Post-Show Discussion Activity

Use these questions to reflect, discuss, or journal about your experience and reactions to An Iliad! Explore any of the questions that interest you.

If engaging in this activity independently, consider taking notes or writing your reflections down. If engaging in this activity with a class or group, decide if you would like to answer every question in order, skip around, or select certain questions to spend time on.

Discussion Questions

1. Why might this play be titled An Iliad as opposed to The Iliad? What aspects of the production (including staging, story structure, dialogue and exposition, etc.) echo the possible intention behind the title?
2. What is An Iliad’s message about warfare? 
3. What similarities or parallels exist between modern wars and the Trojan War as described in An Iliad? 
4. The character of The Poet exists outside of a particular time or place—how does his song of a distant war land in a contemporary context? How do the muses fuel his labored retellings?
5. What do you think The Poet’s story communicates about masculinity? 
6. Solo shows often require actors to assume not only different characters, but also the role of narrator. How does this compare to other forms of storytelling?
7. Why does The Poet conclude his tale where he does? Why does he not share the details of Achilles’s death, the Trojan Horse, or the sacking of Troy?

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• This activity aligns with the following standards:
  • Illinois Arts Learning Standards 
    • Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
    • Anchor Standard 8: Construct meaningful interpretations of artistic work.
    • Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
  • Common Core State Standards 
    • CCSS.ELA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
    • CCSS.ELA.RL.3  Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Posted on June 25, 2025 in Learning Guides, Productions