WARM-UP: WRITE THIS ON THE BACK OF THE “FIREWORK” WORKSHEET. You come to a mysterious door. Describe what you see. You must use two literary devices (allusion, hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor, imagery, or alliteration) in your description. Underline these and identify in the margins.

Features of an Ancient Epic Hero Epic hero is typically a man (women take a subordinate role in ancient traditional epics Of high status and noble His fate affects the destiny of his people Epic Hero almost always defeats enemy with physical strength, skill of a warrior, nobility of character, and quick wits. The hero is rarely modest, boasting is almost a ritual. Embodies the ideals and values of his people Skilled at everything: speaking, leading, sailing, etc.

EPIC Poetic Lines that have regular meter and formal, elevated, or even lofty language. (inversion/inverted syntax= verb comes before the noun; ex. Now fades the glimmering landscape from sight) Main character who have heroic or superhuman qualities. Gods or godlike beings who intervene in the events. Action on a huge scale, often involving the fates of the entire peoples. Stories begin in medias res (Latin for “in the middle of things”) or at a critical point in the action. Epic plots include: supernatural events, long periods of time, distant journeys, and life-and-death struggles between good and evil.