Maharashtra State Board Class 9 English Lesson The Fall of Troy Summary, Line by Line Explanation, Theme, Poetic Devices along with difficult word meanings from English Kumarbharati Book
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The Fall of Troy Maharashtra State Board Class 9 English
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- The Fall of Troy Introduction
- Theme / Central Idea Lesson The Fall of Troy
- The Fall of Troy Summary
- The Fall of Troy Summary in Hindi
- The Fall of Troy Lesson Explanation
The Fall of Troy Introduction
The Fall of Troy is a legendary Greek epic that chronicles the 10-year war between Greece and Troy, sparked by the abduction of Helen of Sparta by the Trojan prince Paris. The story culminates in the Greeks’ victory, achieved through the clever use of the Trojan Horse.
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Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson The Fall of Troy
The epic tale of The Fall of Troy explores several timeless themes. Here are some of the key themes:
- War and Its Consequences: The story highlights the devastating effects of war, including loss of life, destruction of cities, and the suffering of innocent people.
- Overconfidence and Arrogance: The Trojans’ excessive pride and arrogance, particularly in accepting the Trojan Horse, ultimately led to their downfall. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked pride and arrogance.
- Deception: The Greeks’ use of deception with the Trojan Horse demonstrates the power of cunning and strategy in warfare. The story raises questions about the moral implications of using deception as a means to achieve an end. The Trojan Horse serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting appearances and the importance of critical thinking.
- Heroism and Courage: The actions of Achilles, Hector, and other heroes showcase the qualities of bravery, honor, and sacrifice. The story presents idealized images of heroes, inspiring audiences to strive for similar qualities.
- Destruction and Devastation: The war caused widespread destruction of cities, loss of life, and suffering for both sides. The story highlights the human cost of war, emphasizing the pain and suffering endured by individuals and families.
The Fall of Troy Summary
The Fall of Troy is a famous story from Greek mythology. It tells about a 10-year war between the Greeks and the Trojans, a city in Asia Minor. The war started because Paris, a Trojan prince, stole Helen, the wife of a Greek king named Menelaus.
The Greeks, led by King Agamemnon, gathered a large army and sailed to Troy. They tried to capture the city for many years but couldn’t break through its strong walls. Finally, with the help of a clever plan by Odysseus, they succeeded.
The plan involved building a giant wooden horse and hiding soldiers inside. The Trojans, thinking it was a gift to the sea God, brought the horse into their city. At night, the soldiers came out of the big wooden horse and opened the city gates for the Greek army, which had been waiting outside. The Trojans were defeated, and Troy was destroyed finally.
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The Fall of Troy Summary in Hindi
द फॉल ऑफ ट्रॉय ग्रीक पौराणिक कथाओं की एक प्रसिद्ध कहानी है। यह ग्रीकों और ट्रॉय के बीच 10 साल के युद्ध के बारे में बताता है, जो एशिया माइनर में एक शहर है। युद्ध शुरू हुआ क्योंकि पेरिस, एक ट्रोजन राजकुमार ने हेलेन को चुरा लिया, जो एक ग्रीक राजा मेनेलाउस की पत्नी थी।
राजा आगामेमन के नेतृत्व में ग्रीक, एक बड़ी सेना जुटाई और ट्रॉय के लिए रवाना हुए। उन्होंने कई वर्षों तक शहर पर कब्जा करने का प्रयास किया लेकिन इसकी मजबूत दीवारों को तोड़ नहीं सके। अंततः, ओडिसीस की एक चालाक योजना की मदद से, वे सफल हुए।
योजना में एक विशाल लकड़ी के घोड़े का निर्माण और उसमें सैनिकों को छिपाना शामिल था। ट्रॉय के लोगों ने सोचा कि यह समुद्र के देवता को उपहार है, इसलिए घोड़े को अपने शहर में ले आए। रात में, सैनिक लकड़ी के घोड़े से बाहर निकले और शहर के द्वार ग्रीक सेना के लिए खोल दिए, जो बाहर इंतजार कर रही थी। ट्रॉय के लोग हार गए और ट्रॉय को आखिरकार नष्ट कर दिया गया।
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The Fall of Troy Lesson Explanation
Part I
Passage: Epics are long poems that relate the deeds of a great national hero or a great national war. They often tell of a nation’s early history. They may be composed and sung or recited for many years before they are actually written down.
Word Meaning
Epics: Long poems that tell stories of heroic deeds or historical events.
