119 pages • 3 hours read
Madeline MillerThe Song of Achilles
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller reimagines the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, Greek heroes of the Trojan War. Narrated by Patroclus, the story follows his exile, his companionship and romantic bond with Achilles, their training with Chiron, and their involvement in the Trojan War, highlighting themes of fate and glory. The novel contains depictions of violence and slavery.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles has garnered praise for its poetic prose, well-developed characters, and emotional depth. Readers appreciate the fresh perspective on Greek mythology, but some critique the pacing as uneven. Overall, it's considered a poignant and engaging retelling of the Achilles-Patroclus relationship.
Who Should Read The Song of Achilles?
Readers who enjoy richly developed characters, intricate relationships, and mythological settings will find The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller captivating. Fans of Circe by Miller or The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker will appreciate this emotionally resonant retelling of Greek mythology.
RecommendedReading Age
16+yearsBook Details
Values/Ideas: Fate
Historical Fiction
LGBTQ
History: European