Pretest Answers

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. Hektor kept his eyes on him, and avoided it, for he dropped, watchful, to his knee, and the bronze spear flew over his shoulder and stuck in the ground, but Pallas Athene snatched it, and gave it back to Achilleus, unseen by Hektor shepherd of the people. How does the excerpt reveal ancient Greek beliefs?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. But when for the fourth time they had come around to the well springs then the Father balanced his golden scales, and in them he set two fateful portions of death, which lays men prostrate, one for Achilleus, and one for Hektor, breaker of horses, and balanced it by the middle; and Hektor’s death-day was heavier and dragged downward toward death, and Phoibos Apollo forsook him. Which statement best describes how this passage conveys ancient Greek beliefs?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. "I entreat you by your life, by your knees, by your parents, do not let the dogs feed on me by the ships of the Achaians, but take yourself the bronze and gold that are there in abundance, those gifts that my father and the lady my mother will give you, and give my body to be taken home again, so that the Trojans and the wives of the Trojans may give me in death my rite of burning.” What ancient Greek belief does this excerpt best illustrate?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. "But now my death is upon me. Let me at least not die without a struggle, inglorious, but do some big thing first, that men to come shall know of it.” So [Hektor] spoke, and pulling out the sharp sword that was slung at the hollow of his side, huge and heavy, and gathering himself together, he made his swoop . . . How does the excerpt reveal ancient Greek beliefs?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. Deeply troubled [Hektor] spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: "Ah me! If I go now inside the wall and the gateway, Poulydamas will be first to put a reproach upon me, since he tried to make me lead the Trojans inside the city on that accursed night when brilliant Achilleus rose up, and I would not obey him, but that would have been far better. Now, since by my own recklessness I have ruined my people . . .” What does Hektor’s perspective reveal?

How are Zeus and Athene similar in The Iliad of Homer ?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. But if they are dead already and gone down to the house of Hades, it is sorrow to our hearts, who bore them, myself and their mother, but to the rest of the people a sorrow that will be fleeting beside their sorrow for you, if you go down before Achilleus. Come then inside the wall, my child, so that you can rescue the Trojans and the women of Troy . . . Who is speaking and revealing a perspective in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. Remember every valour of yours, for now the need comes hardest upon you to be a spearman and a bold warrior. There shall be no more escape for you, but Pallas Athene will kill you soon by my spear. You will pay in a lump for all those sorrows of my companions you killed in your spear’s fury.” Which statement best describes why Homer includes this speech from Achilleus’s perspective?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. "Ah me, this is a man beloved whom now my eyes watch being chased around the wall; my heart is mourning for Hektor who has burned in my honour many thigh pieces of oxen on the peaks of Ida with all her folds . . .” Who is speaking and revealing his perspective in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from The Iliad of Homer. Then in answer the goddess grey-eyed Athene spoke to him: "Father of the shining bolt, dark misted, what is this you said? Do you wish to bring back a man who is mortal, one long since doomed by his destiny, from ill-sounding death and release him? Do it, then; but not all the rest of us gods shall approve you.” What does Athene’s perspective reveal?