The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Iliad is read today as the earliest example of Western literature, the first work in a long tradition of heroic narrative..." (more)
Key Phrases: metrical sequence, oral poetic tradition, formulaic style, New York, Best of the Achaeans, Trojan War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Discusses Greek poetic traditions, analyzes the themes of the Iliad, and looks at the portrayal of Achilles, Hektor, and the gods.

Product Details

• Paperback: 275 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (November 22, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520056264
• ISBN-13: 978-0520056268
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #387,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A story for each listener/reader, August 21, 2000

By	Jon D. Walker (Sewickley, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book, Schein reviews the standard literature of the Iliad. He provides a structure for understanding the work. Beginning with the original performers and listeners, what stories they would have know, how this tale is different from the normal hero tales they were use to, and how those differences are important to the tale.

Another axis is how Troy was destined to lose, and at the same time, Hector is shown as the more moral of the leading fighters in the epic.

You can see the listeners hearing what they want from the story: a simple story of how their side won a long war, how their favorite warriors were braver than anyone else during some phase of the battles, how it would have all been different if the gods had not intervened, how it only turned out right because the gods intervened. And then also listeners who were listening for something more, also heard about `good things happening to bad people', and then even more that the bad people were in circumstances in which there were no other options, and how these people accepted their undeserved fates or railed against them.

4 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a mix of linguistic, thematic and character chapters, July 27, 2000

By	John de la Cruz (San Mateo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This book has 6 chapters : 1. The Poetic Tradition. 2. The Gods. 3. War, Death and Heroism. 4. Achilles: One. 5. Achilles: Two. 6. Hektor and Troy. I have found the 1st chapter on the oral poetry formulas clear and helpful. A diagram of the structure of the Iliad might have been helpful.

0 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Mortal Hero, October 9, 2007

By	Mark C. Erspamer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read the Iliad and thought that this book would be useful but it was not extremely useful and the book didn't come during the time it was supposed to come. The book was brand new and in perfect condition, which it should have been anyways.