This material has been used for many years by Professor Tom Sienkewicz in his courses at Howard University and
at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. If you have any questions, you may contact him at toms@monm.edu.
ANALYSIS OF ILIAD IV
This analysis is based upon A Study of the "Iliad" in Translation by Frank Lowry Clark. (Chicago: The University of
Chicago Press, 1927).
I. Pandarus breaks the truce and wounds Menelaus, 1-219
a) Council of the gods upon Olympus, 1-72
b) Athena stirs up the Trojan Pandarus to shoot an arrow at Menelaus, 73-103
c) Pandarus shoots Menelaus in the side with an arrow, 104-47
d) Agamemnon comforts Menelaus and sends for the physician Machaon, who spreads healing herbs upon the wound, 148-219
II. Review of the Greek troops by Agamemnon, 220-421
a) Agamemnon commends those of his troops who are actively preparing for battle and rebukes those who are hesitating, 220-49
b) Agamemnon praises Idomeneus and the Cretans, 250-71
c) Agamemnon commends the two Ajaxes and the Argive troops, 272-91
d) Agamemnon praises Nestor and his Pylian troops, 292-325
e) Agamemnon finds that Menestheus and Odysseus are not yet making preparations and criticizes them, but is encouraged by the sudden spirit of Odysseus, 326-63
f) Agamemnon criticizes Diomedes and his charioteer Sthenelus, declaring that they are not so good as their fathers. Sthenelus replies, but is sharply rebuked by Diomedes, 364-421
III. Beginning of a general battle, 422-544(end)