The Iliad Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What is the Catalogue of Ships, and where does it appear in the Iliad?
• In which book does the Greek embassy to Achilles occur?
• In Patroclus's dream, what does Patroclus ask Achilles to do?
• Which three Greek leaders other than Achilles hold prominence in the epic?
• The nostoi concept is challenged because:
• Which pair embodies the home-front motif by representing family ties and domestic concerns?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Who is Helen's husband before Paris seduces her?
• Which statement best captures the final described stance of the gods after Zeus lifts the prohibition?
• According to Zeus, who is the only person who can prevent the destruction of the Greek army?
• How does Achilles anger the river god?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What does Apollo do to Hector's body?
• Which statement correctly reflects Helen's familial connection?
• Which funeral activity is included in Patroclus's games?
• Who forges Achilles' armor at Thetis's request?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• The shield's imagery is described as including which of the following?
• Who rescues Paris in the middle of the duel?
• Which goddess helps Diomedes by granting him extraordinary strength?
• What does Zeus do to the Achaeans that causes them to panic?
• Why is Astyanax frightened when he sees his father Hector?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Zeus's state during these events is described as what?
• What does Thetis want Achilles to do before fighting?
• How does Achilles respond to the Book 9 embassy?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What does the Iliad present about leadership responsibility in the Greek camp?
• Which two gods are named as being wounded by Diomedes?
• Which pairing of gods is typically associated with the Greeks and the Trojans respectively?
• How is the theme of hospitality tested in the interaction between Achilles and Priam?
• Why does Zeus not intervene to save Hector?
• Which deity is directly responsible for giving Hector great strength?
• Which weapon did Ajax use to knock Hector unconscious?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• The one-on-one combat involves which river god?
• How do the Greeks decide who will duel with Hector?
• The contest over a war prize triggers a major dispute between which two leaders?
• Which statement is accurate about Achilles and Ajax?
• Who saves Nestor from being killed by Hector?
• What appears on Achilles' new shield?
• What are kleos and time, and how do they motivate Achilles in Book 1?
• Which two goddesses attempt to persuade Zeus to intervene in the battle?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Which opening element foreshadows later crises caused by pride, mercy, or the gods' involvement?
• Which warrior is credited with knocking Hector unconscious using a boulder?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Who is Chryses and what crisis arises from his appeal?
• What does Paris say that the duel will accomplish?
• Patroclus was raised by which figure?
• When is The Iliad thought to have been composed?
• What is the significance of Andromache’s scene with Hector in Book 6?
• What does Patroclus convince Achilles to do?
• What is Achilles' reaction to Agamemnon's offer to fight the Trojans?
• How do mortals and divine motives interact to drive the plot of the Iliad?
• Who believes that Paris has won the duel?
• What do the gods do when Zeus lifts the prohibition against their involvement in the war?
• Which element is least associated with creating the epic's mythic tone?
• Which soldier draws blood first during the duel?
• What does the Iliad suggest about mercy and retaliation in war?
• By the start of The Iliad, how long has the Trojan War been ongoing?
• What do Hera and Athena try to convince Zeus to do as the battle is raging on?
• Who leads the Greek embassy to Achilles in Book 9 and what do they offer?
• Helen's brother-in-law is?
• Who kills Zeus's son Sarpedon?
• Which trio of Trojan leaders/ally figures appear prominently, reinforcing Trojan resistance?
• In Book 2, what is the narrative function of Zeus's dream that signals a new course for the Greeks?
• What happens to Zeus after Hera seduces him?
• Name two female figures central to the plot and summarize their roles.
• What does Achilles' new armor symbolize?
• According to Zeus, which warrior's involvement could avert disaster for the Greeks?
• Which combatant is wounded by Paris?
• What role does Zeus play in the gods' involvement in the war?
• Which deity is involved in Patroclus's death?
• What is an epic simile in Homeric poetry, and what purpose does it serve?
