The Iliad

"The Iliad" by Homer is an ancient story that tells about the Trojan War and all the drama that came with it. It zooms in on Achilles, a super strong Greek warrior, who gets really angry. The story looks at big ideas like what it means to be honorable, getting even with people, and whether we can control what happens to us. There are lots of characters to keep track of, like Agamemnon, who leads the Greeks, and Hector, a prince from Troy who's a good guy. The story kicks off with a major fight between Agamemnon and Achilles because Agamemnon won't give back a captured woman, which causes a nasty plague. Achilles is so mad about this and because he feels disrespected, he quits fighting and asks his mom, Thetis, to get Zeus to help the Trojans beat the Greeks. This beginning really sets the mood, showing how much pride and competition can mess things up for everyone.