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Gates of Fire is a historical fiction novel by Steven Pressfield, published in 2005. The story revolves around the Battle of Thermopylae and has a strong base in historical fact. It is told from the viewpoint of a Spartan helot and details the major events of his life leading up to the battle, then the battle itself.
Tropes in this work include:[]
- A Father to His Men
- Awesome Moment: Many and varied. One that stands out is During the first day of battle, as the Greek forces advance in phalanx formation into the teeth of Persian arrows, singing a battle hymn, then pick up the pace as they cover the last few feet, their spears swinging down in unison, Xerxes, observing the battle, leaps to his feet in concern for his men.
Another comes on the third day of the battle, when a thunderstorm is raging overhead and the Greeks have finally been driven back over their defensive wall. It looks like they are beaten. Then, for whatever reason, the Persian forces pause in their charge, as if unable to believe they're really about to win. At that exact moment, a lightning bolt hits the cliffs just above, stunning both sides. Leonidas recovers first and yells, "Zeus Thunderer! Hellas and Victory!" He then leads the heartened Greeks back into the fray and they are able to drive the Persians back over the wall and off the battlefield for the night.
- Badass Army
- Badass Boast: Several, by both sides, including many famous historical remarks. "We will fight in the shade," "Come and take them," and so on. The former doubles as an Analogy Backfire.
- Determinator
- Doomed Hometown
- Eye Scream
- Heroic BSOD
- I Can Still Fight: Everyone on the Greek side, up until the end, no matter how many wounds they've taken. Two particularly memorable examples are Leonidas, who is over seventy and heavily wounded, unable to use one arm, still going out to fight, and a Spartan squire who took a bad wound in the midsection proclaiming "I can't shit, but by the gods I can still fight."
- Last Stand
- The Power of Friendship
- The Power of Love
- Scars Are Forever
- The Spartan Way Obviously
- Training From Hell
- Proud Warrior Race Guy
- War Is Hell