This book is the hinge of the whole Iliad: one conversation, in one hut.
The Iliad · C1+
Book Eleven: The Wounded Kings
Advanced relative clauses (most of whom, neither of whom, by which time, in which case, on whose handles, whereby), hold your ground, at a loss, take a turn for the worse and spell trouble: C1+ grammar for the hinge of the Iliad.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Between who? Not Achilles, I suppose.
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Eleven
That morning, Agamemnon killed Trojan after Trojan, most of whom were running for the city. He fought on until noon, by which time half the Trojan army had fled. Then he was wounded in the arm, and Hector attacked. Diomedes and Odysseus, neither of whom would retreat, held the line until Paris shot Diomedes in the foot.
Alone and surrounded, Odysseus was for a moment at a loss, but he held his ground until Ajax and Menelaus came. Then Paris shot Machaon, the healer, and the battle took a turn for the worse.
Achilles, watching from his ship, sent Patroclus to ask who was wounded; Homer says the moment spelled trouble for him. In Nestor’s hut, Hecamede poured wine into the old man’s great cup, on whose handles golden doves were feeding. Nestor told a long story of his youth, and then proposed a plan whereby the Trojans would mistake Patroclus for Achilles: Achilles might still refuse to fight, in which case he should lend Patroclus his armour.
Running back, Patroclus met the wounded Eurypylus, and stopped to cut out the arrow and dress the wound.
He came out, like Ares; and that was the beginning of his evil.
Relative clauses with of whom / of which
MARCOS
He killed Trojans, most of whom were running. Diomedes and Odysseus, neither of whom would retreat…
SOPHIA
quantity + of whom (people) / of which (things) after a comma: two of whom, all of which, none of whom. Not most of them without and.
By which time; in which case; whose; whereby
DEMETRIA
He fought until noon, by which time they had fled. He may refuse, in which case borrow his armour. The cup, on whose handles doves were feeding. A plan whereby the Trojans would be fooled.
SOPHIA
by which time / in which case: which refers to the whole situation. whose works for things too. whereby = by which (formal); not whereas.
Hold your ground; at a loss; a turn for the worse; spell trouble
PHILO
Odysseus held his ground, though he was at a loss. The battle took a turn for the worse. That moment spelled trouble for Patroclus.
SOPHIA
hold / stand your ground. be at a loss (what to do). take a turn for the worse. spell trouble / disaster = be a sign of it.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| most / neither / all of whom | quantity in relative clauses | Most of whom were running. |
| by which time; in which case | referring to a whole situation | …in which case let him lend you his armour. |
| on whose handles; whereby | formal relatives | a plan whereby the Trojans would be fooled |
| hold your ground; at a loss | standing firm; not knowing what to do | Odysseus held his ground. |
| take a turn for the worse; spell trouble | change; warning signs | The battle took a turn for the worse. |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose
Choose the correct form.
1. He killed many Trojans, most of ___ were running.
2. He fought until noon, by ___ time half the army had fled.
3. Diomedes and Odysseus, neither of ___ would retreat…
4. Achilles may refuse, ___ which case borrow his armour.
5. Nestor proposed a plan ___ the Trojans would be fooled.
6. The battle took a turn ___ the worse.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. Alone and surrounded, Odysseus held his .
8. For a moment he was a loss.
9. Nestor’s cup, on handles golden doves were feeding.
10. That moment spelled for Patroclus.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “He has two sons, both of them are soldiers.”
12. “It may rain, in which case we’ll stay inside.”
13. “A system whereas students choose their courses.”
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