The Song of Achilles
question
The Song of Achilles Discussion Questions
Isabel
Dec 08, 2023 08:34AM
1. Favorite character? Favorite scene/chapter?
2. Which character needs the most therapy?
3. In the Iliad, Patroclus is a relatively minor character. Why do you think the author chose him to be her narrator? Which other figures in the story might make interesting narrators?
4. Near the beginning of their friendship, Achilles tells his father that he values Patroclus because “he is surprising.” What do you think Achilles means by that? How is Patroclus different from the other foster boys? Why?
5. Thetis has a huge disdain towards Patroclus, why do you think that is? Do you think it’s because she foresaw what was to come in a prophecy, and wanted to prevent Achilles’ fate?
6. To what extent does Achilles’ ultimate destiny shape his choices? Is there such a thing as free will in this world?
7. On the island of Scyros, what motivates Deidameia’s desire to speak to Patroclus alone? What does she hope to achieve?
8. After the Greeks won several raids, Achilles takes Briseis as his war prize and helps save her from Agamemnon’s lustful wrath upon Patroclus’ request to do so. Does this make Patroclus heroic? Who do you think Miller portrays as the most heroic? Why?
9. What do you think of Odysseus? Is he trustworthy? Do you find him a sympathetic character? Why or why not?
10. What do you think of Achilles as he has started to develop into adulthood? How have your feelings about him as one of our main characters changed?
11. Achilles and Briseis each claim Patroclus’ loyalty and affection. In what ways are they similar or different? What are the dynamics of each of their relationships with Patroclus?
12. After Achilles’ death, Pyrrhus joins the war, and refuses to allow Patroclus lay in the same tomb as Achilles, going against Achilles’ wish. He kills Briseis after she refuses his advances, and sacrifices Princess Polyxena. How does Pyrrhus differ from his father, Achilles? How are they the same?
13. Thetis marks a spot for Patroclus next to Achilles’ tomb which allows the two to finally reunite in the underworld. Did this change your perspective of her?
14. Patroclus tells Thetis that he is “made of memories.” What role does memory—both personal and cultural—play in the novel?
2. Which character needs the most therapy?
3. In the Iliad, Patroclus is a relatively minor character. Why do you think the author chose him to be her narrator? Which other figures in the story might make interesting narrators?
4. Near the beginning of their friendship, Achilles tells his father that he values Patroclus because “he is surprising.” What do you think Achilles means by that? How is Patroclus different from the other foster boys? Why?
5. Thetis has a huge disdain towards Patroclus, why do you think that is? Do you think it’s because she foresaw what was to come in a prophecy, and wanted to prevent Achilles’ fate?
6. To what extent does Achilles’ ultimate destiny shape his choices? Is there such a thing as free will in this world?
7. On the island of Scyros, what motivates Deidameia’s desire to speak to Patroclus alone? What does she hope to achieve?
8. After the Greeks won several raids, Achilles takes Briseis as his war prize and helps save her from Agamemnon’s lustful wrath upon Patroclus’ request to do so. Does this make Patroclus heroic? Who do you think Miller portrays as the most heroic? Why?
9. What do you think of Odysseus? Is he trustworthy? Do you find him a sympathetic character? Why or why not?
10. What do you think of Achilles as he has started to develop into adulthood? How have your feelings about him as one of our main characters changed?
11. Achilles and Briseis each claim Patroclus’ loyalty and affection. In what ways are they similar or different? What are the dynamics of each of their relationships with Patroclus?
12. After Achilles’ death, Pyrrhus joins the war, and refuses to allow Patroclus lay in the same tomb as Achilles, going against Achilles’ wish. He kills Briseis after she refuses his advances, and sacrifices Princess Polyxena. How does Pyrrhus differ from his father, Achilles? How are they the same?
13. Thetis marks a spot for Patroclus next to Achilles’ tomb which allows the two to finally reunite in the underworld. Did this change your perspective of her?
