Original Text(~250 words)
ARGUMENT. THE SEVENTH BATTLE, FOR THE BODY OF PATROCLUS.—THE ACTS OF MENELAUS. Menelaus, upon the death of Patroclus, defends his body from the enemy: Euphorbus, who attempts it, is slain. Hector advancing, Menelaus retires; but soon returns with Ajax, and drives him off. This, Glaucus objects to Hector as a flight, who thereupon puts on the armour he had won from Patroclus, and renews the battle. The Greeks give way, till Ajax rallies them: Æneas sustains the Trojans. Æneas and Hector attempt the chariot of Achilles, which is borne off by Automedon. The horses of Achilles deplore the loss of Patroclus: Jupiter covers his body with a thick darkness: the noble prayer of Ajax on that occasion. Menelaus sends Antilochus to Achilles, with the news of Patroclus’ death: then returns to the fight, where, though attacked with the utmost fury, he and Meriones, assisted by the Ajaces, bear off the body to the ships. The time is the evening of the eight-and-twentieth day. The scene lies in the fields before Troy. On the cold earth divine Patroclus spread, Lies pierced with wounds among the vulgar dead. Great Menelaus, touch’d with generous woe, Springs to the front, and guards him from the foe. Thus round her new-fallen young the heifer moves, Fruit of her throes, and first-born of her loves; And anxious (helpless as he lies, and bare) Turns, and re-turns her, with a mother’s care, Opposed to each that near the carcase came, His broad shield glimmers, and his lances...
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Summary
After Patroclus falls, Menelaus stands guard over his body like a protective mother, but faces immediate challenge from Euphorbus, who boasts about killing the hero. Menelaus kills Euphorbus in response, but when Hector arrives wearing Achilles' stolen armor, the situation becomes desperate. What follows is a brutal tug-of-war over Patroclus' corpse, with both sides treating his body as the ultimate prize. Ajax rallies the Greeks while Hector, empowered by Zeus and gleaming in divine armor, leads increasingly fierce Trojan attacks. The battle becomes so intense that Zeus shrouds it in supernatural darkness, and even Achilles' immortal horses weep for their fallen master. As the fighting rages, Menelaus sends word to Achilles about his friend's death, knowing this news will change everything. The chapter reveals how death in war creates ripple effects far beyond the fallen—friends risk everything to honor the dead, enemies fight harder to claim trophies, and the living must choose between safety and loyalty. The Greeks finally manage to carry Patroclus toward their ships, but at enormous cost, while Hector's forces press their advantage. This isn't just about one body; it's about what we're willing to sacrifice to protect what we love, even when that love extends to someone who's already gone.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Honor-shame culture
A society where your reputation and social standing matter more than individual rights or personal feelings. What others think of your actions determines your worth and your family's worth.
Modern Usage:
We see this in social media culture where public perception can make or break careers, or in tight-knit communities where 'what will people think' drives major decisions.
Warrior's code
The unwritten rules that fighting men live by - protect your friends, honor the dead, never back down from a challenge. Breaking these rules means losing respect forever.
Modern Usage:
Similar codes exist in military units, police departments, or any high-stakes job where people depend on each other and loyalty is everything.
Divine intervention
When gods directly interfere in human affairs, changing the outcome of events. In this world, supernatural forces actively pick sides and influence battles.
Modern Usage:
We invoke this concept when we say things happen 'for a reason' or when unexpected events seem to favor one side in a conflict.
Spoils of war
The armor, weapons, and valuables taken from defeated enemies as proof of victory. These trophies show your skill and bring honor to your name.
Modern Usage:
Today's equivalent might be collecting achievements, awards, or status symbols that prove your success to others.
Blood debt
The obligation to avenge a fallen friend or family member. In warrior culture, letting someone's death go unpunished brings shame on everyone connected to them.
Modern Usage:
We see this in gang culture, family feuds, or any situation where 'getting even' becomes more important than moving on.
Battlefield loyalty
The fierce devotion soldiers show to their fallen comrades, risking their own lives to protect a dead body from being dishonored by enemies.
Modern Usage:
This appears in modern military's 'leave no one behind' ethos or in how people defend a deceased friend's reputation even when it costs them.
Characters in This Chapter
Menelaus
Loyal protector
Guards Patroclus's body like a fierce mother protecting her young, then kills Euphorbus when challenged. Shows how grief can make ordinary people do extraordinary things.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who drops everything to help when tragedy strikes
Euphorbus
Opportunistic braggart
Boasts about wounding Patroclus and tries to claim his body as a trophy, but gets killed by Menelaus. Represents those who try to profit from others' tragedy.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who takes credit for someone else's work
Hector
Empowered antagonist
Arrives wearing Achilles's divine armor and leads increasingly fierce attacks. His presence completely changes the battle's momentum and forces the Greeks into desperate defense.
Modern Equivalent:
The rival who just got promoted and now has real power to cause problems
Ajax
Steady leader
Rallies the retreating Greeks when things look hopeless and helps organize the defense. Shows leadership under pressure when others panic.
Modern Equivalent:
The supervisor who stays calm during a crisis and gets everyone focused
Zeus
Controlling authority
Covers the battlefield in supernatural darkness and empowers Hector. His intervention shows how outside forces can suddenly change everything.
