Chapter 2.4 – The Fall of Troy
History marks the importance of people, their cultures and their way of living. Many epic stories have been told since centuries. We already know about the great Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There’s one such epic story of Southern Europe, told in Greece and some parts of Turkey, called the Fall of Troy. This epic was recited by a Greek poet called Homer. Homer called this epic – “Iliad”. “Iliad” portrays the battle between the ancient kingdoms of Troy (present day Turkey) and Sparta (Greece). While visiting Spartan King Menelaus, Trojan prince Paris falls for Menelaus’ wife, Helen, and takes her back to Troy. Menelaus’ brother, King Agamemnon, having already defeated every army in Greece, uses his brother’s fury as a pretext to declare war against Troy, the last kingdom preventing his control over the Aegean Sea. How the Greek army finally cheats and wins over the Trojans, forms the climax of the story.
∗ ∗ ∗ Warming up! ∗ ∗ ∗
Building a Story
1. Form groups of eight. The group leader prepares slips of paper for each of the seven points given below and distributes them among the others. The group sits in a circle, taking their seats according to the number on the slip they have. Then each one completes the sentence on his/her slip without sharing it with the others. The group leader collects the slips and reads all the sentences aloud as one continuous passage. Does the story make sense? The group then works on the story to make it more meaningful and interesting.
1. Once there was a
Ans: Prince named Joy.
2. Who lived in a
Ans: big palace in the city of Shaykh.
3. He/She ate
Ans: delicious food all day and enjoyed his life.
4. She/He went
Ans: one day to his city’s market area.
5. There she/he saw
Ans: the sufferings of his people due to heavy taxation levied by his own father, the king.
6. She/He was
Ans: shocked to see the plight of his own people and thus wanted to help them.
7. That is why
Ans: he thought of speaking to his father and lowering the taxes on the goods in his kingdom.
As a result , the king also realized what wrong he had done and his kingdom became a happy one once again.
Interviews
(a) Why?: Form groups of five. Choose a familiar character from any one of the epics you know. One person from the group plays the role of that character. Others in the group frame questions related to that character’s life. The condition is that all the questions should begin with ‘Why … ?’. They interview the character using these ‘Why-?’ questions. Practise and present the interview in the classroom.
Ans:
Epic : Ramayana
Character : Lord Rama
List of Why questions.
(1) Why were you banished from your kingdom?
(2) Why did your brother Laxman accompany you to the forest?
(3) Why did you leave Sita and Laxman in the hut ?
(4) Why did Ravana kidnap Sita ?
(b) How? : Follow the above procedure. Now all questions should begin with ‘How-?’
Ans:
(1) How many stepmothers did you have?
(2) How many years did you live in the forest?
(3) How many brothers did you have ?
(4) How did you defeat Ravana in the end?
(c) Prepare a short script of your interviews.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
Part 1
∗ ∗ ∗ In Between the Lesson ∗ ∗ ∗
Q1. How were epics transmitted from generation to generation?
Ans: Epics were transmitted from generation to generation as over a period of many years they were handed down from singer to singer till perhaps one great poet gave them their final form.
Q2. Have you seen any of these stories in TV serials or movies ?
Ans: Yes, I have watched Ramayana and Mahabharata serials and also watched the movie Troy.
Q3. Who are considered to be the authors of epics ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ respectively?
Ans: Ramayana is written by Valmiki and Mahabharata is written by Ved Vyas.
Q4. Why is Homer honoured with the title ‘Father of European Poetry’?
Ans: Homer, a blind poet, who lived about 900 BC, wandered from one Greek city or village to another, singing his poems. It is believed that The Iliad and The Odyssey were composed and recited by Homer and so he is honoured through the ages, not only in Greece but in all Europe, as the Father of European Poetry.
Q5. How did the location of Troy help it to grow into a very rich, prosperous city?
Ans: It was well situated, both for commerce and agriculture. In front of the city was the sea over which sailed the ships of Troy, carrying goods and grain. At the back rose the high peak of Mount Ida, from which flowed many rivers and streams. The valleys among the hills were well-watered and fertile.
Q6. How were the Trojans protected during wartime?
Ans: The Trojans during the wartime were protected by the strong walls and gates on one side and by the hills on the other.
Q7. What was the cause of the ten year old war between the Greeks and Trojans?
