1. Thematic Analysis Essay
The Iliad
Thematic Analysis Essay

2. Thematic Analysis Essay Due: ___________
1.Essays must be submitted electronically ( )
2. s must be sent by 11:59pm on the due date (tentatively 9/29/17)~ Anything sent after 11:59pm will NOT be accepted (yes, I am serious).
Send to
3.Late work will not be accepted.
4.Naming protocol: Lastname_IliadTheme _Period
**common last names, please include the first initial

3. Literary Analysis: Theme
Themes in the Iliad
•The role of fate in human affairs
•The destructive effects of anger
•The violence of war
•The importance of honor and courage
•The unpredictable ways of the gods
Overview
•A central insight into life
•Revealed through story events, character, and details

4. Create a two-column chart
Create a two-column chart. Identify three events in Books we read in class that are connected to the theme of fate.
Event How Event Connects to Theme

5. The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can’t be used for the essay.
Event
1.Agamemnon has refused to give up Chryseis.
How Event Connects to Theme
1.By refusing to give up the daughter of the priest of Apollo, Agamemnon has provoked Apollo to punish the Greek troops with a plague.

6. The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can’t be used for the essay.
Event
2.Agamemnon takes Briseis away from Achilles as compensation for his loss of Chryseis.
How Event Connects to Theme
2.By angering Achilles, Agamemnon once again brings a dire fate on his troops. Achilles, the Greeks’ most capable warrior, withdraws from battle, ensuring further military reverses for the Greek warriors.

7. The Role of Fate in Human Affairs
This is an example and it can’t be used for the essay.
Event
3.Hector ignores Andromache’s pleas that he stop fighting and return home to her.
How Event Connects to Theme
3.By ignoring his wife’s pleas, Hector ensures his death on the battle field at the hands of Achilles.

8. Structuring a Thematic Analysis Essay
I. Introduction
A. Begin with an interesting statement (no questions). You may begin with an explanation of the theme. Do not use dictionary definitions.
B. Briefly summarize the plot of the Iliad—no more than three sentences. (Homer is the poet).
C. Thesis Statement: Theme (and three events)

9. A. Transition & Topic Sentence: Event 1
Structuring a Thematic Analysis Essay
I. Body Paragraph 1
A. Transition & Topic Sentence: Event 1
B. Example 1 (textual evidence)
C. Explanation of quote (how it is connected to the theme)
D. Concluding Sentence—summarize your point
Repeat for Event 2 and Event 3

10. Structuring a Thematic Analysis Essay
V. Conclusion
A. Concluding Transition (therefore, consequently, thus) & summary of introduction
B. One-two sentence summary for each body paragraph (how the event is connected to the theme)
C. Restate your thesis statement.
D. Concluding Sentence—Use an “If then”: If fate had not played a role in human affairs, then Hector would have endured and his city would be saved.

11. Thematic Analysis Essay Assignment Choose one of the following themes (or a theme of your own) and explain how it is developed in the Iliad using specific examples from the text.
1.The destructive effects of anger
2.The violence of war
3.The importance of honor and courage
4.The unpredictable ways of the gods
You must create, complete, and submit the chart with your typed essay.

12. A Few Reminders
1.Write in the literary present. (No past tense when writing about literature).
2.Carefully proofread your essay for elementary errors, such as spelling, capitalization, punctuation, homonyms, and subject-verb agreement.
3.Do not use 1st(I) or 2nd(you) person EVER in a literary analysis!
4.The Iliad is an epic—not a novel or short story.

13. A Few Reminders
5.Introduce your quotations. Do not just “dump” them without any introduction.
Examples: According to, Homer writes, Achilles argues, Agamemnon replies, Andromache believes
6.Citing the Iliad(“the Iliad” should be italicized and note the use of the article “the”).
•Absolutely no page numbers!
•Correct citation: (book #.line #)
Example: ( ).
•Notice the placement of the “periods”:
–Separates the book number and the line number
–Ends the citation (outside of the parentheses).

14. A Word About Tone:
Your tone must be academic—even erudite—but absolutely not conversational

15. Formatting Your Paper •Font: Times New Roman •Font Size: 12
•Double-spaced
•Indent (tab) to begin new paragraphs
•MLA Heading: Left-justified
•Engaging Title: Centered—no bold print, italics, or increased font size
•Naming the document: Lastname_IliadTheme
Skinner_IliadTheme SmithZ_IliadTheme
**common last names need to include the first initial