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The Annotated Edition

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. by Homer

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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This is the prose "Argument" — a brief plot summary — that introduces Book One of Homer's *Iliad*.

Poet
Homer
Themes
anger, identity, sorrow
The PoemFull text

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

Homer

The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the Grecian camp, and the cause of it is assigned. A council is called, in which fierce altercation takes place between Agamemnon and Achilles. The latter solemnly renounces the field. Agamemnon, by his heralds, demands Brisëis, and Achilles resigns her. He makes his complaint to Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter. She pleads it, and prevails. The book concludes with an account of what passed in Heaven on that occasion. [The reader will please observe, that by Achaians, Argives, Danaï, are signified Grecians. Homer himself having found these various appellatives both graceful and convenient, it seemed unreasonable that a Translator of him should be denied the same advantage.—Tr.]

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This is the prose "Argument" — a brief plot summary — that introduces Book One of Homer's *Iliad*. It explains that a plague has struck the Greek army, that Achilles and Agamemnon have a fierce argument over a captive woman named Brisëis, and that the sea-goddess Thetis approaches Zeus to ensure her son Achilles gets his revenge. You can think of it as the back-of-the-book blurb for the most renowned war epic ever created.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the Grecian camp…

    Editor's note

    The Argument begins by highlighting the crisis that ignites the story: Apollo has unleashed a plague on the Greek army stationed outside Troy. The reason is made clear right away—Agamemnon has disrespected the priest Chryses by refusing to return his daughter—setting in motion the entire poem's themes of divine wrath and human pride.

  2. A council is called, in which fierce altercation takes place between Agamemnon and Achilles.

    Editor's note

    The assembly scene serves as the emotional heart of Book One. Achilles insists that the army return the priest's daughter, but Agamemnon refuses and threatens to take Achilles' prize, Brisëis, instead. This conflict between the mightiest Greek king and the greatest Greek warrior creates a wound that the entire *Iliad* won't allow to heal.

  3. The latter solemnly renounces the field. Agamemnon, by his heralds, demands Brisëis, and Achilles resigns her.

    Editor's note

    Achilles steps back from the fight—a choice that will lead to the loss of thousands of Greek lives. His giving up Brisëis isn't an act of submission; it's a deliberate move to humiliate Agamemnon publicly. He hands her over without resistance specifically to make Agamemnon appear like a thief in front of the entire army.

  4. He makes his complaint to Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter.

    Editor's note

    Achilles heads to the sea, cries out for his immortal mother Thetis, and breaks down in tears. This scene captures one of the most human moments in ancient epic: the unbeatable warrior sobbing to his mother on the shore. Thetis emerges from the waves, hears him, and vows to ask Zeus to allow the Greeks to struggle in Achilles’ absence, forcing Agamemnon to plead for his return.

  5. She pleads it, and prevails. The book concludes with an account of what passed in Heaven on that occasion.

    Editor's note

    Zeus grants Thetis's request, which sparks a domestic dispute on Olympus — Hera suspects her husband is favoring Troy, and the crippled god Hephaestus steps in as the peacemaker. The book wraps up with divine comedy and feasting, offering a stark contrast to the grief and anger unfolding below. The translator's note at the end clarifies that 'Achaians,' 'Argives,' and 'Danaï' all refer to Greeks.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Brisk and functional — this is a prose summary, not a lyric poem, so the tone resembles that of a theatre program rather than poetry. Yet, there's a hint of controlled drama: phrases like "fierce altercation" and "solemnly renounces" have a certain gravity. The translator's bracketed note at the end feels friendly and straightforward, reflecting a scholar who aims for the reader to appreciate the journey without stumbling over unfamiliar names.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The pestilence
The plague isn’t just random bad luck — it’s Apollo punishing a particular act of disrespect. It represents the idea that human arrogance leads to direct, catastrophic consequences, which is a central theme throughout the *Iliad*.
Brisëis
As a captive woman caught between powerful men, Brisëis symbolizes honor and status within the Greek warrior code. The man who possesses her demonstrates his dominance. In this Argument, she seems more like a token in a contest of pride, although Homer’s complete text provides her with greater depth as a character.
Thetis rising from the sea
The sea belongs to Thetis and represents the line between the mortal and immortal realms. When Achilles summons her from the waves, it signifies the point at which the gods get directly involved in human conflicts — leading to significant consequences.
Jupiter (Zeus) granting the request
Zeus's nod is the crucial moment that drives the entire epic. It marks the point where fate begins to unfold: once the king of the gods gives his approval, the suffering of thousands is sealed. When divine favor is granted, it’s not something that can be easily reversed.

§06Historical context

Historical context

The *Iliad* is one of the oldest works of Western literature that we still have today. It was composed in the ancient Greek oral tradition and is attributed to Homer, a poet whose existence is still debated among scholars. The story is set during the Trojan War, a ten-year siege of Troy by a coalition of Greek city-states, and it focuses on just a few weeks in the war's final year. In Book One, we see the central conflict unfold—not between Greeks and Trojans, but between Achilles and Agamemnon. The "Argument" included here is a prose summary added by translators and editors to help readers navigate the epic's twenty-four books. The translator's note regarding "Achaians, Argives, Danaï" highlights a real challenge: Homer uses different names for the Greeks, and English readers needed some guidance. This specific Argument and note are from William Cowper's late-18th-century translation of the *Iliad*.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

An Argument is a brief summary at the beginning of a book or canto that gives readers a preview of what’s to come. This was a common practice in classical and Renaissance publishing—essentially a chapter summary before the concept of chapters even existed.

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