14. Patroclus tells Thetis that he is “made of memories.” What role does memory—both personal and cultural—play in the novel?
reply
flag
Question 3
From the first page I asked myself why Patroclus would be the narrator. I thought about why it wouldn't be dual Pov. I asked myself why it wasn't Achillies even, but honestly, I think it's quite simple. Patroclus was always going to die but only those that know the original story know this from the start. He is speaking to the audience in a way that foreshadows what we all already know, and he's telling after he found out. But even though the story is for us in a way, Patroclus is really telling the story to Thetis the entire time. We know this is true because at the end of the book Thetis says when Patroclus is dead and talking to her on page 366.
"Have you no more memories?"
"I am made of memories." Is Patroclus's response.
Then she says, "Speak then."
The story is for her to understand her son and for the audience to remember Achillies for who he was in life, not right before death during his grief.
You also asked a few questions on the general consensus for each character and their development, so I'll just answer all that at once. I think Thetis new Patroclus would have something to do with her son's down fall but to what existent is unclear. I also think that at the end of the book when she carves his name next to Achillies, I doubt she actually changed at all. She was always just a concerned, overbearing mother who only wanted the best for her child, and she realizes Patroclus was always what was best at the end.
As for Achillies I don't think much of him. He was a product of circumstances out of his control. I think he probably didn't have much free will during these circumstances, since the end result would always be the same no matter how or when they got there. His adult self was a product and a result of this. He is a result of societal greed and his inner greed battling with the inner turmoil of being the person he was, the person Patroclus always saw him as.
As for Odysseus, again I think he was a product of circumstances only I think because he understood those circumstances, he was more able to control them by being the best he could be. I wouldn't call him trustworthy but perhaps loyal. Honorable yes. But personally trustworthy is hard to know because we haven't been given many chances to really see that demonstrated in my opinion. But I believe no matter what Odysseus always did his best to do what was right.
And as for my favorite character, I'm going to have to say Patroclus. As well as I think he need the most therapy. He's a people pleaser, he has PTSD, self-esteem issues, anxiety. codependency, and probably more I haven't thought of yet.
From the first page I asked myself why Patroclus would be the narrator. I thought about why it wouldn't be dual Pov. I asked myself why it wasn't Achillies even, but honestly, I think it's quite simple. Patroclus was always going to die but only those that know the original story know this from the start. He is speaking to the audience in a way that foreshadows what we all already know, and he's telling after he found out. But even though the story is for us in a way, Patroclus is really telling the story to Thetis the entire time. We know this is true because at the end of the book Thetis says when Patroclus is dead and talking to her on page 366.
"Have you no more memories?"
"I am made of memories." Is Patroclus's response.
Then she says, "Speak then."
The story is for her to understand her son and for the audience to remember Achillies for who he was in life, not right before death during his grief.
You also asked a few questions on the general consensus for each character and their development, so I'll just answer all that at once. I think Thetis new Patroclus would have something to do with her son's down fall but to what existent is unclear. I also think that at the end of the book when she carves his name next to Achillies, I doubt she actually changed at all. She was always just a concerned, overbearing mother who only wanted the best for her child, and she realizes Patroclus was always what was best at the end.
As for Achillies I don't think much of him. He was a product of circumstances out of his control. I think he probably didn't have much free will during these circumstances, since the end result would always be the same no matter how or when they got there. His adult self was a product and a result of this. He is a result of societal greed and his inner greed battling with the inner turmoil of being the person he was, the person Patroclus always saw him as.
As for Odysseus, again I think he was a product of circumstances only I think because he understood those circumstances, he was more able to control them by being the best he could be. I wouldn't call him trustworthy but perhaps loyal. Honorable yes. But personally trustworthy is hard to know because we haven't been given many chances to really see that demonstrated in my opinion. But I believe no matter what Odysseus always did his best to do what was right.
And as for my favorite character, I'm going to have to say Patroclus. As well as I think he need the most therapy. He's a people pleaser, he has PTSD, self-esteem issues, anxiety. codependency, and probably more I haven't thought of yet.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
