The Song of Achilles Summary

10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Take it one question at a time

1. Question 1

   Why is Patroclus initially exiled to Phthia, the court of King Peleus?

   1. He accidentally killed another boy during a game.
   2. He stole a valuable artifact from his father's treasury.
   3. He refused to participate in a ritual sacrifice.
   4. He spoke disrespectfully to an oracle.
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   A. He accidentally killed another boy during a game. Patroclus is exiled from his homeland after he accidentally pushes a boy named Clysonymus off a wall to his death during a dispute over dice. His father, King Menoitios, sends him away to avoid further scandal.

2. Question 2

   What is Thetis's primary concern regarding Achilles's relationship with Patroclus?

   1. She fears Patroclus will make Achilles too soft for battle.
   2. She believes Patroclus will distract Achilles from his destined glory.
   3. She is jealous of Patroclus's human connection with her son.
   4. She thinks Patroclus is not of noble enough birth for Achilles.
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   B. She believes Patroclus will distract Achilles from his destined glory. Thetis, as a goddess concerned with Achilles's immortality and fated glory, sees Patroclus as a human weakness that could divert him from his legendary path. She repeatedly tries to separate them or diminish Patroclus's influence.

3. Question 3

   Who is Chiron, and what role does he play in Achilles and Patroclus's youth?

   1. He is Achilles's mortal father, King Peleus, who teaches them statecraft.
   2. He is a centaur who mentors them in various skills like medicine, music, and combat.
   3. He is a priest of Apollo who prophesies Achilles's fate.
   4. He is a famous warrior who trains them for the Trojan War.
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   B. He is a centaur who mentors them in various skills like medicine, music, and combat. Chiron is the wise centaur who lives on Mount Pelion and acts as a mentor and teacher to many heroes, including Achilles. He instructs both Achilles and Patroclus in a wide range of subjects, from healing arts to wrestling, shaping their development.

4. Question 4

   What significant event prompts Achilles to finally join the war against Troy, despite his initial reluctance?

   1. The kidnapping of Helen by Paris, which he sees as a personal insult.
   2. The death of Patroclus, avenging his beloved friend.
   3. The prophecy that he will achieve undying glory if he fights at Troy.
   4. The abduction of Briseis from his tent by Agamemnon.
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   D. The abduction of Briseis from his tent by Agamemnon. Achilles's main reason for withdrawing from battle and his subsequent return is directly tied to Agamemnon's disrespect. When Agamemnon takes Briseis, Achilles's war prize, he feels profoundly dishonored and refuses to fight, leading to many Greek losses.

5. Question 5

   What is the primary theme explored through the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus?

   1. The conflict between duty to the gods and loyalty to one's king.
   2. The contrast between mortal love and immortal fame.
   3. The futility of war and the inevitability of fate.
   4. The struggle for power and leadership among men.
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   B. The contrast between mortal love and immortal fame. The core of the novel lies in the profound love between Achilles and Patroclus, which stands in stark contrast to Achilles's fated pursuit of immortal glory. Patroclus represents the human heart, peace, and the value of a shared life, while Achilles is constantly pulled towards the 'glory' that will ultimately cost him everything.

6. Question 6

   How does Patroclus manage to convince Achilles to allow him to fight in his armor?

   1. He reminds Achilles of his oath to protect the Achaeans.
   2. He appeals to Achilles's desire to scare the Trojans and save the Greek ships.
   3. He threatens to leave Troy if Achilles continues to refuse to fight.
   4. He argues that it is his duty as Achilles's closest companion.
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   B. He appeals to Achilles's desire to scare the Trojans and save the Greek ships. Patroclus convinces Achilles by highlighting the desperate situation of the Achaeans, whose ships are burning. He proposes wearing Achilles's armor to make the Trojans believe Achilles has returned to battle, thereby scaring them away and giving the Greeks a chance to recover.

7. Question 7

   What is the specific instruction Achilles gives Patroclus before he enters battle in Achilles's armor, which Patroclus ultimately disobeys?

   1. To only defend the ships and not pursue the Trojans to the city walls.
   2. To specifically target Hector in battle.
   3. To not engage with any gods or goddesses on the battlefield.
   4. To retrieve a specific Trojan artifact as a trophy.
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   A. To only defend the ships and not pursue the Trojans to the city walls. Achilles explicitly warns Patroclus to only push the Trojans back from the ships and not to pursue them further towards the city walls of Troy, fearing for Patroclus's safety and the wrath of the gods. Patroclus, caught up in the fervor of battle, disregards this command, leading to his demise.

8. Question 8

   Which god actively intervenes in the battle to weaken Patroclus, allowing Hector to deliver the killing blow?

   1. Apollo
   2. Zeus
   3. Poseidon
   4. Ares
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   A. Apollo Apollo is the god who intervenes directly in Patroclus's final moments. He strikes Patroclus from behind, removing his helmet and armor, and disorienting him, making him vulnerable to Euphorbus's spear and then Hector's fatal blow.

9. Question 9

   After Patroclus's death, what does Thetis do to try and ensure Patroclus's memory is erased or minimized?

   1. She commissions a new, magnificent set of armor for Achilles, distracting him from his grief.
   2. She instructs the bards to omit Patroclus's name from the songs of Achilles's deeds.
   3. She sends Achilles on a quest to retrieve a magical item, hoping to distract him.
   4. She tries to arrange a marriage for Achilles to a nymph.
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   B. She instructs the bards to omit Patroclus's name from the songs of Achilles's deeds. Thetis, consistently viewing Patroclus as a stain on Achilles's immortal legacy, attempts to erase his memory. She instructs the bards, who shape public perception and history, to sing only of Achilles's glory and omit any mention of Patroclus, particularly their relationship.

10. Question 10

    What is the ultimate fate of Achilles's ashes, and whose actions ensure it?

    1. They are scattered at sea by Thetis, as per his mother's divine will.
    2. They are buried with Patroclus's ashes, thanks to Neoptolemus's respect for his father.
    3. They are interred in a separate, grand tomb to emphasize his singular glory.
    4. They are mixed with Patroclus's ashes in the same urn, at the insistence of Thetis, swayed by Patroclus's ghost.
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    D. They are mixed with Patroclus's ashes in the same urn, at the insistence of Thetis, swayed by Patroclus's ghost. Initially, Thetis prevents Patroclus's name from being carved on Achilles's tomb. However, after Patroclus's persistent ghost explains to Thetis that they promised to be together in death, and Achilles desired it, she finally relents. She ensures their ashes are mixed in the same urn, fulfilling their wish for eternal companionship.