Literature Study Guides. Page 2

Antigone Questions and Answers

Antigone Questions and Answers

Forgot about the test on Sophocle’s Antigone tomorrow? Need to write an essay about it and want to revise the main facts about the play? In this article by Custom-Writing.org experts, you can find all the information you might require. The most popular questions and answers about Antigone are gathered...

Antigone Essay Prompts, Topics, & Examples

Antigone Essay Prompts, Topics, & Examples

It happens that all your motivation and inspiration suddenly go away. And it is totally normal. However, the deadline will always be there! We understand how hard it can be for a student to come up with creative topics for all the essays. No worries, here is a little something...

Antigone: Symbols, Genre, & Literary Analysis

Antigone: Symbols, Genre, & Literary Analysis

Is Antigone a tragedy? Who is the protagonist in the play? What are the symbols and literary devices used by Sophocles? Find the answers in this article about Antigone symbolism and genre written by Custom-Writing.org experts. This short guide is perfect for any student who needs to get ready for...

Antigone Themes

Antigone Themes

What are the themes in Antigone? Gender roles, fate vs. free will, sibling rivalry️, death️ – all Antigone themes are described in this article by Custom-Writing.org experts. It is to be expected that Sophocles’ work should touch deeply on philosophical issues. It appears that his play, Antigone, is no exception....

Antigone Characters

Antigone Characters

Who are the characters in Antigone? Find the answer here! This page prepared by Custom-Writing.org experts describes Antigone characters: Creon, Antigone, Ismene, and others. It also contains Antigone character map that presents the main characters and their connections. 🗺️ Antigone Character Map Below you’ll find Antigone character map. It contains...

Sophocles’ Antigone Summary

Sophocles’ Antigone Summary

Looking for Sophocles’ Antigone summary? Want to quickly learn the key events of the classic Greek tragedy? You’re in the right place! In the article prepared by our experts, you’ll find Antigone plot overview, an illustrated timeline, and a detailed summary. 📖 Antigone Plot Summary Sophocles’ Antigone describes the events...

Why Does Roland not Summon Charlemayn to His Aid Before the Battle?

Why Does Roland not Summon Charlemayn to His Aid Before the Battle?

When Oliver sees that the Franks have no chances against the prevailing army of the Saracens, he tries to convince Roland to blow his horn. However, Roland appears to care about his pride more and refuses. He replies that it would be dishonorable for the knights to get help from...

What Is The Song of Roland about?

What Is The Song of Roland about?

The Song of Roland is one of the most famous epic poems of all time. It describes the events surrounding the Battle of Roncevaux Pass that happened in the eighth century. Charlemayn aims to conquer the whole of Europe and baptize the rest of the non-Christians. His loyal knight, Roland,...

Who Wrote The Song of Roland?

Who Wrote The Song of Roland?

Unfortunately, there is very little information about the author of this piece, and the only thing left to do is make assumptions. One of the most common theories is that Turold, the Norman poet, wrote The Song of Roland. This assumption is based on the fact that his name is...

What Is The Song of Roland?

What Is The Song of Roland?

The Song of Roland, or La Chanson de Roland in French, is one of the most famous epic poems. Moreover, at the time it was created around 1100, it appeared to be the first and even the best of its genre. A Norman poet, Turold, presumably wrote the poem, but...

Why Are the Saracens Able to Ambush Roland’s Army?

Why Are the Saracens Able to Ambush Roland’s Army?

Such a perfectly planned ambush in the narrow mountain pass is only possible thanks to Ganelon. He betrays Charlemayn and his stepson, Roland, to join the Saracens. Everything that the emperor planned is now in the hands of his enemies. Such treachery appears to be the result of Ganelon’s grudge...

How Does Roland Die?

How Does Roland Die?

Roland dies just like a true Christian knight should – praying with his sword in his hands on the battlefield. Even though the enemies do not kill him, the scene of his death is pictured in a way to uplift his loyalty and chivalry. In fact, the mighty blow in...

Who Is Roland?