• Who is Briseis and what does her status symbolize in the quarrel?
• What is the effect of Hector's death on the Trojans?
• What does Dolon do when he meets Odysseus and Diomedes?
• What is the ultimate fate of Hector after the duel?
• What does Nestor hope Patroclus will do?
• Who kills Hector?
• In honor of Patroclus, what does Achilles organize?
• What does Iris tell Hector to do?
• Thetis wants Achilles to wait for what before fighting?
• What does the emphasis on armor and weapons reveal about the heroic code?
• What is the Iliad's central moral message?
• Which action follows Chryses' plea to Apollo?
• Who suggests Helen be returned to Menelaus?
• In Book 18, what does the Shield of Achilles symbolize within the narrative?
• What motivates Achilles to return to combat after Patroclus' death?
• Who believes that Paris has won the duel?
• Which figure intervenes to rescue Paris during the duel?
• How does Agamemnon rally his troops?
• Which deity punishes the Greeks by plague?
• Which deity arbitrates the balance of power in the war?
• Who kills Patroclus?
• Which god helps bring about the death of Patroclus?
• What does Achilles believe his destiny is?
• Why does Achilles reprimand his horses?
• Priam's appeal to Achilles is based on what theme?
• Which element most contributes to the Iliad's sense of timeless myth?
• Why is Zeus reluctant to punish the Achaeans?
• What about Hector's armor helps Achilles defeat him?
• Who sets fire to a Greek ship?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a motivation for Achilles' return after Patroclus' death?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• The opening action is best described as focusing on which element?
• What exchange does Agamemnon demand in return for returning Chryseis?
• What motif in the Iliad reflects the longing for home despite ongoing war?
• What is one major action Thetis takes in the war?
• Why are Helen and Hector upset with Paris?
• What is an epithet in Homeric poetry, and which of the following is a classic example?
• To honor Patroclus after his death, Achilles organizes what type of public events?
• Which of the following figures is a mentor among the Greek counselors in the Iliad?
• What is the outcome of Priam's appeal?
• What best describes Achilles's arc in the Iliad?
• Which statement best describes Agamemnon's motive for proposing a retreat?
• What happens to Patroclus?
• Achilles sacrifices how many Trojan warriors on Patroclus's pyre?
• After Zeus lifts the prohibition, how do the gods primarily participate in the war?
• Hera's attempt to influence Zeus involved a breastband provided by which goddess?
• How do the troops respond to Agamemnon's declaration that he has given up?
• According to the duel's outcome, which result is claimed by Paris?
• To whom does Achilles direct his appeal in seeking divine aid?
• What is a consequence of the quarrel over Chryseis and Briseis?
• How does Diomedes respond to Agamemnon's weeping?
• Which phrase best describes the emotional exchange between Achilles and Priam after the appeal?
• Which statement best describes the opening action's emphasis on honor, parental bonds, and divine interference?
• In Book 24, how does Priam approach Achilles and what does he request?
• Briseis is best described as what in relation to Achilles?
• Which trio of Trojan leaders/ally figures appear prominently, reinforcing Trojan resistance?
• Which deity is associated with protecting Hector's body?
• Which gods does Diomedes wound?
• Which event involves Dolon revealing the positions of the Trojan army and its allies?
• Who helps rescue Machaon after Paris wounds him?
• Which pair embodies the home-front motif by representing family ties and domestic concerns?
• Who does Nestor hope Patroclus will imitate in battle?
• Who kills Dolon?
• What favor does Achilles ask of his mother?
• Who are the main Greek counselors in the Iliad, and what do they contribute?
• What is the consequence after Agamemnon's demand?
• During a stormy battle, what do Helen and Paris do?
• Who intervenes when the troops are fleeing?
• Achilles engages in a one-on-one combat with which immortal?
• Which messenger tells Hector to wait for Agamemnon to be wounded?
• Who triggers the plague on the Greeks and why?
