BOOK 18 : THE IMMORTAL SHIELD CHAPTER SUMMARY (by IV-Electron, Group I) Back at the ships, Antilokhos sees the

e Akhaians retreating. He remembers the prophecy his mother once told him that the best of the Myrmidons would die. Antilokhos realizes the best of the Myrmidons was Patroklos. Antilokhos reaches Akhilleus and delivers bad news. He tells Akhilleus that Patroklos has been killed by Hektor. Hektor now possesses Akhilleuss armor, which he took from Patrokloss body Akhilleus is overcome by the grief of losing Patroklos (his friend and companion), and falls to the ground and weeps. The captive women of Akhilleus and Patroklos join in his grieving. Antilokhos holds Akhilleus's hands to make sure he doesn't kill himself in his grief. Akhilleus cries out so loudly he is heard by his mother Thetis, a goddess at the bottom of the sea. Thetis comes to see her son. Thetis cries knowing there is nothing she can do for Akhilleus but she will go to see him. She brings her nymphs and they exit the beach and go see Akhilleus. Thetis reminds him that Zeus has made the Akhaians suffer losses like he wanted. But Akhilleus thinks none of that is worth it now because Patroklos has died. Akhilleus then exclaims that he wished he was never born. Then Akhilleus realizes he should kill Hektor. Thetis tells Akhilleus that if he kills Hektor, he himself is fated to die shortly after. But Akhilleus refuses to let that stop him. He then becomes mad at himself for fighting with Agamemnon and leaving. He must go back. Thetis reminds him that he has no armor, and she promises to return the next day with armor from Hephaistos. She sends the nymphs back under the sea to tell her father she has gone off to see Hephaistos on Mount Olympos. Meanwhile, on the field, the battle for Patroklos's corpse rages on inconclusively. Patrokloss corpse lies on the battlefield, and both sides wish to claim it. Iris, messenger of the gods, comes down from Olympos and tells Akhilleus he must rescue Patroklos. Akhilleus says he cannot leave because he has no armor, and he promised to wait for Thetis to return. Iris tells him he just has to show himself to the Trojans and they will retreat Akhilleus agrees. When he gets to the when he gets to the trench, Athena dawns on him the following items The Aegis (Zeus's shield) A flaming cloud on his head like a crown. She set his body ablaze with light Akhilleus lets out 3 cries, all of which Athena echoes. The 3 cries send the Trojans retreating The Akhaians use this opportunity to bring Patroklos back. Akhilleus and the other Akhaians mourn over him. Night arrives. It is the end of a day of battle that has been drawing out since Book 11 In the Trojan base: In the Akhaian base: Poulydamas (a lieutenant and close companion of Hektor) Everyone mourns for Patroklos. explains to Hector that the Trojan army has been winning Akhellius grieves the most because he had promised because Akhilleus left the Akhaians. Patrokloss father that his son would come home. Poulydamas tells Hektor to retreat and return to Troy. Akhilleus swears that he will not bury Patroklos until he has But Hektor refuses to retreat after all they have done. He killed Hektor. doesnt care if Akhilleus has returned. To him, Akhilleuss Then they wash and anoint Patroklos's corpse and wrap it in return changes nothing. white cloth. Hektor says they fight at dawn, and the other Trojans agree. Meanwhile, Thetis arrives in Hephaistos's workshop. She is greeted by Hephaistos's wife, the goddess Grace (another name for Aphrodite). Hephaistos is glad to see Thetis. He remembers how Thetis helped him when his mother Hera threw him off Mount Olympus for being weak and lame. He asks what it is she needs. Thetis explains that her son is doomed to die in the battle but needs armor in order to fight. Hephaistos agrees to create Akhilleuss armor. He fashions: A shield which he covers with pictures of the heavenly bodies and the ocean Within these, he creates pictures of cities in war and peace, the city and country, and conflict and celebration. A cuirass (breastplate and backplate) A helmet Greaves (leg armor) Thetis leaves with the finished armor

BOOK 18 : THE IMMORTAL SHIELD CHAPTER ANALYSIS (by IV-Electron, Group I)

THE COMING OF NIGHT

The bringing of night changes the pace of the poem, creating greater drama which the reader feels is a strategy to build up the intensity of the upcoming battle. The importance of this book lies in how Homer wishes to show exactly how strong Akhilleuss drive is to exact his revenge up Hektor. As seen by the worrisome Poulydamas, the return of Akhellius marks the turning point in the battle where the Akhaians now have the upperhand. POULYDAMAS AS A FOIL TO HEKTOR As seen here and in previous books, Homer uses Poulydamas as a foil to Hektor. A foil is a character whose actions are opposite that of the main characters to emphasize the actions of the main character. In this particular book, Poulydamas makes Hektor look too proud by insisting that the Trojans retreat due to the return of Akhilleus. It is stated that Hektor denounces the idea and therefore makes him too blind, in the eyes of the reader, to the sense in the logic of Poulydamas. THE SHIELD OF HEPHAISTOS In the forging of Akhilleuss new armor by Hephaistos, Homer describes with great detail and specificity the shield. Homer makes the reader aware of the extent of how beautiful the shield is as a means to express its power when used in battle. By using both art and poetry, Homer is able to increase sense of importance of the shield on the reader. Homer also wishes to, in contrast to the narrative style of the Iliad, take the time to describe this shield, which contains representations of the entire belief and social systems of the time. This everythingness symbolized in the shield shows how the power that will be vested unto Akhilleus will be beyond everything that is currently happening, and even beyond the war; and this shield, and its representation as described, should give Akhellius the upper hand. Also, it should be noted that the description of the shield centers around human society, however its craftsmanship is that only achievable by the gods.