Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved? These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?
Lit Terms 2
5 years ago
29 comments:
I think it shows how some men are willing to die in order to live forever. I think it really embodies the Iliad. For instance, Achilles could have lived a long life with a wife and children, but instead he chose to be killed in combat and have his name live on. I agree with what is said to a certain extent and think it sets a mood which is carried through the entire movie.
Cody C. 3rd Period
For me, I believe that a great narrative hook is in order for any novel or movie. This narrative hook seems like a thesis statement, in the way that it sets an achievement for most of the characters in the movie. For example, in the movie Achilles chooses to fight only to have his name remembered in the future which is basically what is said in the overhearing. It also sets moral characteristics that Homer believed his nation should have, which is an epic characteristic. This narrative hook, as i call it, was one of the most powerful and persuasive narrative hooks I have heard. If The Illiad had a narrative hook as the movie Troy did, then I believe the beginning would have been more interesting, but that 's just my opinion. Anywho, my reactions to the lines were interested and entertained reactions. I love the power within them, and how persuasive they are.
--Tara Goforth--
p.s. I love love love Jack Johnson. Good music choice :)
After reading and hearing these first lines of the movie, I know that this movie is going to be blood bath. And with the first lines of a movie, your main goal is to have an "attention getter". When it says Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity, that really catches my brain and I really want to get deeper in the movie. When it asks the question will our actions echo across the centuries, then you know that one of the main things that will go on, is that they will try to find ways to get their name remembered forever.
This book is probably one of the most confusing books i've read. Then again I dont really read that much. I liked this book though, because of many things. One is that peopple are fighting for this girl. I find it really funny how all these people are fighting over one girl. I also like when Achilles told the boy that he was going to fight, and the boy said " why would you go? That man is HUGE!" Achilles reply is " That's why people wont remeber your name" I thought about that, and thats compelety true because if you dont stand up for what your fighting for than nobody cares about what your doing. I like this book, alot more than the inferno
I think it just shows how some men want to give up having a family just to have a good name and for it to carry on forever. They want to be remembered and never forgotten. They beleive if they fight hard, kill many, and win wars then people will tell stories that will carry on for centuries. Achilles was a great example. He wanted to stay and have marry and have children, but when his mother mentioned that he would be remembered and not lose his name then he decided that he wanted that even though he would not come back, he wanted to be remembered. I really enjoy the movie, and the book is hard to get and understand, but I enjoy this story more than the Inferno.
Erycka R. =]
What was always said about Achilles was that he was the bravest and strongest warrior the Greeks had ever seen. He was the son of a king and a goddess. He proved his braveness by deciding to be killed in battle rather than stay at home like a coward. He was very arrogant in the fact that he allowed his love for women than to keep his mind on the battle. This was his ultimate demise.
Dylan Aikens.
PS. I had a lot of trouble typing this.
After reading and hearing these first lines of the movie, I know that this movie is going to be blood bath. And with the first lines of a movie, your main goal is to have an "attention getter". When it says Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity, that really catches my brain and I really want to get deeper in the movie. When it asks the question will our actions echo across the centuries, then you know that one of the main things that will go on, is that they will try to find ways to get their name remembered forever.
- Conor Hale aka yo boi
p.s. there are two on here because i forgot to put my name for one of em
I really liked the opening lines of the movie. That's usually the most important part of a movie because it's a bold statement that leaves you hanging to find the conclusion of it. I love the meaning of the lines because they're so true. Most men would love to be remembered forever as being a great and noble hero. The movie really proves this when Achilles decides to go to war and die fighting just so his name can live on through eternity instead of staying at his home and having a long life with a loving wife and kids.
- Callie S. 4th period
I love these lines. I always have thought it would be cool to be remembered, like people in history, and then actually get to see how you were remembered. Those lines are very true everyone wants to be remembered for year after they are gone. Achilles chose not to live a life with a wife and children, he chose to fight and be remembered. Obviously it worked Americans and probably people all over the world hear about him. This is a very good way to start a movie. I think it should be in the book to!
Mary Kathryn Sargent 4th Period
I think that hook sets a great impression in my head that this guy isn't another weak loser that is going to a war. It makes me think that he is going to do whatever it takes for him to be remembered in this war. It also goes along with what Achilles is living for. He could easily be a great husband and a great father, but he would rather have is name live on forever as the greatest warrior of all time. This being said, after i heard the beginning hook it made me want to watch more and more. It was a very powerful quote that can easily set well with anyone.
