Iliad Lesson Plan

How does the appearance of Patroclus in Achilles’s armor help the Greeks against the Trojans?

Patroclus's attempt to disguise himself as his friend Achilles ceases to work once he begins to swing his sword. And yet, by wearing Achilles's armor, he helps the Greeks in two ways, each of which is tremendously significant from a military perspective. On the one hand, he boosts the morale of his comrades, thereby reinvigorating them and making them more effective fighters. On the other hand, he scares away the Trojans for a time, thereby ending (temporarily) their assault and making them vulnerable to counterattack.

What does Sarpedon’s death reveal (or not reveal) about...