The Song of Achilles Lesson Plan

Written by Madeline Miller and first published in 2011, The Song of Achilles is adaptation of The Iliad told from the perspective of one of its minor characters, Patroclus. Fascinated since childhood by stories of Greek mythology, and in particular with the character of Patroclus, Miller studied Classics at Brown and spent ten years crafting the novel. The Song of Achilles received both criticism and praise for its heartfelt, passionate depiction of Achilles’ and Patroclus’ relationship as a romance - though this characterization is, in fact, an ancient one, and an accepted reading by many classical scholars. The Song of Achilles received favorable reviews, won the Orange prize for...