-Tyler Croft 3rd Period
I think that these opening lines and scenes set the overall violent and epic mood for entire movie. They are very fitting for this tragic epic, and I think they pretty much describe all the conflicts between the Trojans and Greeks, and those between men and Gods that are to come. It shows the inner conflicts that people involved in this mass war faced with themselves, the questions they had. I believe that these words show how the warriors felt about the immortality of their name that they may or may not of wished to achieve. They wonder if they will be brave and valiant enough to be remembered long after they are gone for their accomplishments. I believe that this is a fit start for any epic tale or movie such as The Iliad.
-Ryanne W., 3rd period
These first few lines definitely grabbed my attention. To think that men back then were so willing to die for their country and for honor is extremely heroic. This point is made obvious throughout the whole movie/book. They would do anything to have their names remembered for centuries after their death, including: leaving their family, leaving their homes, and sometimes...leaving their country. For all that they sacrificed, their names should be remembered. I think what they did, just to have their names to be recognized in the future, was very honorable and brave.
-*-*-CHADDY VOYTIK-*-*-
P.S. Whoever can sit in your class for an hour and a half to read a book that makes no sense whatsoever, is very dedicated. hahah
I think that the opening lines were designed to make people think about every action that one of the characters took instead of just focusing on the violence. For instance when Achilles fights against Hector, you wonder if he's only fighting for revenge or if he's fighting for glory as well. I also think that the opening lines or scenes of a movie stay in your memory more then anything else, so something deep like that is important.
Meghann Bledsoe - 3rd period
I think that it is one of the most powerful and probably most over-viewed statement ever. I mean, if you think about it, for all time man has left his mark on the world in several ways. From the earliest of monuments such as the pyramids and Stonehenge which were made to stand the test of time for all of humanity to see, to more recent events such as terroism, which supports eternal glory by harming others. The fact that they are good or bad is irrelevant; either way actions of man will be remembered. This is especially true in The Iliad (as we have noticed) with Achilles who fights so that his name can live throughout eternity. However, there are many people who have accomplished this such as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (The Columbine Shooters) and Suddam Hussein who will be remembered forever for evil doings. And there are people who have been remembered for good things such as Ghandi and Mother Teresa. I think that the fact humanity yearns to be remembered is that we don't know what's next. In conclusion, I think we want everyone to remember us in their lives so that we can have comfort in leaving our own.
-Drew Nicholson 3rd Period
These first few lines/scenes in the movie and in the book are freakin SWEET. Men back then were crazy and were willing to do anything for the sake of their people and country. For example, Achilles the bravest and the overall best warrior of all time, could have lived a pretty long life with a wife and some kids, but he decided to go to war and find so that his name will be remembered forever.
sorry I'm a Dunce Cake and forgot to put my name...
love your favorite student, Brandon Strickland.
PS. I'm getting my hair cut real soon...
I had numerous reactions to this book. I disagree and agree to the many choices the characters made. Personally, if I was Achilles, I wouldn't have put my life on the line just to be in combat. That was a very important decision that Achilles made, and it also determined his fate. Obviously, his fate was to die in combat. However, Achilles was a very brave character. He also played a very important role in the book. The God's and Goddess's really emphasize the story. It gives it a little twist, and makes it more interesting. Considering that the book started in the middle of things (media res), really sets it off and makes you interested right off the bat.
-Trisha Johnson, 4th.
I think the opening lines were pretty good. They caught you and made you want to fininsh the movie to find out the heart of all the characters. It made you want to see their intentions for war. I think the movie made a clear distinction that Hector wanted to save his country through war and Achilles wanted his name remembered. I think it's kind of selfish in a way to want to go to war so people know your name. If it were me I wouldn't want people to remember me as a ruthless killer only killing for the good of my own name. I would want to be like Hector who fought for the people in his country and compared himself with the countrymen as if he were one of them. Achilles on the other hand didn't care whos husband or father he took, he took it for the sake of himself. It made me mad that when someone close to him finally got killed thats when he decieded to fight for revenge and for the sake of someone else. But he didn't care that woman and childrem were emotionally dieing aswell as his spear met the opposing soldier.
SABRINA!
4th period
I like this book so much more than The Inferno. This book is better because it has more action and I like the mythology. And the book is more graphic than the movie. There are a few things different between the movie and the book but they are both still good.
Seth Goza
I think that the opening lines to the movie were really attention grabbers, which is what a good solid movie needs. Everything that was said in the opening lines were completely true. I don't think that there's ever been a man on Earth that hasn't pondered about those questions. Achilles gave up his chance to have a family so that his name could be remembered for the years to come, and he got what he wanted, I suppose.