Ans: Greece had declared war against the Trojans because Paris, a prince of Troy had persuaded Helen, wife of a Greek king Menelaus, to elope with him.
Q8. Find the story of why Helen was persuaded by the goddess Aphrodite to elope with Paris.
Ans: The Greek goddess Aphrodite is the goddess of love and passion. Helen was a beautiful married woman ,yet because of her immense beauty, Paris fell in love with her and persuaded her to elope with her. In those days, the Greek gods and goddesses played a very influential role in people’s actions.
∗ ∗ ∗ ENGLISH WORKSHOP ∗ ∗ ∗
1. Read the passage and name the following.
(a) He composed the Illiad and Odyssey :
Ans: Homer.
(b) He persuaded Helen to elope with him :
Ans: Paris, a prince of Troy.
(c) She was wife of the King Menelaus :
Ans: Helen.
(d) He led the defence of Troy for nine years :
Ans: Hector.
(e) He was killed by a poisoned arrow that entered his heel :
Ans: Achilles.
2. Find antonyms of the following from the passage.
(a) barren
Ans: fertile
(b) offended
Ans: defended
(c) cowardly
Ans: bravely
(d) peace
Ans: war
(e) surrender
Ans: fight
(f) exposed
Ans: covered or protected
(g) defenceless
Ans: well protected
3. From other sources find synonyms of the following words used in the story.
(a) great (hero)
Ans: brave
(b) beautiful (woman)
Ans: pretty
(c) fight (verb)
Ans: defend
(d) rich (city)
Ans: prosperous
(e) safe
Ans: well protected
(f) strong (city)
Ans: well guarded
(g) brave
Ans: strong
4. Correct the following sentences using facts from the passage.
(a) Troy traded in cattle and grass, with other cities.
Ans: Troy traded in goods and grain with other cities.
(b) During war, Trojans jumped over the fort gates to fight the enemy.
Ans: During war, the Trojans closed the gates and then the city was like a strong fortress/quite sage from all attack.
(c) Helen eloped with Menelaus.
Ans: Helen eloped with Paris, a prince of Troy.
(d) Troy was attacked because it was a strong, rich city.
Ans: Troy was attacked to take revenge for the wrong done to Menelaus.
(e) The Greek armies and heroes always defeated the Trojans.
Ans: The Greek armies and heroes could never defeat the Trojans.
(f) Both the enemies were eager to continue fighting.
Ans: Both the armies were eager to end their fighting.
(g) The great heroes avoided one another.
Ans: The great heroes tried to kill one another.
(h) Achilles was killed by an arrow that pierced his heart.
Ans: Achilles was killed by a poisoned arrow that entered his heel.
5. State the counter – action for the following actions.
(a) Helen eloped with Paris.
Ans:
Counter-action: All the kings and heroes of Greece declared war against the Trojans.
(b) The Greeks sailed to Troy and attacked it.
Ans:
Counter-action: The Trojans, too, fought hard and the siege continued for ten long years.
(c) Hector was killed by Achilles.
Ans:
Counter-action: Achilles was killed later by a poisoned arrow that entered his heel.
(d) The siege continued for ten long years.
Ans:
Counter-action: Though both the Trojans and Greeks were fed up, the fighting went on.
6. From either of our two Indian epics, find out which battle/war lasted the longest? Write down about its cause, the enemy armies, its heroes, its duration and the final outcome.
(a) Cause
(b) The enemy armies
(c) Heroes
(d) Duration
(e) Final outcome
Ans:
7. Complete the following sentences with reference to the passage.
(a) Epics are long poems that ______.
Ans: relate the needs of a great national hero or a great national war.
(b) They may be composed and sung or recited for many years before ______.
Ans: they are actually written down.
(c) Nobody knows for certain who ______.
Ans: the author of these epics is.
(d) It is believed that ______ Homer, who ______ and who ______ to all who ______.
Ans: It is believed that The Iliad and The Odyssey were composed and recited by a blind poet named Homer, who lived about 900 BCE and who wandered from one Greek city or village to another, singing his poems to all who would receive him in their homes and give him hospitality.
(e) At the back rose the high peak of Mount Ida, from which ______.
Ans: flowed many rivers and streams
Underline the clauses in the above sentences and also the words that link or connect the clauses.
