The Choice of Achilles: An Epyllionic Exploration

Few stories have resonated so deeply through the millennia as Homer’s Iliad. Set against the backdrop of the great Trojan War, the epic follows the human tragedy of its heroes, particularly Achilles. The tragic nature of... [ view full abstract ]

Few stories have resonated so deeply through the millennia as Homer’s Iliad. Set against the backdrop of the great Trojan War, the epic follows the human tragedy of its heroes, particularly Achilles. The tragic nature of Achilles’ participation in the Trojan War lies in a choice he made prior to departing for Troy: a choice, so rarely granted to mortals, between two opposing fates. This presentation will explore the choice of Achilles in the format of an epyllion, or “little epic.” An epyllion is a poem that adheres closely to epic style, yet is considerably shorter in length. I will cover the background and style of the epyllion, including standard epic elements such as the invocation, ecphrasis, epic simile, epithet, apostrophe, and thematic content, as well as the choices I made in writing my own epyllion in homage to the epic style. In addition, I will discuss my primary sources of inspiration in creating this work, namely the epics and epyllia of Homer, Statius, and Catullus. Finally, I will present the epyllion that I wrote about the choice that sets Achilles on the path to the Trojan War.