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 VII
This analysis is based upon A Study of the "Iliad" in Translation by Frank Lowry Clark. (Chicago: The University of
Chicago Press, 1927).
Part I. The duel between Hector and Ajax, 1-322
I. Return of Hector and Paris to the battle field, 1-16
II. Intervention of Athena and Apollo, 17-42
III. Hector, incited by the prophet Helenus, challenges the Greeks to a duel, 43-91
IV. Deliberations of the Greeks
a) Menelaus offers to meet Hector, but is restrained, 92-122
b) Nestor, recounting his own youthful exploits, stirs up the heroes, 123-69
V. The casting of lots, 170-205
VI The duel, 206-72
a) Preparations on both sides, 206-43
b) The actual fighting, 244-72
The duel is a draw.
VII. Intervention of the heralds, exchange of presents, rejoicing in both camps, 273-322
Part II. Recovery and burning of the bodies of the dead, 323-484 (end)
I. Agamemnon commands the burning of the dead, 323-37a
II. The building of the wall about the camp, 337b-43
III. Council of the Trojans, 344-80
a) Antenor proposes to surrender Helen and all her possessions, 344-53
b) Paris objects to surrendering Helen but is ready to give back her possessions, 354-64
c) Priam advises that the herald Idaeus be sent to the Greeks to offer Helen's wealth and to ask for a truce of the recovery of the bodies of the death, 365-80
IV. Idaeus bears his message to the Greeks, 381-97
V. Spirited reply of Diomedes, 398-404
VI. Agamemnon refuses to accept Helen's possessions but grants the truce, 405-17a
VII. Both Greeks and Trojans collect and burn their dead, 417B-36a
VIII. The Greeks build a wall about their camp, 436b-41
IX. Deliberation of the gods concerning the wall, 442-64
a) Poseidon complains because the Greeks have not offered sacrifice, 442-53
b) Zeus promises that Poseidon shall at last overthrow the wall, 454-64
X. The night-scene; market of the Lemnians; portents from Zeus, 465-84(end)