This is the book where the anger of Achilles changes. It becomes something much worse.
The Iliad · C2
Book Eighteen: The Shield of Achilles
Nominalisation (the arrival of, the rejection of, the making of), inconsolable, beyond words, a turning point, on the warpath, take to heart, in your element and a sight to behold: C2 language for grief and for the greatest work of art in the Iliad.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
And the shield?
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Eighteen
The arrival of Antilochus told Achilles everything before he spoke. He lay in the dust and tore his hair: he was inconsolable, and his grief was beyond words. Thetis told him that his own death would follow Hector’s, and he accepted it.
Without armour, he shouted three times from the ditch, and twelve Trojans died in the panic. It was the turning point of the war: Achilles was on the warpath. That night, Hector’s rejection of Polydamas’s advice sealed the Trojans’ fate. If only he had taken it to heart.
Meanwhile, Hephaestus, in his element at the forge, made new armour. The making of the shield took all night: the earth, the sky and the stars, a city at peace and a city at war, ploughing, harvest, a vineyard, cattle and lions, and a dance. It was a sight to behold.
I wish strife would disappear from among gods and men, and anger, which is sweeter than dripping honey.
Nominalisation
PHILO
The arrival of Antilochus told him everything. Hector’s rejection of the advice… The making of the shield took all night.
SOPHIA
C2 writing often turns verbs into nouns: arrive → the arrival of, reject → the rejection of, make → the making of. It packs a whole event into one phrase. Note the of.
Grief
DEMETRIA
He was inconsolable. His grief was beyond words.
SOPHIA
inconsolable = impossible to comfort. beyond words = too great to describe (also beyond belief, beyond repair).
A turning point; the warpath; take to heart; in your element; a sight to behold
MARCOS
The shout was a turning point: Achilles was on the warpath. Hector didn’t take the advice to heart. Hephaestus was in his element. The shield was a sight to behold!
SOPHIA
a turning point. on the warpath = angry and ready to fight. take to heart. in your element. a sight to behold.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| the arrival of; the rejection of; the making of | nominalisation | The making of the shield took all night. |
| inconsolable; beyond words | grief | His grief was beyond words. |
| a turning point; on the warpath | change; anger | Achilles was on the warpath. |
| take to heart | taking advice seriously | He didn’t take it to heart. |
| in your element; a sight to behold | delight and wonder | The shield was a sight to behold. |
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. The ___ of Antilochus told him everything.
2. Hector’s ___ of the advice was fatal.
3. The ___ of the shield took all night.
4. He was ___: nobody could comfort him.
5. The shout was the turning ___ of the war.
6. Hephaestus at his forge was in his ___.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. His grief was beyond .
8. Achilles was on the again.
9. Hector didn’t take the advice to .
10. The shield was a sight to .
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “The making of the shield took all night.”
12. “Hector’s rejection the advice was fatal.”
13. “She was unconsolable after his death.”
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