Character: Nestor

Question 1

How is Nestor portrayed as wise?

Answer 1

Bk.1 Nestor advices Agamemnon against taking Briseis from Achilles and Achilles must give up his anger

Bk. 9 rebukes Agamemnon for his love of “internal discord”, proposes a special council and nominates those for the embassy to Achilles (Phoenix, Ajax and Odysseus)

Question 2

How is Nestor portrayed as a good speaker/ leader?

Answer 2

Bk. 1 - “whose speech flowed sweeter than honey off his tongue.”
- conventionally heroic to be able to be a good orator, despite older age he is able to maintain his heroic identity in other ways

Bk. 1 - Great heroes of old “listened to what I said and followed my advice.”

Bk.4 His speech to his soldiers and experience inspires his soldiers

Bk. 6 – Persuades the Greeks to halt their looting until the end of combat

Question 3

How is Nestor portrayed as experienced?

Answer 3

Bk.1 Had experienced three generations (two prior to Homer’s epic) and fought alongside the Lapiths in his youth uses this experience to remind Ag and Ach of why he holds authority
(they had followed his advice and seen victory- so should the current Greeks)

Bk.4 Organises his men with “experience he had gained in battles long ago”
- Charioteers at the front and back with less experienced soldiers in the centre with a rear-guard of brave soldiers

Question 4

How is Nestor portrayed as honest?

Answer 4

Bk.10 Confesses to Agamemnon that he feels “critical of [Menelaus] and wont hide my feelings”
(immediately is inclined to speak positively of Menelaus as it is revealed he is awake and rousing some of the men)

Bk.9 Openly critical of Agamemnon’s treatment of Achilles and his love for “internal discord” + “we were all against it”