Why should I read the Iliad?

Why should I read the Iliad?

The Iliad is the archetypal war story, and at the same time it is an anti-war story. It shows us the heroism and also the tragedy and senselessness of war. It is the prototype of all wars and all war stories. It puts human faces to the struggle and the suffering.

What is the Iliad about for kids?

The Iliad is an epic poem written by the Greek poet Homer. It tells the story of the last year of the Trojan War fought between the city of Troy and the Greeks. Achilles – Achilles is the main character and the greatest warrior in the world. He leads the Myrmidons against the Trojans.

What age is appropriate to read the Odyssey?

I would mostly recommend this epic to teens 15 and older, not because of the language used but moreso the level of maturity needed to understand the sensuality used in the novel. In my opinion, older male viewers may find The Odyssey to be a great read.

Why is the odyssey inappropriate?

The Odyssey contains plenty to offend pacifists and vegetarians. The slaughter and cooking of animals for foods, and for religious sacrifice, is described in detail. Odysseus loses several crewmen to the six-headed monster Scylla, and faces numerous dangerous threats in his journey.

Should I read the Odyssey or Iliad first?

The Iliad is the earlier work (it was written first) [1]. Also the events in the Odyssey are a direct consequence of what happens in the Iliad and the reader of the Odyssey is assumed to know the summary of the plot in the Iliad and who the main characters are. So it would come natural to read the Iliad first.

Which is better the Iliad or the Odyssey?

I like The Odyssey better. It’s a more entertaining read. The Illiad is pretty good, but it’s a bit dry in places, and it goes on too long. The Iliad is much better in my opinion, the scope of time is minimized significantly but this makes for a much more thorough look into the characters and plot development.

Which is easier Iliad or Odyssey?

So it would come natural to read the Iliad first. I can’t argue which is the more captivating read, however, the Odyssey is an easier read since it features more autonomous substories (the stages of the voyage) and fewer characters.

What should I read before the Iliad?

Before the Iliad I would suggest:

  • Theogony – This was written by Hesiod , a Greek poet active in the 7th/8th century BCE.
  • Works and Days – Also by Hesiod, Works and Days also gives a lot of background, notably breaking down the different Ages of Greek mythology.