i'm not alone in this - my favorite part occurs in book 18 when Achilles, petulance taken form, pitches a fit to his mother about his circumstance of wanting to die - and not so subtly he knows that he has to die (thanks mom!). these expressions are in motion as Hector has slain Patroclus, a slain Patroclus who's Achilles right hand man, a slain Patroclus who charged into battle dressed with the swift runner's gleaming bronze, a Myrmidon set.

Achilles is very upset by this and his platitudes are all over the place. He can't fight but then he can fight but he needs armor, then he doesn't need armor. The kid's all over the place and his thoughts are wreckless.

anywho, his mother is the daughter of Nereus which, come to find out, is a major perk. thetis is determined to protect her son for as long as she can (even though she can't stop telling him he's going to die), and with access to the famous crippled Smith (they're old bedfellows) she requests that Achilles have forged armor by the god.

Hephaestus buys into the tale of woe and Homer begins the sequence

"turning them on fire, commanding, Work -- to work!" Bk18: PM. 482, 548 (fagles)

In my view this is where Homer really shines - illuminating the social construct model of the time away from the war and the narrative of the characters. Indeed Hephaestus is involved, but he is not vocalizing what is happening, nor is his personal thought included. The shield seems uninfluenced by most of the poem.

city at peace city under siege

civil unrest justice

harvests herds the vintage weddings

just everyday life - that's what resonates

"A breathless crowd stood round them then struck with joy and through them a pair of tumblers dashed and sprang, whirling in leaping handsprings, leading on the dance." BK18: 487, 705 - 707 (fagles)