Themes of Irony, Seduction, Humor, Joy, Tenderness, and Sorrow

Irony

By the beginning of book 16 Trojans are at the ships and one is afire. Patroclus addresses Achilles:

"'[S]end me in your place to captain our host,
the Myrmidons, and I will relieve the Greeks.
Let me wear your well-known armor on my body
so Trojans will think I am you, shrink back . . . ."
Patroclus did not know the irony
that what he asked would hasten his life's end.'"
(16.38).

Seduction

In book 14, as Zeus nears fulfillment of his promise to Thetis by forcing the Greeks back upon their ships, Hera concocts a scheme to divert Zeus. She plans to seduce him, then have sleep overcome him, so that Poseidon would be free to aid Greece on the battlefield.

Before approaching her target, the goddess bathes, anoints and perfumes her skin, dresses in alluring clothes, and obtains from Aphrodite a guaranteed charm to hide in her bosom.

Humor

When Hera approaches Zeus on Mount Ida, her preparations quickly have the desired effect. She teases him, saying she is traveling and just dropped by for a moment to tell him her travel plans.

"Cloud-gathering Zeus took a breath and said:
'Hera, wait until later before you leave,
but now let us lie down in a soft place.
Never has lust for goddess or mortal mate
flooded my soul and conquered me like this.
Not when I craved Ixion's faithless wife
who bore Perithous, like a god in council.
Not when I longed for Danae's slender legs,
who bore me Perseus, a most distinguished man.
Not when I courted Phoenix' gorgeous daughter
who bore me both Minos and Radamanthus.
Not when I warmed to Semele or Alcmena.
Alcmena bore Heracles, a mighty son,
and Semele bore mirthful Dionysus.
Not when Demeter gave her charms to me.
Never with Leto, and not with you yourself
has hot desire seized me as it does now.'"
(14.312).

Joy

In book 10, while a thousand Trojan watchfires blaze near the ships, Diomedes and Odysseus undertake a bold nighttime mission. Among other adventures during the mission, they capture a team of splendid Thracian horses. As they drive the prizes towards the ships, their comrades worry that the two champions will not return alive, and greet them joyfully when they arrive safely.

Tenderness

Hector's final parting with Andromache and their infant son:

"Hector laid his son in Andromache's arms
and she drew the boy to her fragrant breast,
then wept, then tried a smile. Hector was moved,
caressed her with a gentle hand . . . ."
(6.482).

Sorrow

Andromache's lament on learning of Hector's death:

"'You may have gone to Hades' dismal realm
beneath the earth but you left me here to weep
in your house, widowed, tending the tiny son
of our unlucky union. . . .'"(22.482)

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See Wikipedia on irony