HOMER: The Iliad [Book XXIV]

In Book XXIV of Homer’s Iliad, Priam departs from Troy with the intention of ransoming Hector’s corpse from Achilles. Priam’s mission is a dangerous one – the Greeks may seize and hold him as a valuable hostage. Therefore, the god Mercury conducts Priam safely and stealthily through the camp to Achilles’ tent.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book XIX]

In Book XIX of Homer’s Iliad, Thetis brings the newly forged armor to Achilles. She finds him weeping over Patroclus. He tells her that he is worried that Patroclus’ body will decompose while he is away fighting the Trojans and avenging Patroclus’ death. Thetis puts nectar and ambrosia into the nose of Patroclus and assures Achilles that Patroclus’ body will not decompose while he is away. Then she instructs him to assemble the Greek army and inform them that his wrath towards Agamemnon has abated.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book XVII]

In Book XVII of Homer’s Iliad, the Greeks and Trojans fight over the corpse of Patroclus. The Trojans desire to carry the corpse back to Troy in order to ransom it for the corpse of Sarpedon, whom the Greeks recently killed. The Greeks, on the other hand, naturally desire to give Patroclus a proper burial.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book III]

In Book III of Homer’s Iliad, the Grecian and Trojan armies face off with one another. Before they engage, the two armies agree to determine the war by a single combat between Menelaus, the Spartan King, and Paris, the Trojan Prince who stole Menelaus’ wife, Helen, and sparked the Trojan War.

SHAKESPEARE: As You Like It

William Shakespeare’s As You Like It was first performed in 1603. It is one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies. It tells the story of the amusing courtship and eventual marriage of Rosalind, the daughter of the Duke, and Orlando, the son of a Knight. Although the play is a comedy, Shakespeare explores many serious philosophical themes, such as those of love and pastoral life.