The poem recounts a segment of the Trojan War centered on a bitter dispute between the army leader and the foremost warrior, whose quarrel causes the warrior to withdraw and shifts the course of the fighting. Immortal beings intervene on opposing sides, altering fortunes as sieges, single combats, and sweeping battles produce great slaughter and private sorrow. The narrative culminates in decisive confrontations and a moving exchange that returns a fallen hero to his family. Recurring concerns include the destructive effects of anger, the interplay of divine will and human choice, the pursuit of honor and spoils, and the fragile limits of fame and life.