His narrative is informed by a peoples history of greek history. Filmrights to gates of fire have been taken up by george clooneys production company. Oct 31, 2010 gates of fire is striking a deep chord in my mind. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae 8601400142950. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae steven pressfield, 1998 bantam books 400 pp. Gates of fire is on the commandant of the marine corps reading list. Gates of fire summary and analysis free book notes. Gates of fire was not quite what i expected, but this does not in any way diminish its attraction. Freebooknotes found 9 sites with book summaries or analysis of gates of fire. Victoria aveyard cassandra clare sarah dessen john green.
Steven pressfields version is better and youre an idiot if you dont read it. Brandon macpherson 9708 gates of fire the book i read during the summer for world history was gates of fire, written by steven pressfield. His first book legend of bagger vance is kind of a mystic novel about golf and life, and while good, is not in the same league as gates of fire. This study guide consists of approximately 41 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of gates of fire. If i sound too enraptured, too possesssed, i apologize. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. Gates of fire quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. If there is a gates of fire sparknotes, shmoop guide, or cliff notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. The young squire xeones is pulled from beneath a burned battle wagon when the carnage finally ends at the narrow mountain pass where. Subject gates of fire is a story about the spartan way of life and their fight to protect their country. A triumph in historical fiction best describes this stirring account of the famous battle of thermopylae, told by the lone survivor before succumbing to his wounds, in a logical followup to pressfields homeric take on golf, the legend of bagger vance 1995.
Gates of fire is a 1998 historical fiction novel by steven pressfield that recounts the battle of thermopylae through xeones, a perioikoi free but noncitizen inhabitant of sparta born in astakos, and one of only three greek survivors of the battle. The characters are fleshed out incredibly well, i can relate to many of them, and the whole book seems incredibly real to me. Nov 16, 2007 this book mirrors the marine corps history of fighting in wars when facing insurmountable odds, and the spartans training as children could remind devil dogs of their time in boot camp. His next book tides of war is due to be published in march, and is also set in ancient greece this time about general alcibiades, athens most brilliant millitary leader. Gobartes transcribes the story as dictated by xeones xeo, a wounded greek whom the persians discovered on the battlefield. The phokian wall around which so much of the most desperate fighting took place was. The book revolves mainly around the war between the greek forces against the imposing persian army. Movie rights for this novel have been acquired by universal studios for george clooney and robert lawrences maysville pictures. The difference between freedom and servility is a recurring theme of the book. Gates of fire study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. King xerxes s historian, gobartes, records the kings exploits in the battle of thermopylae. The novel is narrated by xeones, a perioikoi and one of only three greek survivors of the battle of thermopylae. Gates of fire is a 1998 work of historical fiction by steven pressfield centered around the famous battle of thermopylae 480 bc, in which a heavily outnumbered.
Gates of fire is a good book but isnt classified as such. This 52page guide for gates of fire by steven pressfield includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 38 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The gates of fire community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Like most of pressfields work, gates of fire deals with the common soldier, the grunt. Summary gates of fire tells the story of a young greek boy, xeones, who is the sole hellenic survivor of the epic battle of thermopylae in 480 bc. Find the quotes you need in steven pressfields gates of fire, sortable by theme, character, or chapter. It is lyrical, compelling, thought provoking, and soars above most works of historical fiction at least those that shrug in the mud of military historical fiction. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in gates of fire, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Then he turned round towards the trojans and called on them to.
The gates of fire pressfield chapter summary free essays. A historian for the persian king xerxes is transcribing this book. Book report of gates of fire by christopher ruiz on prezi. The a is what you should identify from gates of fire, and b is an opportunity for you to reflect on how are you personally preparing yourself for a leadership role. For your reference, we provided these gates of fire quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. He must be dumb as a mule, numb as a post and obedient as an imbecile. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. How to discuss a book helpful discussion tips generic discussion questionsfiction and nonfiction readthinktalk a guided reading chart also consider these litlovers talking points to help get a discussion started for gates of fire. Other successful titles include tides of war, a novel about the peloponnesian war, and the war of art, a nonfiction book on writing.
A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. Find all available study guides and summaries for gates of fire by steven pressfield. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gates of fire. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The danaans then fled panicstricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and. This is my online journal for gates of fire which is turning out to be one of the better novels ive read intro and chapter 1. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae kindle edition by pressfield, steven.
Although the spartans are attempting to preserve their own freedom, their society is predicated upon the hereditary slavery of the helots. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public. Get all the key plot points of steven pressfields gates of fire on one page. This is how xeones, one of the main characters of the book. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Its inspirational and teaches courage and leadership. Gates of fire summary and analysis like sparknotes free book.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of paradise lost and what it means. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. The time period is back in the age of warriors, kings, and barbaric hoards fighting over the lands. In these qualifications, xeones of astakos, i declare your credentials impeccable. The author is trying to tell the story through ones perspective.