Deeds: Actions or achievements, especially heroic ones.
National hero: A person who is admired and respected by a nation for their achievements or bravery.
National war: A war fought between nations.
Composed: Created or written.
Explanation: Epics are long stories in poems about a hero who did something amazing for their country. They tell us about the country’s past and might have been sung or told for a long time before they were written down.
Passage: The two famous Sanskrit epics are The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, and the two great epics of European literature, written in ancient Greek, are The Iliad and The Odyssey. Just as in Indian literature we go back to stories from The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, so in the literature of western countries, they go back to The Iliad and The Odyssey. Just as children all over India know the names of stories of Ram and Sita, Yudhishthira and Arjuna and Draupadi, so children in western countries know the names of Hector and Odysseus and Achilles and Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world, because of whom the Greeks and Trojans fought for ten long years. Nobody knows for certain who the author of these early epics is. It is thought that they arose and developed with the nation itself, and were handed down from singer to singer till perhaps one great poet gave them their final form.
Word Meaning
Helen of Troy: The most beautiful woman in the world, whose abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War.
Achilles: A Greek warrior and hero in the Iliad, known for his strength and invulnerability.
Explanation: The Ramayana and Mahabharata are famous Indian epics, and the Iliad and Odyssey are famous Greek epics. These stories are very old and have been passed down through generations. People in India know the stories of Ram and Sita, Yudhishthira and Arjuna and Draupadi. People in Western countries know the stories of Hector, Odysseus, Achilles, and Helen of Troy. It is not known who wrote these stories. It is thought that they developed over time and were told by many people before being written down.
Passage: It is believed that The Iliad and The Odyssey were composed and recited by a blind poet named Homer, who lived about 900 bce and who wandered from one Greek city or village to another, singing his poems to all who would receive him in their homes and give him hospitality. This wandering singer has been honoured through the ages, not only in Greece but in all Europe, as the Father of European Poetry.
Word Meaning
Wandered: Moved around without a fixed destination.
Hospitality: The act of being welcoming and generous to guests.
Father: here, A founder or originator.
Explanation: People think that a blind poet named Homer wrote and sang the stories of The Iliad and The Odyssey around 900 years before Christ. Homer traveled from place to place in Greece, telling his stories to anyone who would listen. Because of his amazing epics, Homer is considered the father of European poetry.
Passage: The Iliad is the story of Ilium or Troy, a rich trading city in Asia Minor near the narrow sea that leads from the Aegean to the Black Sea. It was well situated, both for commerce and agriculture. In front of the city was the sea over which sailed the ships of Troy, carrying goods and grain. At the back rose the high peak of Mount Ida, from which flowed many rivers and streams. The valleys among the hills were well-watered and fertile, with corn growing in fertile fields and cattle feeding on the rich grass of the meadows while sheep fed on the slopes of the hills.
Word Meaning
Asia Minor: A historical peninsula in western Asia, now part of Turkey.
Aegean: A sea between Greece and Turkey.
Meadows: Fields covered with grass.
Slopes: The sides of a hill or mountain.
Explanation: The Iliad tells the story of Troy, a wealthy city in Asia Minor near the narrow sea that connects the Aegean and Black Seas. It was a good place for trade and farming. The sea was in front of the city, and ships from Troy sailed there to carry goods and grain. Behind the city was a tall mountain called Mount Ida, with many rivers and streams flowing from it. The valleys between the hills had sufficient water and had good soil for growing crops. Corn grew in the fields, and cattle ate the grass in the meadows, while sheep grazed on the hillsides.
Passage: Round their city the Trojans had built a strong wall so that no enemy should attack them from the sea. The wall was so broad that people could stand and sit and walk on it. The great gates stood open, and people could go to the seashore outside and come in as they pleased. But in time of war the gates would be closed; and then the city was like a strong fortress, quite safe from all attack, protected by the walls surrounding it, as well as by the hills behind.
Word Meaning
Trojans: People from Troy, an ancient city in Asia Minor.
Fortress: A fortified place, especially a castle.
Explanation: The Trojans built a thick wall around their city to protect themselves from enemies who might come by sea. The wall was so wide that people could walk, sit, or stand on it. The big gates of the city were always open, so people could go to the beach and come back as they wanted. But when there was a war, the gates would be closed, and the city would be like a strong castle, safe from all attacks. The walls and the hills behind the city helped to keep it safe.
