Menelaus won the duel. The war should be over. But the gods have other plans.
The Iliad · B2+
Book Four: The Broken Truce
Be bound to, be supposed to, mean to, enough to, get someone to, hang back, apologise for, used to, up to and be to blame: B2+ grammar for an arrow, a broken truce and a king who tests his leaders.
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SOPHIA
PHILO
So who breaks the truce? A god, or a man?
The story
After Homer’s Iliad, Book Four
The duel was supposed to end the war, and on Olympus Zeus pretended to agree. But Hera and Athena wanted Troy destroyed, so Athena went down and found Pandarus, the archer, who was foolish enough to listen to her. He shot Menelaus. Athena never meant the arrow to kill him: she turned it so that it only grazed his skin.
Agamemnon got his herald to fetch Machaon, the healer, who cleaned the wound with Chiron’s herbs. The Trojans had broken their oaths, said the king, and sooner or later they were bound to pay.
Then he went through the army. He praised Idomeneus, the Ajaxes and Nestor, but he asked Odysseus why he was hanging back, and Odysseus was furious, until the king smiled and apologised for his words. He reminded Diomedes that his father used to fight at the front. Diomedes said nothing: it wasn’t up to him to argue with the king.
Then the armies met with a roar like two winter rivers, and men fell on both sides. Who was to blame? The archer, or the goddess who tricked him?
Many Trojans and Greeks lay that day side by side, face down in the dust.
Be bound to; be supposed to; mean to
DEMETRIA
The duel was supposed to end the war. Athena never meant the arrow to kill him. The Trojans are bound to pay.
SOPHIA
be supposed to = should, according to the plan. mean (something) to = intend. be bound to = be certain to.
Enough to; get someone to; be to blame
PHILO
Pandarus was foolish enough to listen. Agamemnon got his herald to fetch the healer. But who is to blame?
SOPHIA
adjective + enough to. get someone to do (with to); have someone do (without). be to blame = be responsible.
Hang back; apologise for; used to; up to
MARCOS
“Why are you hanging back?” He apologised for his words. “Your father used to fight at the front!” “It isn’t up to me.”
SOPHIA
hang back = hesitate (not hang out). apologise to someone for. used to + verb for past habits; be used to + -ing = be accustomed. it’s up to you = your decision.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| be supposed to; be bound to | plans; certainty | The duel was supposed to end the war. |
| mean (something) to; enough to | intention; sufficiency | He was foolish enough to listen. |
| get someone to + verb | causative | He got Talthybius to fetch the healer. |
| used to + verb; be to blame | past habit; responsibility | Your father used to fight at the front. |
| hang back; apologise for; up to | phrasal verb; prepositions | It isn’t up to me. |
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 duel was supposed ___ the war.
2. The oath-breakers are bound ___ for this.
3. Agamemnon got his herald ___ the healer.
4. Why are you hanging ___ while the others fight?
5. He apologised to Odysseus ___ his harsh words.
6. “It isn’t up ___ me to argue with the king.”
B · Write
Write the correct form of the word in brackets, or the missing word.
7. Pandarus was foolish enough (listen) to the goddess.
8. Athena never meant the arrow (kill) him.
9. Diomedes’ father (fight) at the front: it was his habit.
10. Who is (blame) for the broken truce?
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Tydeus was used to fight in front of everyone.”
12. “Agamemnon had his herald fetch the healer.”
13. “It was supposed that the duel ended the war.”
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