It’s EPIC. Literally.

Epic--A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization. The Iliad is the epic of war The Odyssey is the epic of a long journey

A physically impressive hero of national and historic importance Vast setting involving much of the known world but also the underworld A journey is taken in search for something of value or to achieve something Evidence of supernatural forces at work Glorification of the hero at the end Roots in a specific culture or society

Contains more than 1000 lines Involves a hero and a villain Action such as a quest or journey requiring superhuman ability and courage Starts in the middle (en medias res) Involves the gods

Told aloud by people who could not read or write Were composed according to a basic story line (hero’s journey) Were made up on the spot, then retold throughout the years… passed on from generation to generation

Possess admirable qualities (trust, respect) Skillful warrior who possess a special weapon Capable of fear Has allies and followers Takes a journey to battle evil

Lived from BC A blind minstrel (or rhapsody: “singers of tales”). The entertainer and myth-maker of his time Homer is the Greek storyteller and poet credited for combining isolated tales about various heroic exploits into a single, coherent whole, creating the epics

Illiad: an archetype of a war epic contains the morals and values of the Greek society in war Odyssey: an archetype of the adventure/heroic epic seen as a metaphor for living one’s life contains the morals, themes, and values of the Greek society about adventure, hardship, and life.

The ten year siege of Ilium (Troy) by a coalition of Greek city states led by King Agamemnon and Menelaus The Greeks attacked Troy to avenge an insult suffered by Menelaus, King of Sparta. ‾ Helen, Menelaus’ wife, ran off with Paris, the young prince of Troy. Helen was said to be so beautiful that “her face launched a thousand ships” and started the Trojan War. Achilles, the great Greek Warrior, fought for Agamemnon and Menelaus

The epic poem depicts the battles and events of only a few weeks of the 10 year war in which Agamemnon and the Greek warrior, Achilles, quarrel over whether or not the Greeks should continue to fight as it seemed they would never get past the great walls of Troy. Fought 10 years outside the walls of Troy Odysseus thought of the wooden horse trick (The Trojan Horse) which led to the downfall of Troy. ‾ Greeks built an enormous wooden horse and hid inside the belly. They offered the wooden horse as a surrender to the Trojans. They waited in the belly until the Trojans fell asleep and attacked and burned the city killing everyone. Thus winning the Trojan War.

Odysseus: a hero in trouble Before Odysseus leaves for the war he married Penelope, who had his son. Telemachus, was three when Odysseus leaves After winning the Trojan War for the Greeks, the hero of war has difficult time finding his way back home to Ithaca because he upsets Poseidon. Poseidon punishes Odysseus and makes him wander for 10 years before he finally returns home to Ithaca (he is gone a total of 20 years).

Homeric Simile – a long comparison of something that everyone would be familiar with to help create an image of something fantastic. the comparison had heroic qualities and acted as an extended metaphor. Example: “Its crackling roots blazed and hissed - as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens - that's the iron's strength - so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake.” Here Odysseus compares the sizzling sound of the Cyclops' eye to that of sticking fire-hot metal in cold water. Blacksmiths of the day would have understood this reference. Epithet – an adjective or descriptive phrase that is used to characterize a person, place, or thing Example: “Grey-eyed Athena” and “Prometheus, father of men”

Alienation--The feeling of separation Fate-- Something that unavoidably happens to a person Hero-- Someone who demonstrates courage or ability Quest-- A search or pursuit made in order to find something

An archetype is a repeated image that comes through the ages from human experience as a pattern or a symbol. An archetype can be thought of as a model after which other things can be patterned, a prototype or a permanent underlying structure. Archetypes are templates for characters with which the reader is familiar with and can identify. Archetypes are encouraged in fiction, but care needs to be given in order to prevent them from becoming stereotypes. Stereotypes, like archetypes, are templates, but a stereotype is categorized as an oversimplified and therefore contorted conception of an idea.

Let’s look at the different archetypes and some famous characters that fulfill them…

Usually arises from a lowly birth to become a glorified leader/king after facing many trials Example: Harry Potter

Taken from home and returns with a new perspective Example: Simba from The Lion King

Innocents who train for a quest Example: Luke Skywalker from Star Wars

Teachers or counselors for the Initiates Example: Yoda from Star Wars

Usually an older person who gives the hero/heroine wise counsel Example: Fairy Godmother from Cinderella

Protector of rituals Example: Rafiki from The Lion King

Loyal to hero/heroine at all costs Example: Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings

A true and loyal friend Example: Zazu from The Lion King

Helps the hero/heroine Example: Chewbacca from Star Wars

Nurtures and cares for the hero/heroine Example: Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty

A wise fool, rascal or troublemaker Example: Bart Simpson from The Simpsons

Purely Evil Example: Scar from The Lion King

Redeems himself by the end of the story Example: Scrooge from A Christmas Carol

Sacrificed animal/human who takes on the sins and punishment for others Example: Aslan from Chronicles of Narnia

Banished; not accepted in society Example: The X-Men

Fate is against them Example: Romeo and Juliet

Beautiful woman who brings destruction to the hero Example: Cat Woman from Batman

The woman on a pedestal who inspires the hero, but with whom he has no romantic relationship Example: Hermione Granger from Harry Potter

Monsters that threaten the hero Example: The Kraken from Greek Mythology