Ivy G.’s Reviews > The Iliad > Status Update

War goes on and I like how the gods and goddeses are divided between the Grecians and Trojans, so one isn’t overpowered by the other like in The Odyssey where the gods clearly favored Odysseus and Telemachus.

In this case, the gods played favorites but right now, I can’t help but root for the Grecians. Also, where is Achilles?

It’s kind of amusing seeing how the goddesses just encouraged so much more drama by whisking Paris away and reuniting him with Helen while the Spartans and Trojans fought. Meanwhile, Jove is keeping out of it while the warriors prayed for their fates.

I’m curious to see Helen’s POV and why things have led to where it is though. I’m hoping to gain more clarity for her character.

I am overwhelmed by the division of the armies between Agamemnon and Hector. But at least it gives so much context as to why the former is regarded as the King of Kings.

Also a bit confused by how this ploy of gathering the armies was meant to help Achilles to favor him over Agamemnon but that doesn’t seem to be the case now.

I am slightly lost over how Juno tasked Pallas to prevent the ships from sailing but then encourage Atrides and the armies to go anyway with Pallas in disguise later on.

I don’t know why Juno held them back only for Pallas to backtrack on her orders. Maybe Pallas disagrees with her? Betrayed her word after appeasing her using Ulysses? I hope I can understand this better later on

I think I’m understanding it better. Achilles is the son of Thetis and she petitioned to Zeus for the Trojans to win as vengeance and he approved it. Though I didn’t really understand the conversation between the other gods before everyone feasted, I can’t really say if it’s something of importance either.

Just when I thought that The Odyssey was intimidating, but tackling this book has got to be my most challenging and ambitious read yet.

I’m only 15 pages in, but epics in poetry is testing my reading ability to the max! I’m engaged to the story and understand that Agamemnon and Achilles are in disagreement over some captives. But I can’t say I can understand every line…