• What qualities are Achilles and Ajax heralded for?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What does Achilles do upon his return to battle?
• Who saves Achilles from the river god?
• Why does Zeus initially agree to help the Trojans?
• What is the relationship between Thetis and Achilles?
• Who proposes returning to Greece because he believes the war was a failure?
• What is the significance of the funeral games for Patroclus?
• Which character is described as a wise elder among the Greek leaders and serves as a counselor?
• What does Chryses want Agamemnon to do?
• What role does the Muse play in the Iliad's opening?
• What action ends the plague?
• What does Zeus tell the gods about the battle between mortals?
• Achilles' rage toward Agamemnon is provoked by which demand?
• What event follows Patroclus' death?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Which figures accompany Odysseus in the Greek embassy to Achilles?
• Upon his return, what does Agamemnon give Achilles?
• Patroclus convinces Achilles to do what regarding armor?
• What grave tactical error does Hector make due to overconfidence?
• What does Poseidon do to the Achaeans?
• Achilles oversees a series of funeral activities for Patroclus including: Which option is included?
• Which god does Apollo convince to fight for the Trojans?
• After the plague ends, what happens to Briseis and how does this affect Achilles?
• What is the opening invocation of the Iliad and its purpose?
• Which factor best describes how the epic blends myth and war?
• Who seduces Helen and steals her from her husband?
• How does the epic address the idea of homecoming despite the war's foreground?
• What does Nestor suggest doing next in battle?
• How does Apollo react to Chryses' prayers for help?
• Who wounds Diomedes?
• What does the opening action foreshadow?
• The athletic competition occurs after the funeral of which character?
• Patroclus' funeral best reflects its reflection of communal values?
• Which god is convinced to join the Trojan side by Apollo?
• The Achaeans hold their athletic competition after the funeral of Patroclus.
• What is the central moral tension of The Iliad?
• How does King Priam convince Achilles to spare Hector's body?
• How does the poem treat the tension between pride and mercy?
• How is the plague resolved and what action prompts it?
• Who sends the plague to the Achaean camp near the start?
• Who forges Achilles' new armor and in which book does it appear?
• What does Zeus do to the archer Teucer?
• What is the state of the Trojans at the left end of the line as Hector and Paris approach?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• Which statement best describes the role of wise counsel in leadership?
• Who returns Hector's body to the Trojans?
• Which figure asks Zeus to help the Trojans on behalf of Achilles?
• Which examples illustrate the theme of family and domestic life in the Iliad?
• The death of which character leads Achilles to berate his horses?
• Which event signals mercy affecting the war's course?
• Which duels are cited as notable in the Iliad?
• What does Zeus cause Agamemnon to dream about?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a prominent Trojan leader/ally aside from Hector?
• How do the gods influence events in the Iliad? Provide two examples.
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What do Hector and Paris find when they reach the left end of the line?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What does the eagle drop among the Trojan soldiers?
• In the context of the duel, who is the Greek champion who duels Hector?
• Which god directly causes a change in Teucer's weapon?
• Which goddess tricks the Trojans into thinking Hector's plan is good?
• What are the two arcs of Achilles and Hector, and where do they intersect?
• What does Odysseus talk about to reinvigorate the Achaean army?
• What magical charm does Hera use to seduce Zeus and make him fall asleep?
• What does the appearance of the eagle signal?
• What does Paris offer the Achaeans in order to end the war?
• Which of the following is NOT described as one of the ways Achilles dishonors Hector's body?
• What does Zeus foretell about Hector?
• Where is Achilles' old armor most vulnerable to attack?
• Does Achilles die during the events of The Iliad?
• Who does Hector plan to reward with half the war's loot?
• What action by Achilles frightens the Trojans?
• What does Achilles do to Hector's body?
• What divine action does Zeus take regarding Hector?
• How does Athena trick Hector?
• Which omen signals victory for the Achaeans?
• In Book 1, what two leaders quarrel and what do they dispute?