Final answer:
Books 1 and 24 of the Iliad are parallel in starting and ending with the theme of wrath, showcasing fatherly concern, and featuring divine intervention, emphasizing the epic's cyclic nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When examining parallels between Books 1 and 24 of Homer’s Iliad, several similarities become evident. Firstly, both books begin and end on notes of wrath; Book 1 starts with the wrath of Achilles, and Book 24 ends with the wrath of Achilles being appeased. Secondly, the theme of fatherly concern is prominent in both books; in Book 1, we learn of Thetis’ care for Achilles, while in Book 24 Priam's deep concern for his son Hector comes to the fore.
Thirdly, the dynamics of divine intervention are noticeable, with gods intervening in mortals’ affairs in both the opening and closing books of the epic. These similarities underscore the unity and cyclic nature of the epic's narrative structure.