Who Is Roland?

In The Song of Roland, Roland is the main heroic character who fights in the name of God and his nation. He is Charlemayn’s nephew and one of the Twelve Peers, proving how skillful and loyal a knight he is. The main events of the poem put him in focus....

Who Is The Song of Roland’s Author?

Who Is The Song of Roland’s Author?

There is no evidence pointing at the real author of The Song of Roland. However, there are a few suggestions. The name “Turold” is mentioned at the very end of the poem and supposedly belonged to a Norman poet. Still, there are many arguments regarding this question, and, for now,...

What Leads to Roland’s Death in The Song of Roland?

What Leads to Roland’s Death in The Song of Roland?

Roland, as the central heroic character in the poem, dies as a true warrior. During their battle at the pass, the French army is outnumbered, and only a few bravest knights are left alive. Roland gets some injuries, but it appears that the leading cause of his death is his...

The Song of Roland Questions and Answers

The Song of Roland Questions and Answers

It may be tough to get ready for the upcoming exams when you have tons of notes about every literary piece. That’s why Custom-Writing.org experts have gathered all the most popular Song of Roland questions with answers. Such an article is useful for students for several reasons. The main one...

The Song of Roland Essay Questions & Topics

The Song of Roland Essay Questions & Topics

One of the most common issues students face is a lack of motivation or imagination when it comes to writing essays. And since coming up with the right topic is a vital part of this process, the problem appears at the very beginning. Therefore, Custom-Writing.org experts have prepared a short...

Song of Roland Analysis

Song of Roland Analysis

One of the essential parts of understanding a literary piece is getting into its analysis. Usually, it would not include trying to find out about its background. However, in the case of La Chanson de Roland or The Song of Roland, it plays a huge role. Custom-Writing.org experts have created...

The Song of Roland Themes

The Song of Roland Themes

What is the theme of The Song of Roland? Find the answer in this article prepared by Custom-Writing.org experts. We have created a short guide that explains the key moments vital for understanding the poem. The main themes in The Song of Roland are: religion, code of chivalry, loyalty, and...

Song of Roland Characters

Song of Roland Characters

Who are the characters in The Song of Roland? What did they do? Find the answers here! This page prepared by Custom-Writing.org experts contains The Song of Roland character analysis, describes the character traits, and provides quotes by Emperor Charlemagne, Count Roland, King Marsilion, Ganelon, Oliver, and others. There is...

The Song of Roland Summary

The Song of Roland Summary

Looking for The Song of Roland summary? Want to quickly learn the key events of in the poem’s plot?️ You’re in the right place! In the article prepared by our experts, you’ll find detailed and short summaries of Song of Roland, as well as an illustrated timeline. 📖 Short Summary...

Theme of Loneliness, Isolation, & Alienation in Literature with Examples

Theme of Loneliness, Isolation, & Alienation in Literature with Examples

Humans are social creatures. Most of us enjoy communication and try to build relationships with others. It’s no wonder that the inability to be a part of society often leads to emotional turmoil. World literature has numerous examples of characters who are disconnected from their loved ones or don’t fit...

Symbols of Death in Literature: Examples & Meanings

Symbols of Death in Literature: Examples & Meanings

A literary symbol is a person, an object, or an action that has a literal meaning but hints at something else. So, symbols of death in literature are things or creatures, like a raven or a coffin, that represent the end of life. As John Skelton (2018) notes, even death...

How Does The Iliad End?

How Does The Iliad End?

The epic poem ends in a nostalgic and mournful way. The last book is about a father who lost his son and wishes to make an honorable funeral as the last thing he could give him. The book symbolizes the end of any war when sorrow replaces anger. Book 24,...

What Are Some of the Values Apparent in The Iliad and The Odyssey?

What Are Some of the Values Apparent in The Iliad and The Odyssey?

The main values glorified in The Iliad and The Odyssey are honor, courage, and eloquence. These three qualities were held as the best characteristics a person could have. Besides, they contributed to the heroic code and made up the Homeric character of a warrior. The Odyssey also promotes hospitality, although...

