1. What do Hera's actions in Bk. 14 reveal about her attitude towards Zeus and the nature of her relationship with him?
2. What instructions does Achilles give Patroclus before he lets him go into battle? Why doesn't Patroclus follow these instructions?
3. Why does Patroclus die? Is his death merely the result of random chance, or is it a consequence of his own actions? Of Achilles' actions? What role does Apollo play in his death? Why?
4. Why does the poet devote so much time to the description of the shield forged by Hephaestus for Achilles in Bk. 18? What is the significance of the scenes on this shield? What is the function of this book in the Iliad as a whole?
1. What is the role of the gods in the creation story? How does their role compare to that of God in Genesis?
2. What is the nature of the relationship between the generations of the gods? How would you explain such a peculiar situation? Are there any parallels in the Judeo-Christian tradition?
3. What, according to the Theogony, is the origin of sacrifice? Does this story do anything to assure us that sacrifice is an effective way to gain the help and favor of the gods?
4. How does the story of the creation of woman compare to the story of Eve in Genesis? What are the cultural values communicated by this story?