The wrath of Achilles, sparked by a dispute with King Agamemnon, drives the central conflict of the Trojan War. Achilles withdraws his support from the Greek army, leaving his comrades vulnerable to the relentless onslaught of the Trojan forces led by Hector. The narrative operates within a framework of divine intervention, where Olympian gods manipulate the outcomes of mortal combat to suit their own agendas. The physical world is defined by the brutal reality of siege warfare, the rigid social structures of heroic honor, and the inevitable intervention of fate in the lives of men.

Readers and critics frequently analyze the work as a foundational text that establishes the tropes of Western literature. Discussion often centers on the complex portrayal of Achilles, whose internal conflict between personal pride and duty serves as the primary engine of the plot. Scholars highlight the effectiveness of the poem's atmosphere, which balances the visceral horror of the battlefield with the detached, often capricious nature of the gods. The pacing is noted for its intensity during combat sequences, contrasted by moments of profound reflection on the nature of human mortality. Many readers find the translation by Robert Fitzgerald to be particularly accessible while maintaining the rhythmic gravity of the original Greek verse.