one of Homer’s Epics, is well-known for its heroism and romanticism. It describes the last 51 days of the Trojan War, praises the heroic and awe-inspiring feats, and records various aspects of the ancient wisdom of the Greeks as well as the political structure of ancient times, the legal customs, military strategies and so on. It begins with the wrath of Achilles. Because of the uneven division of the spoil a female captive, Achilles withdrew from the war. The Trojans took this opportunity to fight with the Greeks. At the exigent moment, Patroclus, Achilles’ companion and dearest friend, put on Achilles’ armor to go to the battlefield. Unfortunately he was killed by Hector. Achilles was overtaken by heart-rending grief when he heard his friend’s death. He returned to the war to kill Hector and took away his body after disgracing it. The old king of Trojan, Priam, also the father of Hector, went to the tent where Achilles resided to beg Achilles to return his son’s body to him. Achilles granted his request. The epic ends with the funeral of Hector. 1.2 The background of Iliad Generally Iliad is fathered on Homer who is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet. However, some scholars are doubtful whether Homer is an individual because of no reliable biographical information to prove it. They guess that Homer Epic is the creation of many centuries of oral story-telling, s