Pre-context

• Who is the host of the channel discussed in the video?

  Erica
• What is the main focus of the channel?

  History of ancient Greeks and Romans
• What is the title of the poem being discussed?

  The Iliad
• What is the purpose of the video?

  To provide context for The Iliad
• How many chapters does The Iliad have?

  24 chapters
• What is the significance of The Iliad in ancient literature?

  It is the first substantial piece of writing
• What is the approximate date of Homer?

  8th century BC
• What is the exact date classicists usually settle on for Homer?

  750 BC
• Why is the exact date of Homer unknown?

  We lack records of his birth and death
• What does the term "book" refer to in the context of The Iliad?

  It refers to chapters of the poem
• What is the main theme of The Iliad?

  The battle of Troy
• What is the Greek word for Troy?

  Ilium
• Why is it important to know that The Iliad is a poem?

  It was written in verse and performed
• What is dactylic hexameter?

  A specific beat used in ancient poetry
• How does the beat of The Iliad affect its performance?

  It aids memorization and recitation
• Who performed The Iliad in ancient times?

  Bards
• What was the role of a bard in ancient society?

  To perform stories at dinner parties
• Why were stories like The Iliad primarily oral?

  They were passed down through generations
• What is the significance of the epic cycle?

  It includes multiple poems about the Trojan War
• How many books from the epic cycle survive today?

  Three books
• What is the main conflict in The Iliad?

  The cause of the Trojan War
• What historical period does The Iliad reflect?

  The Mycenaean period
• What is the relationship between mythology and The Iliad?

  It transitions from myth to human conflict
• What does the story of The Iliad not cover?

  The entirety of the Trojan War
• What does the survival of The Iliad indicate about ancient storytelling?

  It was part of an oral tradition
• How long into the Trojan War does The Iliad take place?

  About nine and a half years
• Why is it important to know the context of The Iliad?

  To understand the background of the story
• What is the significance of Helen in the context of the Trojan War?

  Her abduction sparked the conflict
• What type of marriage is mentioned as a cause of the Trojan War?

  A mortal marriage
• What is the main conflict in the Iliad?

  The battle of Troy
• Why is it important to know the context of the Trojan War?

  It explains the origins of the conflict
• What are the two marriages that led to the Trojan War?

  • Mortal marriage: Helen's birth and marriage competition
  • Divine marriage: Thetis and Peleus' wedding
• Who is Helen's divine father?

  Zeus
• How was Helen conceived according to mythology?

  She was born from an egg laid by Leda
• Who did Helen marry?

  Menelaus
• What pact did the Greek kings make regarding Helen?

  To not steal her from her husband
• What was the purpose of the oath made by the Greek kings?

  To prevent conflict over Helen's marriage
• Who is the foreign king that steals Helen?

  Paris
• What is the significance of the divine marriage between Thetis and Peleus?

  It leads to the judgment of Paris
• Who was not invited to Thetis and Peleus' wedding?

  Eris, the goddess of discord