Iliad Book 16.787-end. Patroklos' death
The narrator does something interesting at the end of this chapter by addressing Patroklos directly when speaking of his death. And when you add it all up, Hektor really only came in to give the final blow to kill Patroklos. Before Hektor found him, Apollo had struck him a couple times, and then took away his helmet and broke his corselet. Because of this, Euphorbos was able to hit him with a javelin, only to run away because he couldn’t face him in this vulnerable state. Or perhaps he knew that it should at least appear to be Hektor as the one who finally brought Patroklos down. At line 841 it’s as if Hektor is trying to convince Patroklos (and himself) that it was foolish and pointless to try to kill him because that’s just not going to happen. I envision him taunting that ‘only Achilleus can kill me! Ha! bring it on!’ But I say be careful what you wish for/have known was coming all along. This is all getting very meta and cyclical.
I agree with you Kathryn. I also believe that Homer wrote the book in a repeating form. I believe Homer designed the story like this in order to really emphasizes to his readers the really important things. These include: honor, glory, trust, respect, dignity, and the list goes on. For example, in Book 12, when the Trojans are presented with a bird in the sky, it was a direct indication of foreshadowing. Hector refused to see the bird sign as a warning. He said that, "Why are you so afraid of war and hostility? Even though all the rest of us were to be cut down around you. among the Argive ships, you. Would run no danger of dying since you r heart is not enduring in battle nor a fighter's" (line 244-247). Hector is demonstrating honor and bravery by shaming the other Trojans who want to run back home and forget about the battle. Homer really is building up the fighting ones it gets to Book 16 and on forth.
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