'Troy' : Homer vs Peterson/Benioff Quiz

Answer: 10 Days

Homer begins his narrative in the tenth year of the war, and then works in allusions to past events. The benefit of this timeframe is that the weariness and discontent within the Achaean forces is more understandable. Wolfgang Peterson's film is much shorter, consisting of a few days fighting and the false withdrawal.

This method moves the plot along much more swiftly, essential for a modern blockbuster. In total 'Troy' takes around 16 days (including the 12 set aside for hector's funeral).

Answer: They are there only as objects of worship.

Homer uses the support of the Gods to demonstrate the superiority of certain people. Throughout his poem his heroes receive aid at moments of victory and are abandoned in the moments of their defeat or failure. 'Troy' has the gods only in a very peripheral role.

The temple of Apollo is sacked by the rampaging Myrmidons, and he is seen as the protector of Troy. The gods do not however enter the action.

Answer: Launched a thousand ships

It is interesting to note that Helen is never physically described by Homer. She is supposed to be the greatest beauty and the most attractive woman ever to grace the world. His descriptions of Helen are regarding her actions and mindset, not her physical attributes. Played in 'Troy' by Diane Kruger, Helen is said to have "the face that launched a thousand ships".

Answer: Andromache

War is the domain of men, but Homer has a large number of women in his poem. Aside from the Goddess' there are a number of strong women. Andromache, wife of Hector, is a constant pillar of strength in the 'Iliad'. She is a dutiful wife and mother, supporting her husband in his decisions and displaying the characteristics that a proper wife (of that time) should.

Her devotion is in direct contrast to Helen's abandonment of her husband and lack of correct behaviour.

Answer: Thessaly

Homer sets the scene for his epic with a council of the leading kings of Greece. He shows them warring in the council chambers, showing that a strong sword arm had to be tempered with a keen mind. Peterson opts for a more visually stunning episode, the invasion of Thessaly by Agamemnon's army.

Answer: Menelaus is shot by Pandarus, ending the duel.

The duel between Menelaus and Paris is designed to resolve the war and bring an end to the conflict. It is clear in both the film and the 'Iliad' that Paris is going to get beaten, badly. The film and the poem show this, but then show different versions of the outcome.

In 'Troy' Hector kills Menelaus, in the 'Iliad' Pandarus shoots Menelaus with an arrow before he can deliver the final blow to Paris. The wounded king is brought back to the Achaean camp and patched up before resuming his slaughter of Trojans.

Answer: Hector

The death of Patroklus is the event which brings the sulking Achilles back into the fighting. Both the film and the original poem retain this event. In the poem Patroklus attempts to climb the walls of the city and is hurled back by Apollo before falling under Hector's blade. In 'Troy' the battle occurs at the beach, but the hero who claims Patroklus' life is unchanged.

Answer: Ajax

In 'Troy' only Ajax the greater appears. It is he who tries to crush Hector with a huge hammer, towards the beginning of the film. In Homer's tales Ajax the greater is a stalwart of the Achaean forces and his death by suicide becomes apparent in the 'Odyssey'.

He is dismayed at losing a wrestling match against Odysseus during the funeral games of Achilles and, unable to live with the shame, ends his life. Ajax the lesser is a slight man and a thoroughly un-likable character, his death follows his desecration of a temple and the raping of a priestess on the altar.

Answer: She returned to Sparta with Menelaus.

In the 'Iliad' Helen plays a very small role, she identifies the main Achaean heroes from the wall and describes them for Priam (and the listener). Her other activities are restricted to the bedroom. She is very much seen as an object to be owned and not a person.

In the 'Odyssey' she is described as trying to trick the Achaeans out of their horse by mimicking the voices of their wives. This ploy is unsuccessful and she is claimed by Menelaus following the sack of Troy and returns home to Sparta with him.

Answer: Achilles does not die.

The 'Iliad' does not contain the full account of the Trojan War. It begins in the tenth year and ends with Hector's death and the return of his body to Priam. Achilles' death is clearly foretold throughout the poem. His choice to fight (and kill) Hector will result in his death, and he knows it.

The circumstances of his death are not told in the 'Iliad' but he will die from an arrow shot by Paris (with the aid of Apollo) before the walls of Troy. It is only after his death that Achaeans build the horse and sack Troy.