The Iliad

1. The Iliad A Look into the Life of the Author Humanities I Mrs. Cave-Mattie

2. The Iliad • The Iliad is considered one of the Western World’s most important pieces of literature and culture. • It focuses on a few days toward the end of the 10 year Trojan War between the Greeks and the Trojans. • It is important to remember that the Iliad was originally intended to be heard, not read • It was originally recited orally • No one is sure when it was exactly first written down • Some of the story is based on events that really happened, although a great deal of myth and legend has been added in as well.

3. Homer • Very little is known about him • Known as “The Poet” • Whether or not he was a real man is still up for debate • Most people believe that he was a real and possibly blind poet (no real evidence of this) who lived around the 8th century B.C. (no definite date can be determined) • He writes about people who lived in Greece 500 years before him. • Either Homer, or a group of people, originally recited the tale, but Homer is given credit for writing them down, if not creating them entirely on his own.

4. Homer • The “Homeric Question” • Was Homer the single poet? Or, was the Iliad a compilation of the work of many? • Many happen to feel that the epic is a collective work of groups of scholars and poets to whom the name Homer was later applied. • Others believe that the epic has a consistency of style and outlook, which indicates that it was the genius of one writer.

5. Homer • Though little is known about Homer’s life, if he did indeed write the epic on his own, it has become an ever-lasting tribute to him. • His works have set the standards for poets of all ages, each measuring themselves against his genius. • Many believe that Homer has never been surpassed, even to this day.