Summary of "The Host Musters"

    In this chapter the war finally begins, but before it does Agamemnon is checking on the preparations. When he comes to Achilles, he finds that he is not preparing, but laying around being served delicious food and wine. Agamemnon says that if Achilles wants to be powerful, he must show courage and get ready for the war. Achilles argues that he brought back Priam's son from Mt.Ida, but Agamemnon thinks he "... should have killed him... We cannot keep prisoners..." (p.53) They see the Trojans approaching and the war begins. Achilles tries to kill Cycnus, a Trojan and son of Poseidon. But "... no weapon can pierce..." (p.56) him, so Achilles kills him by strangling him. Many more die and finally both sides retreat. "All night long funeral fires burned by the seashore, while the mourning cries of women rose n the air in Troy." (p.57)

Homer

Homer is the blind ancient Greek poet who wrote the poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Almost nothing is known about him. Some say he lived in a Greek-speaking city on the eastern side of the Aegean sea. Others say he lived on the island of Khios. Some say he never even existed. The events in his poems take place during and after the Trojan War. He may have based the war on a real war between ancient Greece and the city of Troy in 1200 B.C.E. Many scholars say he wrote the poems between 800 and 700 B.C.E. as his poems talk about social conditions from that time. We do not have the original versions of the poems because they were changed through may retellings. After Homer’s time, the poems became very famous. Greek children used the poems as textbooks in school and the Greek’s religion was formed around his portrayal of the gods and goddesses. Homer and his poems became well-known as you can see.

Olivia E. Coolidge

Olivia Ensor Coolidge is an author of many biographies and historical fiction novels for kids and teens. She was born in London, England on October 16, 1908. She attended Somerville College at Oxford University where she earned a BA (Bachelor of Arts) and an MA (Master of Arts). She became a teacher and taught in the US as well as England. In 1949, her first book for kids, Greek Myths, was published. She has won awards such as a Newberry Honour, an ALA (American Library Association) Notable Book, and has also had books on the Horn Book honour list. Olivia’s historical fiction is known for accuracy and attention to detail. Her biographies on people such as Gandhi are praised for the vivid images she forms in reader’s minds. All of Olivia’s books are detailed and descriptive. They are great books for kids and teens.