Ans:
(a) Main Clause: Epics are long poems
Subordinate Clause: that relate the deeds of the great national war.
Subordinating conjunction: that
(b) Main Clause: They may be composed and sung or recited for many years
Subordinate Clause: before they were written.
Subordinating conjunction: before
(c) Main Clause: Nobody knows for certain
Subordinate Clause: who the author of these early epics is.
Subordinating conjunction: who
(d) Main Clause: It is believed
Subordinate Clause: that The Iliad and the Odyssey were composed and recited by a blind poet named Homer
Subordinating conjunction: that
Subordinate Clause: who lived about 900 BCE
Subordinating conjunction: who
Subordinate Clause: who wandered from one Greek city or village to another, singing his poems to all
Subordinating conjunction: who
Subordinate Clause: who would receive him in their homes and give him hospitality.
Subordinating conjunction: who
(e) Main Clause: At the back rose the high peak of Mount Ida
Subordinate Clause: from which flowed many rivers and streams
Subordinating conjunction: from
Part 2
∗ ∗ ∗ In Between the Lesson ∗ ∗ ∗
Q1. How did Odysseus plan to defeat the Trojans?
Ans: Odysseus planned to build a huge wooden horse so that the best fighters can hide inside it while the rest of the army will pretend to have sailed back only to return back to the shore at night to kill the Trojans when they would be asleep.
Q2. What was the reason for Troy to rejoice and celebrate?
Ans: The reason for Troy to rejoice and celebrate was that the war was over and the long siege had ended.
Q3. Think and answer:
Was it enough to use the wooden horse to hide?
Ans: Yes, the horse was big enough to hide the best Greek fighters inside it. It was made by a skilful engineer who entered the horse himself along with Menelaus, Odysseus and the greatest Greek warriors.
Q4. What was done to make the Trojans take it inside the city?
Ans: As per Odysseus ‘plan, the large wooden horse was left at the beach and the Greeks pretended to sail away in their ships, back to their homes. They left behind a soldier to persuade the Trojans to drag the horse in their city. When questioned by the Trojans, he gave them a false story as instructed by Odysseus. He said the Greeks have left for their homeland as they were tired of War. They made the horse as an offering to the God of the Sea. The soldier further added that the Greeks also wanted to kill him as sacrifice to the sea-god but he escaped and hid from them. They built such a huge horse to make sure that the Trojans would not be able to carry it into the city as the luck would then go to the Trojans and not the Greeks. His story was so convincing that the Trojans believed him. They were delighted to hear his lies. They then broke down part of their strong wall and dragged the horse in.
Q5. How did the cunning Greek explain the presence of such a large wooden horse?
Ans: The cunning Greek explained the presence of such a large wooden horse by saying that they had made this horse and left it as an offering to the god of the Sea as they were afraid of the long voyage back home.
Q6. Do you think the Greeks and Trojans were superstitious ? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: The Greeks were not superstitious as the huge wooden horse was not an offering to the Sea god but a clever trick. The Trojans on the other hand were superstitious as they gullibly believed in the fake story of the only Greek who was left behind. The Trojans really thought that if they got the wooden horse inside their city they would be blessed by the Sea god and so they even tore down a part of the wall to drag the horse in, risking the security of their own city.
Q7. What reckless, thoughtless step did the Trojans take?
Ans: The reckless step the Trojans took was to make a hole in the wall and drag the huge wooden horse inside the city.
Q8. How did the Greeks enter the city of Troy?
Ans: Odysseus devised a clever plan which helped the Greeks enter the city of Troy. A huge wooden horse was built such that the best of Greek fighters could hide inside. The horse was left on the shore with one of the Greek soldiers who told them that he escaped from being offered to the Sea god.
Q9. How did the Greek ships remain hidden from Troy?
Ans: The Greek ships remained hidden from Troy by lowering their sails and dropping their anchors behind an island away from the coast.
Q10. What distressing sounds and sights could be witnessed at Troy, that fateful night?
Ans: Troy was filled with the sight of leaping flames as the Greeks had set fire to the houses, temples, towers and palaces. There were sounds of people shouting and the noise of weapons and the cries of weeping women. Such were the distressing sounds and sights that could be witnessed at Troy on that fateful night when the whole city was burnt to ashes.
Q11. What was the destiny of the royal family of Troy and that of Helen?
