The pursuit of kleos, or glory, that drives the Iliad, is often considered in opposition to nostos, homecoming,
which is at the heart of the Odyssey. This dichotomy is readily apparent in Achilles: he can either have
everlasting fame or return home, and the choice that he makes is not an easy one. The Iliad recognizes the hold
that the desire for glory has on us, but it doesn’t neglect the costs of that pursuit.
In this paper, I will be looking for you to make a claim about the pursuit of glory/fame in the Iliad, but I want
you to complicate this idea a bit further. Think about how the pursuit of glory interacts with other thematic
ideas. You might consider some of the questions in the list below as you try to develop a thesis.
*Fate: How is the pursuit of kleos impacted by fate? Is glory the result of choices that the characters make, or are
they destined for greatness?
*Gender: How are women depicted in the epic? Why is cowardice associated with femininity in the Iliad? Who
is the ideal man in the Iliad and why?
*Ritual: What role does feasting play in the Iliad? What is the role of sports in the epic? Why is the exchange of
gifts so important?
*Fear: Does fear rob characters of their glory? Are there any nuances in the way that fear is depicted in the Iliad?
Are some kinds of fear more acceptable than others?
*Family: Why are so many characters referred to as “son of X”? What is the relationship between dedication to
family and kleos?
Sample Solution