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Epic / Epic Hero Notes

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Title: Epic / Epic Hero Notes


1
Epic / Epic Hero Notes
  • Mr. Raber
  • English 12 Honors

2
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.
  • -Sometimes called a heroic poem
  • -Beowulf, the Iliad, and the Odyssey are all epics

3
Wow, this is fun!
4
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

5
2 Types of Epics
  1. Folk Epic- oral compositions passed on from
    storyteller to storyteller and has changed over
    time. Ex. -Beowulf, the Iliad, and the Odyssey
  2. Literary Epic- written compositions that are
    unchanged over time. Ex. -Aeneid and Paradise
    Lost

6
Beowulf
  • In comparison to the standard of Homeric epics
    (15,000 lines)
  • Beowulf is relatively short (3,200 lines)
  • It was probably composed (first written down)
    between 700-750 in Old English by a monk in
    Scandinavia
  • It is thought a monk composed it due to the
    Christian elements in the epic

7
You should be eatin this up)
8
Epic Characteristics
  • There are 5 main epic characteristics

9
Epic Characteristic 1
  • The hero is a great leader who is identified
    strongly with a particular people or society.

10
Epic Characteristic 2
  • The setting is broad and often includes
    supernatural realms, especially the land of the
    dead.

11
Epic Characteristic 3
  • The hero does great deeds in battle or
    undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest.

12
Dont even think about it!!!!
13
Epic Characteristic 4
  • Sometimes gods or other supernatural or
    fantastic beings take part in the action.

14
Epic Characteristic 5
  • The story is told in heightened language

15
Any ?s so far?Im all ears)
16
Some other Epic characteristics called
  • EPIC CONVENTIONS- Shared characteristics of epics
    that bards/scops drew upon to recall the stories
    they were recounting and that writers of epics
    drew upon to establish the epic quality of their
    poems.

17
Dont worry, there are only 4 of them)
18
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.

19
EPIC CONVENTION 2
  • The action begins
  • IN MEDIA RES
  • literally meaning
  • in the middle of things

20
EPIC CONVENTION 3
  • The epic begins in media res and then flashes
    back to events that took place before the
    narrators current time setting

21
Flashes Back
22
EPIC CONVENTIONS 4
  • Epic Similes- elaborately extended comparisons
    relating heroic events to simple, everyday events

23
The Epic Hero
24
Epic Hero Characteristics
  • The epic hero is a LARGER THAN LIFE PERSON who
    embodies the highest ideals of his culture

25
Example
26
Real Example
  • In Beowulf, the epic hero Beowulf is considered
    larger-than-life
  • and embodies LOYALTY, VALOR/ COURAGE, SENSE OF
    JUSTICE, DIGNITY, PERSISTENCE, and many other
    traits of the Anglo-Saxon culture

27
Epic Hero Characteristics
  • The epic hero usually undertakes a
  • QUEST/ JOURNEY
  • to achieve something of great value to themselves
    or society

28
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

29
Epic Hero Characteristics
  • Not a Superman with magical powers (
    ),
  • but a REGULAR human whose aspirations and
    accomplishments set him/her apart

30
Epic Hero Characteristics
  • Overcomes great obstacles/opponents but maintains
    HUMANITY

31
Example
Great Obstacle Ugly Ogre
Epic Hero
32
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

33
Epic Hero Characteristics
  • It is often necessary for the epic hero to
    connect/make contact with LESSER humans
  • in order to succeed

34
Thats why Im here with you)
35
Just Joking) Lets kiss and make up)
36
Also
  • The epic hero is an ARCHETYPAL character.

37
Archetype
  • An archetype is a pattern that appears in
    literature across cultures and is repeated
    through the ages.
  • An archetype can be a character, a plot, an
    image, or a setting.
  • In Beowulf, the hero archetype is the dragon
    slayer.

38
The EndAny ?s
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