Literary Tradition I
Patrick Hook

Essay 1:  Due Wednesday, SEPT 19th, in Mailbox

	Please choose one of the following prompts on the Iliad and write a 500-750 word essay (2-3 pages, typed in font-size 12) in response to it.  Attach a UD cover sheet, read and signed.  Late work will fall one full grade for every class period late.

1.	Concentrate on either the Helen-Aphrodite exchange in Book 3 or the Diomedes-Athene exchange in Book 5 and answer the following question:  Are human beings free in the Iliad?

2.	Examine one simile from Books 1-6 of the poem, and answer the following questions:  How, exactly, does the simile work, and what is its effect on the action in which it takes place?  What does a Homeric simile do?

3.	Are Achilleus’ anger and his responses to it justified?

4.	From Books1-5, answer the following question:  Is Agamemnon a good leader?

5.	Using Book 5 as your focus text, answer the following question:  Is there an art of war in Homer; if so, what are its features?