Passage: Thus, Troy was a strong city, strongly protected by its walls and strongly defended by its brave soldiers. But all the kings and heroes of Greece had declared war against the Trojans, because Paris, a prince of Troy, had persuaded Helen, wife of a Greek king Menelaus, to elope with him. He had brought her to Troy. The Greeks wanted to take revenge on Troy for the wrong done to Menelaus. They sailed to Troy and laid siege to the city. The Trojans, too, fought hard and the siege continued for ten long years.
Word Meaning
Elope: to run away secretly, especially to get married
Siege: a military operation in which a force surrounds a city or fortress with the intent of capturing it by force
Explanation: Troy was a very strong city, surrounded by big, thick walls and protected by brave soldiers. But the Greek kings and heroes were angry at Troy. This is because Paris, a prince from Troy, had stolen Helen, the wife of a Greek king named Menelaus. The Greeks wanted to punish Troy for this, so they sailed to Troy and tried to capture the city. The Trojans fought hard to defend their city, and the war lasted for ten long years.
Passage: The fighting went on daily, but the siege did not end. On the one hand, the Greeks could not take the city, and on the other hand the Trojans could not force them to sail away. Every day the Trojans came out of their gates, and the Greeks came out of their tents and ships, and the fighting went on. Sometimes there were great battles between the two armies. Sometimes there were single fights between two great heroes. Sometimes the Trojans had the better of it and sometimes the Greeks. But still the fighting went on.
Word Meaning
Better of it: To have the advantage or upper hand.
Explanation: The fighting continued every day, but the war didn’t end. The Greeks couldn’t capture the city, and the Trojans couldn’t make them leave their land. The Trojans would come out of their city gates, and the Greeks would come out of their tents and ships, and they would fight. Sometimes there were big battles between the two armies. Sometimes there were fights between two strong heroes. Sometimes the Trojans won, and sometimes the Greeks won. But the fighting never stopped.
Passage: Great heroes on both sides were killed in the course of the war. After leading the defence of his city for nine years, the brave Hector was at last killed by Achilles, whom none could resist. But Achilles himself was killed later on by a poisoned arrow that entered his heel, the only part of his body where he could be wounded. Still later, Paris himself was killed, also by a poisoned arrow. The Trojans were tired of being shut up in their city, and the Greeks were longing to see their homes again. But still the fighting went on.
Word Meaning
Course: The normal and expected way that something happens or develops.
Hector: A legendary Trojan hero, the son of King Priam.
Explanation: Great heroes on both sides died during the war. Hector, a brave leader who defended his city for nine years, was killed by Achilles, who was known to be unbeatable. However, Achilles was also killed later by a poisoned arrow that hit his heel, the only part of his body that was weak. Paris, another Trojan leader, was also killed by a poisoned arrow. Even though both sides were tired and wanted the war to end, they continued to fight.
Part II
Passage: At last Troy was taken, not by force but by a trick. It was the cunning Odysseus who thought of a plan to obtain the victory.
Word Meaning
Odysseus: A legendary Greek king, known for his cunning and intelligence. He was one of the leaders of the Greeks in the Trojan War.
Cunning: Clever and deceitful, often in a negative sense.
Explanation: Troy was finally captured, not by fighting hard, but by using a clever trick. It was Odysseus, a very smart person, who came up with the idea to win.
Passage: “Let us build a great wooden horse”, he said, “big enough to hold men inside it, and let some of our best fighters hide in the horse. Then let us burn our tents and pretend to sail away in our ships. But instead of sailing away, we will return in the night. When the Trojans are asleep, we will attack the city and burn and kill.”
Word Meaning
Wooden horse: A large hollow statue of a horse, often used in ancient warfare as a way to hide soldiers inside.
Explanation: Odysseus suggested building a wooden horse which was big enough to hide soldiers inside of it. Odysseus further suggested the army burn their tents and pretend to go away from the land of Troy but instead of really going away, the army would come back at night and attack the Trojans when they were asleep.
Passage: The Greek leaders decided to follow the advice of the wise Odysseus. So a great horse of wood was made by a skilful engineer, and the greatest heroes, Menelaus, Odysseus himself, and others entered it, the last man to go in being the architect himself who knew the secret of opening and shutting the entrance. That evening the Greeks burned their tents and sailed away in their ships, but they did not go very far. Only one man was left behind to persuade the Trojans to drag the horse into their city.
Word Meaning
Architect: A person who designs buildings and other structures.
