Book I
19 argumentative units
- 01The Argument and Invocation
The book's plot is summarized, followed by the poet's invocation to the Muse to sing of Achilles' wrath.
- 02Chryses' Plea and Agamemnon's Refusal
The priest Chryses begs for his daughter's return, but Agamemnon angrily rejects his plea and sends him away.
- 03Apollo's Plague and Achilles' Council
Chryses' prayer unleashes a plague, prompting Achilles to convene a council to discover the cause of the god's anger.
- 04The Seer's Caution and Achilles' Oath
The seer Chalcas rises, asks for protection before speaking, and Achilles swears an oath to defend him.
- 05The Prophecy and the King's Fury
Chalcas reveals Agamemnon is the cause of the plague, and the king erupts in fury, demanding a new prize.
- 06Agamemnon Threatens to Seize Briseis
Achilles accuses the king of greed, and Agamemnon threatens to take Achilles' own prize, Briseis, in compensation.
- 07Achilles Denounces Agamemnon's Tyranny
Achilles furiously recounts his reasons for fighting and declares he will no longer serve such an ungrateful king.
- 08Agamemnon's Defiance and Divine Intervention
Agamemnon scoffs at Achilles' threats and vows to take Briseis, prompting the goddess Minerva to intervene as Achilles draws his sword.
- 09Minerva Stays Achilles's Hand
Minerva appears to Achilles, urging him to restrain his anger and sheathe his sword, promising future rewards for his obedience.
- 10Achilles's Oath of Withdrawal
Achilles unleashes a torrent of verbal abuse on Agamemnon and swears a great oath on his sceptre to withdraw from the war.
- 11Nestor's Plea for Reconciliation
The aged Nestor rises and attempts to pacify the two leaders, recalling heroes of old and urging wisdom and compromise.
- 12The Quarrel Ends, The Armies Part
Agamemnon and Achilles exchange final, angry words before the council dissolves and the armies attend to their duties.
- 13The Seizure of Briseis
While the army performs rites of purification, Agamemnon sends two heralds to Achilles' tent to seize his prize, Briseis.
- 14Achilles's Lament to Thetis
After Briseis is led away, a grieving Achilles goes to the shore and calls upon his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis.
- 15Achilles Asks His Mother for Vengeance
Achilles recounts his dishonor to Thetis and implores her to ask Jupiter to grant victory to the Trojans to punish Agamemnon.
- 16Thetis's Promise and Ulysses's Mission
Thetis promises to petition Jupiter in twelve days, while Ulysses arrives at Chrysa to return Chryseïs and appease Apollo.
- 17The Sacrifice to Apollo
Chryses joyfully receives his daughter and leads the Greeks in a sacrifice and prayer to Apollo to end the plague.
- 18Thetis Appeals to Jupiter
After twelve days, Thetis ascends to Olympus and begs Jupiter to honor her son by giving victory to the Trojans.
- 19Jupiter Grants Thetis's Request
Though reluctant to anger Juno, Jupiter grants Thetis's plea and confirms his promise with an irrevocable nod that shakes Olympus.