Modern Equivalent:
The CEO whose decisions completely alter everyone's working conditions
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when grief is driving dangerous choices that feel like honor but lead to destruction.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone makes costly decisions 'for' someone who's gone—ask whether this truly honors them or just feeds guilt.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Thus round her new-fallen young the heifer moves, Fruit of her throes, and first-born of her loves"
Context: Describing how Menelaus protects Patroclus's body
This comparison to a mother cow protecting her calf shows that loyalty and protection aren't just human traits - they're natural instincts. It makes Menelaus's actions seem both noble and inevitable.
In Today's Words:
He stood over his friend's body like a mother protecting her child
"The horses of Achilles deplore the loss of Patroclus"
Context: When even the immortal horses mourn the fallen hero
When divine creatures grieve for a mortal man, it shows that some bonds transcend the natural order. Patroclus was loved by more than just humans.
In Today's Words:
Even the animals could sense something precious had been lost
"Jupiter covers his body with a thick darkness"
Context: Zeus intervening to intensify the battle over Patroclus
The supernatural darkness represents how death creates confusion and chaos for everyone involved. When someone important dies, it feels like the world itself has changed.
In Today's Words:
Everything suddenly became unclear and frightening
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Honor's Price - When Love Costs Everything
When love transforms into fierce protectiveness that demands sacrifices beyond rational limits, especially for those who are gone or can't benefit.
Thematic Threads
Loyalty
In This Chapter
Greeks risk everything to retrieve Patroclus' body, refusing to abandon their fallen friend despite overwhelming odds
Development
Evolved from abstract concepts of honor to concrete, costly action that demands real sacrifice
In Your Life:
You might see this when you defend a friend who isn't there to defend themselves, even when it costs you socially or professionally.
Identity
In This Chapter
Hector wearing Achilles' armor transforms his identity and power, while the Greeks' identity depends on not abandoning their dead
Development
Identity now shown as something that can be stolen, borrowed, or proven through actions under pressure
In Your Life:
You might see this when wearing certain clothes or titles changes how you act, or when your reputation depends on how you treat others in crisis.
Class
In This Chapter
The divine armor marks status and power—Hector gains authority by wearing it, while common soldiers fight and die for heroes' bodies
Development
Class distinctions now matter even in death, as some bodies are worth more sacrifice than others
In Your Life:
You might see this in how much effort goes into funerals based on social status, or who gets defended when they're not present.
Grief
In This Chapter
Even Achilles' immortal horses weep for Patroclus, showing how death ripples through all relationships
Development
Introduced here as a force that motivates extreme action and transforms the living
In Your Life:
You might see this in how losing someone changes not just you, but everyone who loved them, creating waves of protective behavior.
Power
In This Chapter
Zeus shrouds the battle in darkness, showing how supernatural forces amplify human conflicts over honor
Development
Divine power now actively shapes mortal struggles, making personal conflicts cosmic
In Your Life:
You might see this when small conflicts escalate beyond reason because larger forces or authorities get involved.
Modern Adaptation
When Your Friend Dies Fighting Your Battle
Following Achilles's story...
Achilles watches from the barracks as his unit fights without him—he'd refused deployment after command passed him over for promotion. But when his best friend Marcus gets killed wearing Achilles' gear, trying to fill the gap Achilles left, everything changes. Now other soldiers are fighting over Marcus's body while enemy forces close in. Some want to retreat and save themselves. Others, like Sergeant Menelaus, stand guard over Marcus despite impossible odds, refusing to let the enemy claim him as a trophy. The radio crackles with desperate calls for backup, but Achilles remains frozen between his wounded pride and his grief. His friend died fighting the battle Achilles abandoned. Now Marcus's squad is getting slaughtered trying to bring him home, and Achilles knows this blood is on his hands. The same pride that kept him safe in base camp just got his best friend killed.
The Road
The road Menelaus walked in ancient Troy, Achilles walks today. The pattern is identical: when someone we love dies, we'll risk everything to honor them—even when logic says let go.
The Map
This chapter maps the emotional mathematics of grief: how love transforms into fierce protectiveness after death. It shows the difference between honoring someone and being consumed by guilt.
Amplification
Before reading this, Achilles might have seen the fighting over Marcus as pointless heroics. Now they can NAME the pattern of grief-driven loyalty, PREDICT its costs, and NAVIGATE the choice between honor and self-destruction.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Menelaus risk his life to protect Patroclus' body when Patroclus is already dead?
analysis • surface - 2
What drives people to make sacrifices for someone who can no longer benefit from those sacrifices?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you seen someone risk their own wellbeing to protect a loved one's memory or reputation?
application • medium - 4
How do you decide when honoring someone you love is worth significant personal cost versus when you need to protect yourself?
application • deep - 5
What does this battle over Patroclus' body reveal about how love changes but doesn't end when someone dies?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Loyalty Costs
Think of someone you love who has faced hardship, failure, or death. List three ways you've protected their dignity or memory, then honestly assess what each protection cost you—time, money, relationships, opportunities. Consider whether those costs felt worth it and why.
Consider:
- •Some loyalty costs are worth paying because they preserve what matters most
- •Protecting someone's memory can become self-destructive if taken too far
- •The most meaningful honor often comes through living well, not endless sacrifice
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to choose between protecting someone you love and protecting yourself. What did you choose and what did you learn about the boundaries of loyalty?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 18: Divine Armor and Mortal Grief
What lies ahead teaches us grief can transform us into our most powerful selves, and shows us showing up matters even when you feel unprepared. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.