Persuade: To convince someone to do something.
Drag: To pull something heavy or difficult along the ground.
Explanation: The Greek leaders listened to the wise Odysseus and decided to follow his plan. They built a giant wooden horse using the skills of a clever engineer. The bravest Greek soldiers, including Menelaus and Odysseus himself, climbed inside the horse. The last person to enter was the engineer who knew how to open and close the horse. That night, the Greeks burned their tents and sailed away in their ships. However, they didn’t go far. They left one Greek soldier behind to trick the Trojans into bringing the wooden horse into their city.
Passage: Next day the Trojans woke up, expecting to go out and fight as they had done for the past ten years. What delight and surprise they felt at the sight they saw on the seashore outside the walls ! It seemed that the long siege was over at last. The tents had been burnt. The shore was deserted. The Greek ships had all gone.
Word Meaning
Deserted: Empty or abandoned.
Explanation: The next morning, the Trojans woke up thinking they would have to fight again like they had for the past ten years. But they were surprised and happy to see that the Greeks had gone. Their tents were burned, the beach was empty, and all the Greek ships were gone. It seemed like the long war was finally over.
Passage: “It’s peace at last,” they cried, and opened wide their gates and came out in large numbers on the plain, glad to be free again to go where they pleased. Then they saw on the sands the huge, wooden horse. They gathered round it in astonishment, for it was indeed a wonderful piece of work.
Word Meaning
Astonishment: great surprise or wonder.
Explanation: The people were very happy because they were finally free. They opened the gates of their city and came out in large groups, excited to be able to go anywhere they wanted. When they saw the big, wooden horse on the sand, they were amazed. It was a very impressive and beautiful object.
Passage: As they were wondering how the horse had been built and why it had been left behind, they found a Greek with his hands tied together lying under it. When the Trojans dragged him out, the man pretended to be very frightened of them. When he was commanded to tell them why the Greeks had gone and why they had left this horse behind, he pretended to tremble very much and refused to speak. When at last they threatened to kill him, he spoke and told them this false tale.
Word Meaning
Trembled: Shook or quivered, usually with fear or excitement.
Threatened: Menaced or warned of harm.
Tale: A story, especially a fictional one.
Frightened: Scared or alarmed.
Explanation: The people were confused. They wanted to know how the big wooden horse was made and why the Greeks left it behind. As they were thinking about this, they found a Greek man lying under the horse with his hands tied up. When the people dragged him out, he acted to be scared of them. They told him to explain why the Greeks had gone and why they left the horse. He pretended to be very scared and didn’t talk. Finally, they threatened to kill him, and he told them a false story.
Passage: “The Greeks are tired of the long war and have sailed away in their ships,” he said. “But they are afraid of the long voyage home too, and so they have made this horse and left it as an offering to the god of the sea. They wanted also to kill me and offer me as a sacrifice to the sea-god; but I escaped and hid from them.”
Word Meaning
Voyage: A long journey, especially by sea or air.
Offering: Something given freely.
Sacrifice: An act of offering something to a deity or spirit, often involving killing or giving up something valuable.
Explanation: The Greeks were sick of fighting and had gone home on their boats, he told the Trojans. But they were scared of the long trip back, so they made this big horse and left it as a gift to the sea god. They also wanted to kill this soldier and give him to the sea god as a gift, but he ran away and hid from them.”
Passage: “But why did the Greeks make such a huge horse?” some of the Trojans asked. And the cunning Greek made this reply : “If they had made a smaller offering, you might have taken it into your city. Then the luck would have gone to the Trojans and not to the Greeks. That is why they made it too big to go inside your gates.”
Word Meaning
Cunning: Clever and deceitful.
Explanation: Some Trojans asked the reason for building such a huge horse and the Greek man replied that If the horse had been smaller, then the Trojans would take it inside their city. Then they would have been lucky and not the Greeks. That’s why they made it so big.
Passage: The Trojans were delighted to hear this. “The Greeks have gone,” they said, “and the walls are no longer necessary. Let us make a hole in the wall and drag the horse in.”
Word Meaning
Delighted: Very pleased or happy.
Explanation: The Trojans were very happy to hear that the Greeks had left. They thought they were safe, so they decided to break down the wall and take the huge wooden horse inside their city.
Passage: Their wise priest warned them not to do so. “It may be a trick that will ruin us,” he said. “You will bring disaster on the city if you break down the walls,” But they were so excited that they paid no attention to his words. They broke down part of their strong wall in order to drag the horse in.
