Second History Presentation - Handout

This is my handout from my second history presentation (about Achilles). I like this handout a lot... :)

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Achilles – Sophia Lee

I. Introduction

• Name: Achilles

• Position: Leader of the Myrmidons

• From Phthia in Thessaly

• whole story of The Iliad is about Achilles’ anger and revenge

• famous for “Achilles’ heel”

II. Events that Happen to Achilles

• fights with Agamemnon

• insulted by Agamemnon, withdraws his army

• Patroclus leads Achilles’ army back into battle

• Patroclus killed in battle by Hector

• Achilles becomes angry, seeks out Hector and kills him

• Book ends with Hector’s funeral

III. Physical Characteristics

• Probably handsome, strong and skillful warrior

• only weakness is heel – “Achilles’ Heel”: only but crucial weakness (idiom)

IV. Personality

• Inspires fear and respect in others, presence boosts the Greeks’ courage

• Easy to annoy, Obstinate

• When angry, becomes unstoppable – could even change fate

V. Family and Friends

• Father: mortal Peleus

• Mother: sea-nymph Thetis

• War Prize(girl): Briseis

• Closest friend: Patroclus

VI. Death

• Many predictions in the book about Achilles’ short life and death

• Will die under Trojan walls

• Even Patroclus and Thetis predict his early death

VII. Athene

• Goddess of war, wisdom, and the arts and crafts, “Pallas Athene”/”Grey-eyed Athene”

• Always with Achilles, protecting him

Source: Translated by E. V. Rieu. The Iliad by Homer: Penguin Classics, 2003



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