Ans: The royal family of Troy was destined to be defeated by the Greeks and hence even after defending itself for ten years , it was defeated in the end. Helen was destined to be back with her husband. So after the defeat of the Trojans, she returned back to Greece with her husband.
Q12. Think and answer :
How could the fall of Troy have been avoided ?
Ans: The fall of Troy could have been avoided only if the people of Troy had paid heed to the warning of their priest. The Greeks might have never been able to enter the city if the huge wooden horse with the soldiers hiding inside it was not dragged into the city and if they hadn’t broken down a part of their own walls which had protected the city for so many years.
∗ ∗ ∗ ENGLISH WORKSHOP ∗ ∗ ∗
1. Find and write the Greek and Trojan names used in the story (Part I and II).
Ans:
Trojan names :
Paris, a prince of Troy, King Priam, Hector.
Greek names :
Helen, Menelaus, Achilles, Odysseus and Agamemnon.
2. List all the words related to ‘war’ from both parts of the story.
Ans: Strong wall, enemy, attack, strong fortress, brave soldiers ,kings, heroes, revenge, siege, fought, force, battles, armies, arrow, wounded, victory, burn, kill, weapons, enemies and armour are some of the words related to war that are used in the story.
3. Note the following constructions carefully and then use them to express your ideas:
(a) A horse big enough to hold men inside it.
______ enough to ____________.
Ans: I have a house big enough to entertain fifty people.
(b) The Greeks were tired of the long war. ______ tired of ____________.
Ans: We were tired of our long journey.
(c) They are afraid of the long voyage home, too.
______ afraid of ____________.
Ans: We are are afraid of the consequences of our mischief.
(d) They made it too big to go inside your city.
______ too ______ to ____________.
Ans: We were too tired to continue the game.
(e) They were so excited that they paid no attention to his words.
______ so ______ that ____________.
Ans: We were so happy that we danced with joy.
4. Put the following events in the order in which they took place. Number them accordingly.
(a) The Trojans found a Greek man under the big wooden horse.
(b) They broke down part of the wall and brought the horse in.
(c) The cunning Odysseus thought of a plan.
(d) The Greeks burnt their tents and sailed away.
(e) Troy was burnt down.
(f) The Greeks built a big wooden horse.
(g) The great heroes hid inside the horse.
(h) The priest warned the Trojans not to break the wall.
(i) The Trojans were happy to see the Greek ships go.
(j) The Trojans slept soundly.
(k) The Greeks came out of the horse and opened the gates.
(l) The Greek army entered the city.
Ans:
(c) The cunning Odysseus thought of a plan.
(f) The Greeks built a big wooden horse.
(g) The great heroes hid inside the horse.
(d) The Greeks burnt their tents and sailed away.
(i) The Trojans were happy to see the Greek ships go.
(a) The Trojans found a Greek man under the big wooden horse.
(h) The priest warned the Trojans not to break the wall.
(b) They broke down part of the wall and brought the horse in.
(j) The Trojans slept soundly.
(k) The Greeks came out of the horse and opened the gates.
(l) The Greek army entered the city.
(e) Troy was burnt down.
5. Form pairs. Imagine you are a pair of Trojans and you have come to know about Odysseus’s plan. Make a counter plan to defeat the Greeks. Write down your plan as you would explain it to your fellow Trojans.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
6. Identify one example of a main clause and one example of a dependent clause from page 46. (Read the entry regarding clauses in the Language Study pages.)
Ans:
It was only Aphrodite who had turned her heart away from her home.
Main Clause: It was only Aphrodite.
Dependent Clause : who had turned her heart away from her home.
7. Be a writer.
(a) Now read the beginning and end of a sci-fi story given below and complete the story using your imagination.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
(b) Read the following and observe the use of tenses.
‘Last week I witnessed a strange accident. Let me tell you about it.
The signal flashes green. Vehicles start from the opposite direction. They move fast. Suddenly a speeding motorcyclist tries to cut across, from the wrong side. He is about to collide with a loaded truck. He applies the brakes. He falls and slides out with his bike from under the truck. He comes out unscathed on the other side.’
When an event, which has occured in the past, is narrated in the Present Tense to create a dramatic effect its Tense is called the ‘Dramatic Present Tense.’
Now try to relate Jayant’s sci-fi story, in brief, in the dramatic past tense.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.