Honor And Glory By Homer - 1574 Words

Steven Exum Mr. Lipscomb AP Literature and Composition, B Period October 5, 2015 Honor and Glory The idea of obtaining honor and glory are what Greek characters dedicate their lives to. The Greeks lived by a heroic code, which shaped their society. Being remembered, as a great warrior, is one of the highest honors a Greek soldier can obtain. Honor and glory are the cause of the Trojan War, which takes the lives of many men. Honor and Glory are what define the hero in the epic poem, The Iliad, written by Homer. Throughout the Iliad, honor and glory is the motivation behind the characters, there are different ways to obtain honor and glory, and the different views of honor throughout the epic poem. The idea of honor and glory are essential to understanding the motivation behind the characters in the Iliad. Glory was gained by the heroic actions and deeds. The best opportunity to gain honor was during a battle. A warrior would try and obtain honor during the battle, no matter the cost. The importance of honor can be seen in Hector’s final battle when he says, â€Å"Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter. (Homer, Iliad 22.232)† Hector has accepted that he will die at the hand of Achilles. However, he wishes to be remembered as a great warrior of Troy. Hector does not wish to have his live spared, but rather he wishes to do some honorable deed and die with honor and glory. Glory came as aShow MoreRelatedThe Iliad : Greeks And Their Love For War1568 Words   |  7 PagesGreeks loved war. The Greeks loved glory, and honor! Death was a necessary path for all humans, an idea we ll established long before the Greeks. In the eyes of the Greeks, there is but one way to achieve immortality: Through glory! Thus, I think to understand why the Greeks were so actively involved in war, one must first understand why ‘war’ was a necessary tool for glory! The Greeks, exhibited varying views to violence, but they never waivered on their opinions of glory. In this essay, I will attemptRead MoreHonor And Glory : Greek Character And Way Of Life1484 Words   |  6 PagesHonor and glory are central to Greek character and way of life. Heroes are the essence of the nation and society that they come from. Because of this, they lead their lives according to this code of honor and glory. This need for honor erupts in the Trojan war and shapes the outcomes of every decision made in this war. Every Greek warrior strives for the legacy of their fame in battle to resound, even after their demise. The concepts of honor guide the outcomes of the illustrations in this ep icRead More Achilles Honor in Homers Iliad Essay1298 Words   |  6 PagesAchilles Honor in Homers Iliad    The Greeks placed great importance on personal honor. Why is this? Is it because to them man I nothing without honor. Or is it that the honor is more important than the man? 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