If the Trojans take the body, Achilles will never bury his friend.
The Iliad · C2
Book Seventeen: The Fight for the Body
Ellipsis and substitution (I hope not, if so, afraid to, he wished he hadn’t, so did Meriones), stand guard over, hold your own, bear the brunt, the lion’s share and touch and go: C2 language for the fight over Patroclus.
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SOPHIA
PHILO
Then someone has to stand over him.
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Seventeen
Menelaus stood guard over the body of Patroclus like a cow over her first calf, and held his own against Euphorbus. When Hector came, Menelaus wanted to go for help, but was afraid to: the Greeks might say he had run. Was Ajax still alive? If so, they could save the body together.
Would the Trojans drag the body to Troy for the dogs? The Greeks hoped not. Hector put on the armour of Achilles, and Zeus wished he hadn’t: it meant his death. Hector had the lion’s share of the glory that day.
In the thick mist, Menelaus lifted the body, and so did Meriones, while the two Ajaxes bore the brunt of the Trojan attack. It was touch and go until they reached the ditch.
Of all the creatures that breathe on the earth, none is more miserable than man.
Ellipsis and substitution
DEMETRIA
“I wanted to go, but I was afraid to.” “Is Ajax alive? If so…” “Will they take him?” “I hope not.” Zeus wished he hadn’t. Menelaus lifted him, and so did Meriones.
SOPHIA
Keep to without the verb. If so / if not (not if yes). I hope so / not. Repeat only the auxiliary: wished he hadn’t, so did I.
Stand guard; hold your own; bear the brunt
PHILO
He stood guard over the body, and held his own. The Ajaxes bore the brunt of the attack.
SOPHIA
stand guard over. hold your own = not lose. bear / take the brunt of = suffer the main force.
The lion’s share; touch and go
MARCOS
Hector got the lion’s share of the glory. It was touch and go!
SOPHIA
the lion’s share = the biggest part (from Aesop). touch and go = very uncertain.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| afraid to; if so / not | ellipsis of clauses | Is he alive? If so, we can save him. |
| I hope not; he wished he hadn’t | substitution with not / auxiliaries | Zeus wished he hadn’t. |
| so did / neither did | agreement | …and so did Meriones. |
| stand guard over; hold your own; bear the brunt | defending | The Ajaxes bore the brunt. |
| the lion’s share; touch and go | C2 phrases | It was touch and go. |
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. “Will the Trojans take the body?” “I hope ___.”
2. Is Ajax alive? If ___, we can save the body.
3. He wanted to go, but he was afraid ___.
4. Hector put on the armour. Zeus wished he ___.
5. Menelaus lifted the body, and so ___ Meriones.
6. Menelaus stood guard ___ the body.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. He held his against Euphorbus.
8. The Ajaxes bore the of the attack.
9. Hector got the lion’s of the glory.
10. It was touch and until the ditch.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Is he coming? If yes, we’ll wait.”
12. “I didn’t want to fight, but I had to.”
13. “He was tired, and so did she.”
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