Quotes from The Song Of Achilles I think about multiple times a day (sad edition) ((SPOILERS))
. 'And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth, when another is gone. Do you think?'
'Perhaps' Achilles admitted (chapter 9)
. This is what it will be like, every day, without him. I felt a wild-eyed tightness in my chest, like a scream. Everyday without him." (chapter 14)
. 'How long will he live?'
She made a noise in her throat, it took me a moment to understand it was laughter
'Why? Would you prepare yourself for it? Try and stop it?'
'Yes,' I answered. 'If I can' (chapter 15)
. He stirs and the air stirs with him, bearing the musk sweet smell of his body. I think: this is what I will miss. I think: I will kill myself rather than miss it. I think: how long do we have? (chapter 15)
. "Even there beneath the bright sun my skin went cold. He will not come home at all." (chapter 16)
. "He no longer belongs to me alone" (chapter 16)
. "There I lay on the cool stone floor, and closed my eyes. I could not stop imaging how it would end-spear tip or sword point, or smashed by a chariot. The rushing, unending blood of his heart" (chapter 16)
. As for the goddesses answer, I did not care. I would have no need of her. I did not plan on living after he was gone." (chapter 16)
. "I embraced those thin, wiry limbs. I thought, this is what Achilles will feel like when he is old. And then I remembered: he will never be old." (chapter 16)
. 'My life is my reputation,' his breath sounded ragged. 'It is all I have, I will not live much longer. Memory is all I can hope for' (chapter 26)
. ' You ask a question that philosophers argue over,' Chiron had said. 'He is worth more to you perhaps. But stranger is someone else's friend and brother. So which life is more important?'
We had been silent we were 14 and these things had been too hard for us. At 28 they still felt too hard" (chapter 27)
. 'Do you see?, he says 'It is the beginning! ' I cannot escape the feeling that, below the surface, something is breaking" (chapter 28)
. It was not honour that made Meleager fight, or his friends, or victory, or revenge. It was Cleopatra before him, her face streaked with tears. Here's Phoinix's craft: Cleopatra, Patroclus. Her name built from the same pieces as mine" (chapter 28)
. I knelt and pressed his hands to my face. My cheeks flowed tears 'for me then, save them for me. I know what I'm asking of you. But I ask it. For me'
'Anything else, anything. But not this. I cannot'
I looked at the Stone of his beautiful face, and despaired
'if you love me--' (chapter 30)
. 'Bring him back to me' he told them...
There was more to say, but for once we did not say it. There would be other times for speaking, tonight, tomorrow and all the days after that. He let go of my hand" (chapter 30)
. "The last thing I think is: Achilles" (chapter 30)
. 'Do you think you were the only one who loved him? You care for him in death than in life,' Her words bitter with grief. 'How could you let him go, you knew he couldn't fight!'
Achilles Screams and shatters a serving bowl. 'Get out!'
Briseis doesn't flinch 'Kill me. It will not bring him back. He is worth ten of you. Ten! And you sent him to his death!' (chapter 31)
. "Achilles' gaze lifts to meet hers. She is a afraid but does not draw back. 'I hope Hector kills you.'
'Do you not think I do not hope the same? He asks" (chapter 31)
. “Thetis’ black eyes seem to contract, like dying stars. 'I am glad that he is dead.' she says. It is the last thing she will ever say to him” (chapter 31)
. 'And the arrow flies, straight and silent, in a curving downward arc towards Achilles' back...Achilles smiles as his face strikes the earth' (chapter 32)
. ' I have done it,' she says. At first I do not understand. But then I see the tomb, and the marks she has made out. Achilles, it reads and beside it, Patroclus.
'Go' she says 'He waits for you'
In the darkness, two shadows reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet and light spills in a flood, like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun" (chapter 33)
[well that was a roller coaster, I’m so sorry, it’s fine, I’m crying too. Anyway, this is part 2 of 3, if you saw the 1st part you’ll know I annotated the entire book using 3 colours
Orange - sweet moments, Green- sad moments , Red- Iconic moments/lines
This is green.]
