This is a paper I did for one of my Classics courses while I was at UMass. It was meant for the class as it's audience, so there is little background detail. The assignment was to write about chapters 16 and 17 of Homer's Iliad. I hated that book, and had no respect what-so-ever for the characters. As a result, this report is little better than the rant I wrote shortly before to relieve stress. How ever, this one has a solid basis and references to the work.
I wouldn't hand this in for your own class. Plagiarism is fundamentally wrong. And this paper would only get you in trouble with your professor.
In the Iliad, the word "brave" is used to describe many of the fighters in the war. This is unwarranted, because it takes more than fighting to be brave. The characters show what could be an opposite of bravery.
Many of the warriors on both sides are described as "brave". By this, it means that they fight in battle, and don't retreat because they are frightened. They are described by many of the synonyms for "brave" as well: courageous, dauntless, gallant, valiant. Ajax is even described as "lionhearted" on line 106 of page 462, a word not normally associated with Greek works, as this expression evokes more of an image of the Middle Ages of Europe.
While not running away constituted bravery to the Greeks, it takes a bit more to convince modern readers that someone is brave. The word has a deeper meaning to us than simply killing people in battle. Although "brave" is defined as "possessing or having courage or courageous endurance" by Webster's Dictionary, it connotates a selfless motive, like wanting to save someone, or working for the greater good. Looking at some of the characters motives for fighting, most of them could be considered somewhat selfish, especially in Chapters 16 and 17, which are in the thick of battle. At the beginning of Chapter 16, Patroclus could be considered brave for putting on Achilles' armor in order to rally the Greek forces. But later on, he fights for the glory of the kills. Line 438 on page 424 states that "…Patroclus charged (the Trojan forces), heart afire for the kill." A man gained fame in war by killing others, and it is the desire for fame that drives Patroclus to press on to the walls of Troy, cutting down those in his path. The chapter becomes a list of whom he slaughtered for fame.
It is not just Patroclus. Most of the characters fight for glory. They are referred to as fame-driven or seeking glory in battle. The only characters that do not fight for the sake of their own fame are egged on by the gods. In Chapter 16, lines 840-846, Apollo appears to Hector and tells him to stop sitting around and get out there, because he might get some fame out of it. In Chapter 17, he appears to Hector again (ll.81-90), and to Aeneas (ll. 374-385). Athena aids Menelaus, putting "fresh strength in his back" (l.647) because he prayed to her instead of one of the other gods. It is the ancient Greek equivalent of calling someone a "chicken" to get him to fight, and giving them a Power-aid or stamina drink. This is not true bravery.
Being brave is not looking for glory or fighting so friends won't tease you. It is not backing down to your own fear, and doing what you believe is right even if it goes against what others say. Acting brave for these reasons is almost the opposite of our society's ideal bravery, a kind of anti-bravery. It was good enough for the ancient Greeks, but such egotistical motivation won't cut it today.