The last book. An old man goes alone, at night, into the camp of his enemies.
The Iliad · C2+
Book Twenty-Four: Priam and Achilles
Understatement and tone (no mean feat, not without, not unkind, by no means, it’s not as if, in no position to, it’s the least I can do, words fail me), not for the faint-hearted and lay to rest: C2+ language for the end of the Iliad.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Priam.
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Twenty-Four
Zeus told Priam to ransom Hector’s body. It was not a journey for the faint-hearted, said Hecuba; but it was not as if he had a choice. Guided by Hermes, the old man drove through the Greek camp at night, which was no mean feat, and went into Achilles’ hut.
He kissed the hands that had killed his son, and asked Achilles to remember his own father. Words fail us at what happened next: they wept together. It was by no means certain that Achilles would listen. But he was not without pity, and his words were not unkind: there are two jars on the floor of Zeus’s house, he said, one of evils and one of blessings.
Priam was in no position to refuse anything, but Achilles asked how long he needed for the funeral, and promised eleven days of peace: it was the least he could do. At dawn, Priam brought his son home, and the Trojans laid Hector, tamer of horses, to rest.
So they held the funeral of Hector, tamer of horses.
Understatement (litotes)
DEMETRIA
He was not without pity. His words were not unkind. It was no mean feat.
SOPHIA
Litotes says something by denying its opposite: not without, not unkind, no mean feat. It sounds careful and quiet, and often says more than the direct word.
Limits and refusals
PHILO
It was by no means certain. It’s not as if I have a choice. I am in no position to refuse.
SOPHIA
by no means = not at all. it’s not as if = rejecting an excuse. be in no position to = have no power or right to.
Feeling and ending
MARCOS
This is not for the faint-hearted. Words fail me. Eleven days of peace: it’s the least I can do. They laid Hector to rest.
SOPHIA
not for the faint-hearted. words fail me. it’s the least I can do = modest generosity. lay someone to rest = bury them.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| not without; not unkind; no mean feat | litotes | He was not without pity. |
| by no means; it’s not as if | strong denial; rejecting excuses | It was by no means certain. |
| in no position to; the least I can do | power; modest generosity | It’s the least I can do. |
| not for the faint-hearted; words fail me | courage; emotion | Words fail me. |
| lay to rest | burial | They laid Hector to rest. |
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. That was no ___ feat for an old man.
2. This is not for the ___-hearted.
3. It’s not as ___ I have a choice.
4. It was by no ___ certain.
5. He was not ___ pity, after all.
6. I am in no ___ to refuse.
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. His words were not .
8. “Eleven days of peace. It’s the I can do.”
9. When he kissed his hands, words me.
10. And so they laid Hector to .
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “It’s not as if we have much time.”
12. “Climbing that mountain was no mean feat.”
13. “The result is by no way certain.”
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