Beginning of Essay
The shield of Achillles plays a major part in the Illiad. It portrays the story of the Achaeans and their fight against the Trojans in a microcosm of the larger story. Forged by the god Hephaestus, who was a crippled smith, it depicts the two cities and the happ ....

Middle of Essay
.... cattle, and a dancing circle. Once Hephaestus completes the shield, he makes a breastplate and helmet for Achilles. The armor he forges is indestructible and worthy of a god. Through Homers description of the shield and how it is forged, the reader can begin to understand the importance and value of this device in a literary context. The two cities depicted on the shield represent a city in Greece and Troy. One of the cities is filled with men dancing and singing and brides marching through the streets, while the other is circled by an army. This army has two plans which split their ranks: to share the riches which they have captured or ....