Where Does The Iliad Take Place?

Where Does The Iliad Take Place?

The Iliad is set in Troy and its outskirts. It was a real city not far from modern Canakkale (Turkey) at the mouth of the Dardanelles. Greeks wiped it away at the end of the Trojan War. Some scenes related to gods take place on Olympus and Mount Ida, where...

Who Is Priam in the Iliad?

Who Is Priam in the Iliad?

The last King of Troy was a wise ruler who extended control over Hellespont (ancient name for The Dardanelles). His first wife was Arisbe. Then he married Hecuba. According to Homer’s text, Priam had 50 children from these two women and other concubines. Achilles killed his eldest son, Hector, who...

Who Is Menelaus?

Who Is Menelaus?

Menelaus, the King of Sparta, had the most beautiful wife in the world, Helen. Paris, the Prince of Troy, stole her and held her captive as a lover in Troy. These events caused the ten-year-long Trojan war that took thousands of lives and entailed the destruction of Troy. Menelaus led...

Who Is Hector in The Iliad?

Who Is Hector in The Iliad?

The epic hero is the first-born son of the King of Troy, Priam. He is the husband of Andromache and the father of Astyanax, his baby son. Hector is the commander-in-chief of the Trojan forces and the heir of the throne after Priam’s death. The greatest Trojan warrior disapproved of...

In The Iliad, Which Description Best Characterizes Hector?

In The Iliad, Which Description Best Characterizes Hector?

Hector is a brave leader and mighty warrior. These qualities make him an iconic epic hero in line with Achilles, Odysseus, Great Ajax, and Patroclus. We can find the best description of his character at the end of Book 2, where Homer presents him as the bravest Trojan. In Book...

What Motivates Achilles in His Battle with Hektor?

What Motivates Achilles in His Battle with Hektor?

Achilles wants to revenge for Patroclus’ death. Hector killed Patroclus and took his armor (which initially pertained to Achilles). Achilles is mourning his close friend and promises not to eat and not bury Patroclus’ body as long as Hector is still alive. Achilles refused to fight for the Achaeans more...

Does Achilles Die in The Iliad?

Does Achilles Die in The Iliad?

The Iliad finishes before Achilles is killed. Paris, the Prince of Troy, shoots a poisoned arrow that hits Achilles’ heel. But the epic poem concludes right after Hector’s honorable funeral. The events that entailed the fall of Troy are not part of The Iliad. The central conflict in the text...

How Does Patroclus Die?

How Does Patroclus Die?

Patroclus died as a true hero in battle. He killed every Trojan he met on his way and saved the Achaean ships. His intervention made the Trojans retreat and started the end of the fortified city. Zeus predicted Patroclus’ death, and there was no way to change his fate. The...

How Did Helen of Troy Die?

How Did Helen of Troy Die?

The Greek myths have two versions of Helen’s end of life. The first tells that she returned to Sparta to live with Menelaus until they both die. The second version tells how Helen fled to the Island of Rhodes. There she was hanged by the local queen who sought vengeance....

Who Kills Hector?

Who Kills Hector?

In Book 22, Hector killed Patroclus, Achilles’ close comrade. Achilles vowed to revenge for the friend’s death. He found Hector near Trojan walls. Hector tried to reason him, but Achilles was impregnable. He and killed Hector, stabbing him in the throat. Neither did he follow Hector’s request to return his...

What Was Achilles’ Reaction to Patroclus’ Death?

What Was Achilles’ Reaction to Patroclus’ Death?

Patroclus was Achilles’ close friend. The news of his death devastated the hero. He mourned beside the body, beating the ground and crying so loudly that Thetis (Achilles’ mother) came to comfort him. Then the grief gives way to anger, and Achilles craves vengeance. Achilles was offended by Agamemnon and...

How Does Paris Die?

How Does Paris Die?