~Courtney W. 4th
I think these lines really sum up about what "The Iliad" is all about. It pretty much tells about the plot of the story, and it also determines the outcome of the war, because if Achilles didn't return to battle, in my mind, the Greeks were doomed. Odysseus seems very wise in "The Iliad", and I think this solidifies him as a very smart,courageous character. I think that these lines mean that all men want to be remembered through history, and they choose fame over life. I think it is a very courageous thing to do, which would characterize an epic perfectly. Achilles chose to live a short, glorious life, and I think that it embodies his character, and how he craves glory and respect. I really liked this book because of the courageous and strategic actions taken by both armies to achieve victory, and have their names, ultimately, live forever.
Caleb Hiddleson, 4th Period
From the first lines, it was extremly a great narrative hook. It draws the curiousity of wanting to read it and know what it is about. I think it helps us get the feeling of what it is going to be not really come out and say it. It makes us want to either read/watch it to really get the full effect. I think that it is great like the Iliad because yes some people just much rather fight and get killed and let his name be lived on but, it isn't because he doesn't want to be with his family. It is just the fact of him wanting a title. In my opinion it can be good or bad. It is like self image and having people talk about you is more important, but at the same time it is like you loving your family but, wanting to do something more to get killed and fight in the war. He doesn't dream of getting killed but, wants to be in the war to fight. Either he lives or die.
SandyHa.
4th Period
I think that in order to be remembered forever you have to do something great. These opening lines tell you that the movie is going to be about a great adventure of courage, and great deeds. They will put there life on the line in order to have there name remembered. Greatness is achieved you and cannot be given.
-alex m. 3rd
It really gives the text new perspective. In my opinion, those words personalize the story for us. If you are looking at the text as just endless battles with rage, hate for the enemies' country, and etc., you don't really take the story into account as a specific, personalized character. Once I read those lines, I began to realize that there is also a possibility that personalized gain involved. Some people spend their whole lives trying to make sure that the world will remember them forever. For example, in the movie, Achillies gives up time in the future and essentially his life when he decides to fight, even after he learn the consequences. He did indeed give up his life, but his legacy lived on. To him, the fact that his name lived on might have meant that he wasn't actually "dead" altogether. Does that mean he did the right thing? I wonder what it truely means to "live your life to the fullest". Does it mean to spend your life trying to not seem as dead to the world when you pass away, or enjoy your life and not worry what the world thinks of you when you're gone? The quote from the movie really impacted my thoughts, and I don't think that I will ever know the definite answer to my questions.
Becky H.
3rd Period
I know i would rather have my name live on forever and die then to live forever and not be remembered. I didn't like Achilles, just for the fact that his character annoyed me, but I did like how he was independent and didn't fight for a king he didn't like. I liked how he stood up for himself.
anne fuller
3rd period
i like how drew always has these long and thought out blogs. it makes him sound very smart!
I like the opening lines. I think the beginning of movies is really important because it sets the tone for the rest of the movie and these lines definitely do that. It showed that they were willing to give up their life so their legacy would live on. I don't know if I would choose fame over life especially if I had a family to come home to. So I think what they did was really brave and should be honored.
Callie B. 4th period
I agree with the last comment when he talks about the price of men, what this movie shows as well is how much control and influence the kings had at the time. How a man could order thousands of people to die for his pride if that was the case and they wouldn't even question the idea. What this makes us question is; do governments still have that power today? In any way, great movie and really well written story.
Fernando R.
In my opinion, I think these opening statements made are in part a cause for my thumbs up reaction to this movie and novel. I love how Homer, and the producers of Troy get right to the action and skip all the boring parts. You automatically know these two works are going to be an epic battle between good and evil, including all the gore, violence, and bloodshed. I reactions to these lines are so positive, because I love fast paced movies, and books (even though The Iliad is very difficult to read). Finally, you can't go wrong with a movie/book with such a stud cast..Orlando Bloom as Paris, Brad Pitt as Achilles, that guy who played in the Time Travelers Wife as Hector, and AJAX?! Come on..you can't not have a positive, outstanding, and loving reaction to this film and novel..absolutely mind-boggling..
-CHUCKdz.
That is such a powerful beginning to and book or movie. It fits the plot very well in that it explains Achilles's motives. I think in his own way, he's saying that he fears death. It's not just death in itself that scares him; more specifically, he fears being forgotten. This was a common feeling in ancient times. It would explain why people had monuments built to honor themselves. They wanted to be remembered. While he could have had many children and died a peaceful death, that would be accepting a fate of being forgotten by those who came after. It is an odd concept to many, but it was his mindset and the reason why the war ended as it did.
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