Homer Iliad Book-3 Summary & Analysis

Book-3 Summary & Analysis The Greek and the Trojan armies face each other. They stand facing each other. The Trojans are victorious and the Greeks are silent. Paris will have a hand-to-hand fight with Menelaus, whose wife he had abducted. He gives challenges to all the leaders of the Greeks to fight with him in mortal combat. 

Menelaus gets an opportunity to avenge his insult. Paris, whose conscience, makes a coward of him, becomes frightened to meet his formidable adversary. He goes away from the battlefield. Nectar at once reprimands him for his cowardice. Paris fully admits the justice of rebuke.

He, therefore, purposes that he will have a combat with Menelaus and Helen will be the prize of victory. Helen will be given to the winner. Helen is busy weaving a golden tapestry. 

It carries the story of battle between Greece and Troy. Iris, the goddess of the rainbow comes to her. She takes the shape of the loadice, daughter of Priam and asks her to watch what is happening in the battlefield.

She goes there and locates Priam, surrounded by the elders of Troy.They say that this long-drawn battle is worthwhile for a woman like Helen. But since she proves so fatal, she should be sent back to Greece for the safety and security of the people of Troy. Priam receives Helen quite cordially although she has brought to the country untold misery. She sites by the King on the watch-tower.

Priam asks Helen to tell the names of the Greek kings and chiefs, whom she recognizes. Helen at first identifies Agamemnon, the "King of men". The second in the list is Ulysses. The third one is Ajax. 

He is almost like a giant with little intelligence. Besides Ajax minds Idomenus, a friend of Menelaus. Wistfully Helen looks around to see her brothers, Castor and Pollen there.

A herald comes there and their conversation is interrupted and the readers miss Helen's estimate of the other Titans of the Greeks. Priam is requested to attend a conference where he will ratify the armistie. 

It is done so that Paris and Menelaus may decide the issue in single combat. For the happiness of Jupiter, the sacrificial lambs are slain on either side.

Lots are drawn as to who will throw away the spear. Paris, winning the lottery lures the spear.It hurts the armour of Menelaus. Menelaus, prays to Jupiter for help, hurls his lance and it slightly touches the skin of the enemy. 

He rushes forward with a drawn sword and seizes Paris, drags him to his side. Venus, the presiding deity of Paris, comes to his rescue and wrapping the place in mist, takes him away from the battlefield and leaves him in the bed chamber, face to face with Helen.

Homer the Iliad Critical analysis

There is a sharp contrast between the Greeks and Trojans, as the battle is set in a way. The Greeks march in silence, while the Trojans are victoriously with a clash of weapons. From Book three, we learn the characters of Hector and Paris. The cowardly retreat of Paris from the battle indicates that he shines more as alover than-a warrior.

Hector rebukes him justifiably For he knows that Troy has been plugged into a terrible blood-bath only for Paris. In Book one there is a reference to the quarrel between two Greeks namely Agamemnon and Achilles. It has an element of bitterness and rancour But in the passage-at arms between Hector and Paris, there is tender solitude Hector loves his brother in a natural way.

He is cruel only to be kind. Hellen appears for the first time in Book Three. Homer is a great artist and he does not describe the ravishing beauty of Helen here or elsewhere. As Helen comes to the gate of the citadel, the elders of the city, seated by Priam see her for the first time. They tell each other: 'It is no blame to Greeks or Trojans to fight for such a woman. She is enchanting, she is sweet, hard yet so fatal.

Iliad summary by Homer.

The elders do not go into hysterics about a woman's beauty. But Homer, in a few masterly touches, and with the supreme economy, presents a paragon of beauty that launched a thousand ships at Ilium. We come to know Helen's human aspect. 

Asked by Priam she tells the names of the Greek chiefs, standing a fa She feels cornered as she does not find her brothers. Priam and Hector never looked upon her as a fatal beauty-'a white devil. Prima says Not three I blame, shouting But to the gods I owe this woeful war.

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