In The Iliad, Homer does not mention Paris’ death. But from Greek mythology, we know that he dies of a poisoned arrow. Helen tries to ask Oenone to help (or Paris does so in a different version of the myth). The nymph rejects her request, having been offended by Paris....

What Does Achilles Do with Hector’s Body?

What Does Achilles Do with Hector’s Body?

On the verge of death, Hector asks Achilles to return his body to his father, Priam. Achilles does not satisfy his last request. His anger is not satisfied, so he drags Hector’s body around the Trojan walls. After Patroclus’ body is burnt on a pyre and his remnants are buried,...

Why Does Achilles Refuse to Fight?

Why Does Achilles Refuse to Fight?

Achilles refuses to fight for the Achaeans because Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief, insulted his honor. He took Achilles’ war prize to replace his own. Achilles does not fight for his woman but wishes that the Greeks suffer so that Agamemnon realizes he shouldn’t have started the conflict with Achilles. The reader...

How Long Is The Iliad?

How Long Is The Iliad?

The Iliad by Homer is an extended narrative that occupies 15,693 lines. In most hardcover editions, one page contains 23 to 25 lines. It makes up approximately 600 pages. If you read the book with a speed of 250 words per minute, you will finish it in ten hours. How...

Who Killed Patroclus?

Who Killed Patroclus?

In Book 16, Hector kills Patroclus in battle. But it was not clean fighting. Apollo helped to knock Patroclus off his feet, and a young soldier made the first hit. But Hector finished him off, and that is why we consider him to be the murderer. How does Patroclus die?...

The Iliad Questions and Answers

The Iliad Questions and Answers

The Iliad is the most ancient piece of writing known to humanity. It is a window to the world our ancestors lived in and a valuable source of historical facts. Still, many centuries separate us from the Homeric times, and even more centuries lie between the present day and the...

The Iliad Essay Topics & Examples

The Iliad Essay Topics & Examples

Essays helps you to get a deeper understanding of a literary work. The Iliad is an epic poem, tragedy, and war chronicle that provides endless opportunities for debates. Its themes, symbolism, imagery, and motifs raise exciting issues for your reflection. Need to write The Iliad essay? This section prepared by...

The Iliad Analysis

The Iliad Analysis

The Iliad is a description of the Trojan war that took place in the 13th century BC. It tells about the ancient gods and the society that no longer exists today. The meaning of the themes, conflicts, plot, and symbols requires explanation to be understood by the modern reader. What...

Themes in The Iliad

Themes in The Iliad

What are the themes in The Iliad? Find here the answer to this question. This article by our experts analyzes rage, glory, honor in The Iliad, as well as other epic poem’s themes. Ancient people perceived the world differently than we do now. These cultural features are revealed in the...

The Iliad Characters

The Iliad Characters

Who is Patroclus in The Iliad? Why have Achilles and Agamemnon quarreled? Find the answers on The Iliad characters page prepared by Custom-Writing.org experts. The Achaeans, the Trojans, and Greek gods are described here. The quotes that you’ll find in the sections below are taken from the translation made by...

The Iliad Summary

The Iliad Summary

Looking for The Iliad summary? Need to quickly figure out the intricacies of the epic poem’s plot? You’re in the right place! In the article prepared by our experts, you’ll find The Iliad timeline of events, plot overview, and detailed summaries of the poem’s books. 🔰 The Iliad Plot Overview ...

What Is the Reason for the Tragic End of the Hero Beowulf?

What Is the Reason for the Tragic End of the Hero Beowulf?

Beowulf was too arrogant to admit he was too old for a hero’s role in the battle with the dragon. He wanted to achieve another feat and receive fame. He felt his death was near, but it did not stop him. After all, dying in a battle was the best...

Which Comparison of Beowulf and Grendel Is Most Accurate?

Which Comparison of Beowulf and Grendel Is Most Accurate?

The poem Beowulf and the novel Grendel have a similar plot. Both literary works characterize Grendel in the same way, with minor differences. In the poem, he is an angry man-eating creature with primitive human traits. In the novel, he is lonely and miserable. His inner world is emotionally complicated....