The best study guide to gates of fire on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. Just as in the reading guide above about how to identify the lessons the book provides about training, the seven questions below have two parts to them. Author steven pressfield is perhaps bestknown at the moment for his book the legend of bagger vance, a story about golf, which has just been made into a film by robert redford. Oct 26, 2015 does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version.
The story is told by a dying spartan squire named xeones, who was captured by the persian army after the battle at thermopylae. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. Pressfield bases his account of the battle of thermopylae on book vii of herodotus histories, which was written in 440 b. Where can i find spark notes for gates of fire by steven. In fact, i have only one minor quibble, in that the voice adopted for polynikes sounds like a. This is my online journal for gates of fire which is turning out to be one of the better novels ive read. My opinion on this book is that it is a great and interesting read that. Gates of fire describes the battle of thermopylae, in which the allied greek troops had sent around four thousand greek infantrymen. The battle of thermopylae between a small force several thousand spartans and their greek allies against an.
In fact, i have only one minor quibble, in that the voice adopted for polynikes sounds like a 40 year old man rather than a 23 year old. Gates of fire quotes from litcharts the creators of. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. The scribe narrator writes that xerxes has become impatient with xeones rambling style of storytelling. The story starts in medias res after the battle of thermopylae. This study guide, written by, includes the following sections. I was expecting a war story with a focus on the mentality of the spartan warriors, and this was indeed a significant part of the book, but it was ultimately more than that. The qualities of a good battle squire are simple enough. This story takes place in a place called the pass of thermopylae.
Jun 28, 2014 this rare but excellent documentary explores life in the great ancient citystate of sparta and its legendary clash with persia in 480 bc. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of gates of fire. The battle of thermopylae between a small force several thousand spartans and their greek allies against an overwhelming army from asia under persian king xerxes command in 480 bc is told by the lone surviving greek a squire named xeones. My opinion on this book is that it is a great and interesting read that captures the attention of the.
This rare but excellent documentary explores life in the great ancient citystate of sparta and its legendary clash with persia in 480 bc. All of xeones descriptions of the physical and mental pain of being nailed to the board, such as, i begged the farm men to release me, to end my agony. Gates of fire is a historical fiction novel written by steven pressfield in 1998. Pages 1 118 hello, or as the ancient greeks would say, mega khaire. Gates of fire study guide from litcharts the creators of. Thermopylae is found in the southern part of macedonia. The story starts in medias res after the battle of. Discussion questions use our litlovers book club resources. Gates of fire summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Uniformed men start shoveling away the bonfires remains. The word in greek means hot gates, from the thermal springs and, as his majesty knows, the narrow and precipitous defiles which form the only passages by which the site may be approachedin greek, pylae or pylai, the east and west gates.
Steven pressfield is currently working on a book about alcibiades. Gates of fire summary from litcharts the creators of. When i decided that i was going to reread james baldwins the fire next time for the librarys building bridges book club, i already happened to be reading henry louis gates thirteen ways of looking at a black man, a collection of profiles of. Like most of pressfields work, gates of fire deals with the common soldier, the grunt, the squire. The gates of fire community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Lady paraleia is the mother of alexandros, a main character in gates of fire, as well as being wife to one of the commanders of the spartan army, olympieus. Does the treatment of the helots by the spartans conflict with the concept of freedom the spartans espouse elsewhere. In gates of fire, xeo is raised to revere and memorize portions of homers the iliad and the odyssey, epic poems of the trojan war which were written several hundred years before the novels action and are foundational for greek literature and culture. Not many would understand exactly why, except, perhaps, a marine.
An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae 2005 about book. Smith, hawaii when todays warriors read gates of fire by steven pressfield, they may have a sense of pride well up inside them. Oct 25, 2010 hello, or as the ancient greeks would say, mega khaire. This is the story of the battle of thermopylae and the spartans who made their final stand there against the persians, as transcribed by historian gobartes at the request of the persian king xerxes. They have sons for the army and it seems they dont care for thie kids, husbands, or brothers when they are sent out to. Gates of fire is a 1998 work of historical fiction by steven pressfield centered around the famous battle of thermopylae 480 bc, in which a heavilyoutnumbered. Liesel notices three books deep in the pile that havent burned. Gates of fire is an historical novel about the immortal military stand of an elite group of spartan warriors at thermopylae against the invading persian millions. For me, the most surprising aspect of gates of fire was the nuance pressfields gave to spartan women.
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