The Iliad In David Malouf's Ransom And Wolfgang Petersons

Homers Iliad has served as inspiration for countless texts over the years. Its story line and the ideas it incorporates have the ability to adapt as shown in David Malouf’s Ransom and Wolfgang Petersons Troy. Ransom centres around the death and ransom of the body of Prince Hector after Achilles killed him, the main focus however is the interpersonal relationships and idea of other or shadow self. Shadow self creates a juxtaposition within a single character allowing the reader to better understand their actions motives and reactions. The film Troy begins prior to the beginning of the Iliad, which begins its story in the tenth year of the Trojan War, the film actually begins with Helens abduction from Sparta. Troy focuses of the heroic aspects

The Nature of War is expressed though out the Iliad and can be related to not only the Trojan War but all wars throughout history. The ideas of Heroism, Honour and pride are the basis of all warriors. The Dark Ages, a time of regression in ancient Greece after the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, was when the first known telling of the Iliad occurred. During the dark ages written text was non-existent therefore the Iliad was passed down in the oral tradition. When civilisation emerged from the Dark Age and into the beginning of the archaic age and the Iliad was written down, it was written to be read aloud, as it was still to be an oral tradition. As such, tone and pace play a large role for a reader. Not only will an understanding of correct tone and pace make for a more enjoyable read but it will aid with understanding the true meaning of the text. The heroes of the Iliad each have differing degrees of intensity to them, this is shown through the tone and language of the text. Agamemnon is surrounded by “thunderous” tones, the uses of words such as “roared” and “boomed” give a sense of dangerous power, this creates a more forceful tone. Through epithet