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    The Epic Poem & The Epic Hero

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    Robert Sorter
    The document discusses the definition and characteristics of epic poems and their heroes. It defines an epic as a long narrative poem about a larger-than-life hero that embodies societal values. Epics often concern conflicts between good and evil and are written on a grand scale. They can be either oral folk epics or fixed literary epics. Epics typically feature a hero undertaking a quest, supernatural elements, and heightened language. Epic heroes embody cultural ideals, undertake journeys, achieve immortality through remembrance, and experience typical human emotions while overcoming great obstacles.

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    The Epic Poem & The Epic Hero

    Uploaded by

    Robert Sorter
    90 views27 pages
    The document discusses the definition and characteristics of epic poems and their heroes. It defines an epic as a long narrative poem about a larger-than-life hero that embodies societal values. Epics often concern conflicts between good and evil and are written on a grand scale. They can be either oral folk epics or fixed literary epics. Epics typically feature a hero undertaking a quest, supernatural elements, and heightened language. Epic heroes embody cultural ideals, undertake journeys, achieve immortality through remembrance, and experience typical human emotions while overcoming great obstacles.

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    Epic Hero Powerpoint

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    The document discusses the definition and characteristics of epic poems and their heroes. It defines an epic as a long narrative poem about a larger-than-life hero that embodies societal values. Epics often concern conflicts between good and evil and are written on a grand scale. They can be either oral folk epics or fixed literary epics. Epics typically feature a hero undertaking a quest, supernatural elements, and heightened language. Epic heroes embody cultural ideals, undertake journeys, achieve immortality through remembrance, and experience typical human emotions while overcoming great obstacles.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    90 views27 pages

    The Epic Poem & The Epic Hero

    Uploaded by

    Robert Sorter
    The document discusses the definition and characteristics of epic poems and their heroes. It defines an epic as a long narrative poem about a larger-than-life hero that embodies societal values. Epics often concern conflicts between good and evil and are written on a grand scale. They can be either oral folk epics or fixed literary epics. Epics typically feature a hero undertaking a quest, supernatural elements, and heightened language. Epic heroes embody cultural ideals, undertake journeys, achieve immortality through remembrance, and experience typical human emotions while overcoming great obstacles.

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    The Epic Poem

    &
    The Epic Hero
    Epic Definition
    An epic is a long narrative poem that
    relates the great deeds of a larger-than-
    life hero who embodies the values of a
    particular society.
    Epics often…

     Concern eternal human problems such


    as the conflict between GOOD and
    EVIL
     Written or told on a grand
    scale and
    often in ceremonial style
    Two Types of Epics

    1. Folk Epic- oral compositions passed


    on from storyteller to storyteller and
    has changed over time. Ex. – Gilgamesh,
    Beowulf, the Iliad, and the Odyssey

    2. Literary Epic- written compositions


    that are unchanged over time.
    Ex. -Aeneid and Paradise Lost
    Epic Characteristics

    There are five main


    epic characteristics.
    Epic Characteristic
    #1
     The hero is a great leader
    who is identified strongly
    with a particular people or
    society.
    Epic Characteristic
    #2
     The setting is broad and
    often includes supernatural
    realms, especially the land of
    the dead.
    Epic Characteristic
    #3
     The hero does great deeds
    in battle or undertakes an
    extraordinary journey or
    quest.
    Epic Characteristic
    #4
     Sometimes gods or other
    supernatural or fantastic
    beings take part in the
    action.
    Epic Characteristic
    #5
     The story is told in
    heightened language
    Some other epic
    characteristics called…

    EPIC CONVENTIONS- Shared


    characteristics of epics writers drew
    upon to establish the epic quality
    of their poems.
    EPIC CONVENTION
    #1
    There is an INVOCATION
    or formal plea for aid/help.
    This plea is usually to a deity
    or some other spiritual power.
    EPIC CONVENTION
    #2
     The action begins
    IN MEDIA RES…
    literally meaning
    “in the middle of things”
    EPIC CONVENTION
    #3
     The epic begins in media res
    and then flashes back to
    events that took place before
    the narrator’s current time
    setting
    EPIC CONVENTIONS
    #4
     Epic Similes (a.k.a. Homeric
    simile)- elaborately extended
    comparisons relating heroic events
    to simple, everyday events using
    like, as, so, and just as.
    EPIC CONVENTIONS
    #5
     Epithet: a descriptive phrase that
    presents a particular trait of a
    person or thing. It can be a quick
    aid to characterization.
     Ex: Odysseus is a “raider of cities.”
     Odysseus is “a man skilled in
    all ways of contending.”
    The Epic Hero
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
     The epic hero is a “LARGER
    THAN LIFE PERSON”
    who embodies the highest
    ideals of his culture
    Real Example:

     In “Gilgamesh”, the epic hero Gilgamesh is


    considered “larger-than-life”
     and embodies LOYALTY, VALOR/
    COURAGE, SENSE OF JUSTICE,
    DIGNITY, PERSISTENCE, and many other
    traits of his culture and time period.
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
    The epic hero usually
    undertakes a
    QUEST/ JOURNEY
    to achieve something of great
    value to themselves or society
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
     Epic heroes
    “LIVE ON AFTER DEATH”…
    meaning they are forever remembered
    by those who live after them…
    achieving a type of IMMORTALITY
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
    Not a “Superman” with
    magical powers, but a
    “REGULAR” human
    (sometimes part god/part human)
    whose aspirations and
    accomplishments set him/her apart
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics

    Overcomes great
    obstacles/opponents but
    maintains HUMANITY
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
    Epic hero experiences typical
    HUMAN EMOTIONS/
    FEELINGS, yet is able to master
    and control these human traits to a
    greater degree than a typical
    person
    Epic Hero
    Characteristics
    It is often necessary for the epic
    hero to connect/make
    contact with “LESSER”
    humans
    in order to succeed
    THE HERO’S JOURNEY
    ARCHETYPE
     What do Star Wars, Harry Potter,
    “Gilgamesh” and Homer’s “The
    Odyssey” all have in common?
    All have heroes
     … that partake in a journey of
    significant change, that is, the
    “hero’s journey.”
     All stories have heroes that are
    truly profound for exploring the
    archetype of the hero in literature
    and in our own lives.

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