Johnston writes in free verse with a long, flexible line that reads close to natural speech. His diction is contemporary but not colloquial: "murderous anger," "carrion food for dogs and birds." Wilson also uses verse, but her lines are tighter and her word choices more deliberate. In the Book 9 passage, Johnston gives "my glory will never die," while Wilson writes "I shall have a name that lasts forever." Both are modern, but Wilson's phrasing is plainer and more literal, where Johnston allows himself a freer reach for emotional weight. Wilson is also more willing to add a clarifying beat: in the opening, Johnston stops after six lines, while Wilson runs through the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles before pausing. Johnston's stated aim is accessibility and readability for a general audience, and the passages show it. He moves fast and keeps syntax simple, which keeps the reader moving. In the Book 21 death speech, his "Yet over me, as well, hangs Fate" gives the line a slight rhetorical lift Johnston is comfortable with. Wilson tends to stay closer to the Greek's word order and phrasing. Her "death and strong destiny will come for me" names the two forces the Greek names, in roughly the same order. She gives up some rhetorical punch for that precision. Johnston occasionally adds color the Greek does not quite supply; Wilson occasionally gives a flat line where Homer is stark. Each choice has a cost.
Sing, Goddess, sing the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus—
that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans
to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls
deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies
carrion food for dogs and birds—
all in fulfilment of the will of Zeus.
Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath
of great Achilles, son of Peleus,
which caused the Greeks immeasurable pain
and sent so many noble souls of heroes
to Hades, and made men the spoils of dogs,
a banquet for the birds, and so the plan
of Zeus unfolded—starting with the conflict
between great Agamemnon, lord of men,
and glorious Achilles.