I NEED A HERO ! If you were a hero, what type of hero would you be?

“Never fear, Underdog is here!” THE HERO THE EPIC HERO THE TRAGIC HERO THE ROMANTIC HERO (not Byronic)

THE EPIC HERO Is well known and has high social standing Is strong, courageous, and clever Has (and exhibits) human weaknesses

You can’t have an EPIC HERO without an EPIC POEM An EPIC POEM is usually defined as a very long POEM, composed in a LOFTY STYLE that tells a story on a GRAND SCALE. The language is ELEVATED (GRAND / LOFTY). The protagonist is a noble hero of NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE who undergoes many adventures that help create a people or a nation. Can you say NATIONALISM? EPICS often contain (use) alliteration, kennings, and caesuras. Make sure that you know these literary devices as you just never know when they will pop up again.

Epic Poem A long narrative poem telling of a hero’s deeds –Told in a grand and lofty style –Action involves many great deeds that affect a nation and is set in many locations across a wide area –Supernatural forces play an important role in the plot

SO, WHO IS AN EPIC HERO? Mrs. Huck? Mrs. Woolfolk? Mrs. Salem? You? Beowulf? Odysseus?

THE TRAGIC HERO A tragic hero goes from prosperity to woe Has self-inflicted pain Expresses himself even though he will pay the price Is arrogant (sets himself above the cosmic powers) Has moral flaw (HUBRIS) Has good intentions Runs into irony Undergoes a catharsis

You ask, “WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EPIC HERO AND A TRAGIC HERO?” “Yes, Margaret, there really is a Santa Claus,” the elf replied. “Get thee gone from me, you demented short person who is not Mrs. Salem!”

EPIC HERO versus TRAGIC HERO The EPIC HERO gives a long (yawn) list of his accomplishments... Leads a group of men; has their respect... Strong sense of nationalism May complete a supernatural task Large scale adventures; vast area Dies in the end (usually) The TRAGIC HERO has good intentions Has hubris... Admits defying a code Is true to himself even though he knows that he will suffer Is arrogant Does NOT die in the end. Suffers. A lot. Wait! There’s more!

THE TRAGIC HERO rides again! SELF-INFLICTED PAIN IS STRUCK DOWN BY HIS WEAKNESS GOES FROM PROSPERITY TO WOE ADMITS DEFYING THE CODE RUNS INTO IRONY SETS HIMSELF AMONG THE COSMIC POWERS (arrogance) PROMOTES CATHARSIS WITHIN THE AUDIENCE HAS MISFORTUNES THAT ARE ENDURED

WHO IS THE IDEAL TRAGIC HERO? “IDEAL” Tragic Hero? Pullleeeze. No. Thank. You. OEDIPUSWINONA RYDER ANTIGONELINDSAY LOHAN OJ SIMPSON

THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR (Now there’s a hero!) Medieval romance: long verse narrative which traces the adventures of a brave knight or other hero who had to overcome danger for love of a noble lady or high ideal a near-perfect hero an evil enemy a quest a test of the hero supernatural elements good versus evil female figures who are usually maidens (in need of rescue), mothers, or crones This was the time of KING ARTHUR and the knights of the ROUND TABLE. We typically call this Arthurian Legend.

Just in case you didn’t get it the first time... Romance hero: born under mysterious circumstances grows up in obscurity undergoes a childhood initiation involving a magic weapon fights to defeat evil and promote peace aided by magic weapons and wise mentors mysterious events surround his departure from this world suggesting that he may return when his people need him the most

EPIC, TRAGIC, OR ROMANCE HERO? Sir Gawain Oedipus Odysseus Antigone Beowulf King Arthur

THE ANSWERS Sir Gawain ROMANCE Oedipus TRAGIC OdysseusEPIC AntigoneTRAGIC BeowulfEPIC King ArthurROMANCE