Word Meaning
Disaster: A sudden event causing great damage or suffering.
Break down: To destroy or cause to collapse.
Explanation: The wise priest of the Trojans told them not to do it. He said it might be a trap that could hurt them. If they broke the wall, they would bring bad luck to the city. But the Trojans were too happy and didn’t listen to the wise man. They broke part of their strong wall to bring the horse inside of their city.
Passage: All that day the Trojans feasted and drank and celebrated. After all their celebrations, they went to sleep and slept soundly. But that day of rejoicing was soon followed by a night of terror and death.
Word Meaning
Feasted: This means to eat a large amount of food.
Rejoicing: This means feeling or showing great joy or happiness.
Terror: This means a sudden and intense feeling of fear.
Explanation: The Trojans had a big party. They ate, drank, and had fun. After the party, they went to bed and slept well. But their happy day turned into a scary night.
Passage: The Greek ships had not sailed far. As soon as they were hidden by an island, they had lowered their sails and dropped anchor and waited for the night. In the darkness the fleet sailed back, and the leading ship, which was Agamemnon’s, bore a red light high on its mast. The Greek, who was watching for the return of the fleet, crept to the wooden horse and gave the signal. The side of the horse opened, the Greeks climbed out and opened the gates. The whole Greek army entered the sleeping city. Immediately the Greeks set fire to houses and towers and palaces, and began to burn and kill.
Word Meaning
Fleet: A group of ships sailing together.
Mast: A tall, upright pole supporting the sails of a ship.
Crept: Moved quietly and cautiously.
Signal: A sign or gesture used to communicate.
Palaces: Large and impressive houses belonging to kings or other important people.
Explanation: The Greek ships didn’t go very far away. When they couldn’t be seen anymore because of an island, they stopped and waited for the night. In the dark, the ships came back, with Agamemnon’s ship having a red light. A Greek who was watching for the ships went to the wooden horse and told the others. The horse opened, and the Greeks came out and opened the city gates. All the Greeks went into the city while everyone was sleeping. They started fires and killed people.
Passage: Troy was filled with the sight of leaping flames and the sound of shouting and the noise of weapons and the cries of weeping women. The sleeping Trojans sprang out of their beds, but they were taken by surprise. Their enemies were right inside their walls, and many of the Trojans were killed before they could put on their armour and seize their weapons.
Word Meaning
Leaping flames: Flames that are moving quickly and high.
Taken by surprise: Caught unexpectedly.
Explanation: The city of Troy was full of chaos. There were fires everywhere, people were shouting and screaming, and weapons were clashing. Women were crying. The Trojans who were sleeping were scared upon waking up. Their enemies had secretly entered the city and were attacking them. Many Trojans were killed before they could even get dressed or grab their swords and shields.
Passage: A bright light lit up the night sky as palaces and houses, temples and towers, went up in flames. The Trojans fought as well as they could, but it was all in vain. Old King Priam was killed with all his brave sons. Hector’s wife and his old mother and sister were carried off as slaves by the conquerors. Their fate was in contrast to Helen’s when King Menelaus rushed through the city, looking for her and found her in her palace. She hung her head in shame and sorrow as she faced her former husband. Her voice was choked with emotion and she could not speak. But Menelaus forgave her and she went back with him, for it was only Aphrodite who had turned her heart away from her home and her husband and her child.
Word Meaning
Aphrodite: The Greek goddess of love and beauty.
Conquerors: People who have defeated an enemy and taken control of their land.
Slaves: People who are owned by others and forced to work for them.
Fate: The things that happen to a person that are not under their control.
Choked with emotion: Unable to speak because of strong feelings.
Explanation: The city of Troy was set on fire. Houses, palaces, temples and towers burned down. The Trojans tried their best to fight, but they lost. The king Priam and his sons were killed. Hector’s wife and his old mother were taken away as slaves. Helen, who had caused all the trouble, was found by her husband, Menelaus. She felt very sorry and ashamed but Menelaus forgave her, and they went home together because Aphrodite had negatively influenced her to leave her home, husband, and child.
Passage: When morning came, nothing was left of the proud, rich city that had resisted attack for ten years.
Word Meaning
Resisted: To oppose or fight against something, especially an attack or force.
Explanation: The city, which had stood strong against attacks for ten years, was completely destroyed by the morning.