The Song of Achilles

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The characters and stories of Greek mythology are pervasive in contemporary literature. Do you know any Greek myths? Describe the characters as well as the plot. What are the effects of Greek mythology on modern society, arts, and culture?

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on the class level, students may be well-versed in Greek mythology; however, if they are not, this question might be used as an opportunity to both ground students in the concept of a myth and introduce some popular myths to the class. Regarding the latter, students may be surprised to learn how many stories, characters, and aphorisms they already know that can be attributed to Greek mythology.

• Britannica provides a brief overview of Greek mythology.
• Greektravellers.com covers “30 of the Most Famous Tales from Greek Mythology.”

2. Consider your prior knowledge of the Trojan War. Where was it, and who fought in it? What was the motivation for fighting it? Which famous epic poem immortalizes this war? What do you know about Achilles, one of the war’s heroes?