Epic: Iliad vs. Star Wars

Important Terms Hero Epic Iliad Odyssey

Epic Scenes and Features invocation in medias res grand assemblies arming scenes embassy scenes battle scenes epithets similes elaborate descriptions an epic catalogue or list divine machinery epic games or contests funeral scene a trip to the Underworld a vision of the future

Invocations rhapsode Muse Prayer Request for inspiration Summary/introduction

Invocation in the Iliad Sing, Goddess, sing of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus— that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans to countless agonies and hurled many warrior souls deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies carrion food for dogs and birds— all in fulfillment of the will of Zeus. Start at the point where Agamemnon, son of Atreus, that king of men, quarreled with noble Achilles. Which of the gods drove these two men to fight? μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε, πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν 5 οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δ᾽ ἐτελείετο βουλή, ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς. τίς τ᾽ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι; Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός: ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς 10 νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί, Iliad I.1-10 Compare: Invocation in Star Wars: New Hope 1

In medias res landing at Troy nine years of indecisive warfare, including raids by the Achaeans on Troy's allies The Iliad quarrel between Achilles & Agamemnon

In medias res in Star Wars IV New Hope V Empire Strikes Back VI Return of the Jedi I Phantom Menace II Attack of the Clones Revenge of the Sith

Homer and Oral Tradition: The Type-Scene Mark W Homer and Oral Tradition: The Type-Scene Mark W. Edwards in Oral Tradition 7/2 (1992): 284-330 http://journal.oraltradition.org/files/articles/7ii/6_edwards.pdf PLAN 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Terminology and Definitions 1.2 Characteristics of Homeric Type-Scenes 1.3 A Short History of Research 2. BATTLE 2.1 General 2.2 Structure of battle descriptions 2.3 Aristeiai and duels 2.4 Arming 2.5 Catalogues, androktasiai, and anecdotes 2.6 Battle speeches 3. SOCIAL INTERCOURSE 3.1 Hospitality in General 3.1.1 Arrival and Reception of a Guest 3.1.2 Bathing 3.1.3 Meals 3.1.4 Recognition and Entertainment 3.1.5 Retiring for the night 3.1.6 Departure and Gift-giving 3.2 Messengers 3.3 Dreams 3.4 Divine Visit 3.5 Conference, Conversation, and Greeting 3.6 Assembly and Dismissal 3.7 Supplication 3.8 Dressing and Adornment 3.9 Allurement and Seduction 4. TRAVEL 4.1 Travel by Sea 4.1.1 Putting to Sea 4.1.2 Journey by Sea 4.1.3 Arrival after Sea-journey 4.2 Travel by Land 5. RITUAL 5.1 Sacrifice 5.2 Prayer 5.3 Funeral Rites 5.4 Omens 5.5 Libation 5.6 Oath-taking 5.7 Purification 6. SPEECHES AND DELIBERATION 6.1 General 6.2 Deliberation and Monologues 6.3 Testing of a Stranger 6.4 Laments 6.5 Persuasion 6.6 Consolation

Grand Assembly Iliad 1: Quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770)

William Page Quarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon, ca. 1832

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770)

Grand Assembly in Star Wars Phantom Menace 28: Jedi Council

Arming Scene Iliad 18: New Arms for Achilles Two-handled jar (neck-amphora) depicting the arming of Achilles. Archaic Period, about 550 B.C. By the Camtar Painter. Attic ceramic, Black Figure. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Inscriptions: "Achilleus," "Thetis”

Hephaistos and Thetis, tondo, Attic Red-figure cup by the Foundry Painter, from Vulci, ca. 490-480 BCE

Thetis at Hephaestus' forge waiting to receive Achilles' new weapons Thetis at Hephaestus' forge waiting to receive Achilles' new weapons. From the triclinium of House IX.I.7, Pompeii.

Jan Van Dyck. Thetis Receives the Arms and Armor for Achilles from Hephaestus (Venus at the Forge of Vulcan). 1630-32.

Arming Scene in Star Wars Return of the Sith 47: Darth Vader Awakes

Embassy Scene Iliad 9: 185-668 Jean-Dominique Ingres, Achilles Greets the Ambassadors of Agamemnon (1800-1801)

Embassy Scene in Star Wars Phantom Menace 7-8: Otoh Gunga and Boss Nass

Battle Scene Iliad 3: Battle between Menelaus and Paris Menelaus (centre-left) pursues Paris (centre-right) as Aphrodite (left) and Artemis (right) watch on. Side A from an Attic red-figure kylix, ca. 490–460 BC. From Capua. Douris Painter.

Battle Scene in Star Wars Phantom Menace 43: Obi Wan vs. Darth Maul

Androktasia (Killing Scene) Hector at death of Patroclus, ca. 500 BC, in Agrigento Iliad 16

Death of Hector (Iliad 22) The Triumph of Achilles by Franz von Matsch. Achilles is seen dragging Hector's lifeless body in front of the Gates of Troy. (From a panoramic fresco on the upper level of the main hall of the Achilleon on Corfu.)

Death of Vadar Return of the Jedi 46

Jacques-Louis David The Funeral of Patroclus (1779) Iliad 23 Funeral Scene Jacques-Louis David The Funeral of Patroclus (1779) Iliad 23

Funeral of Hector (Iliad 24) Hector brought back to Troy. From a Roman sarcophagus of ca. 180–200 AD.

Funeral of Vadar Return of the Jedi 48

Epic Language: Epithets Origin I Home: 'spearmen who lived on the fertile soil of Larisa' Patronymic: 'Achilles son of Peleus'. Appearance/State: 'white-armed Andromache; 'fair-haired Menelaus'. Skill/Art: ‘resourceful Odysseus’; 'swift-footed Achilles' . Position: Agamemnon, king of men'; 'sacred herald'. Heroic quality / General: godlike Epeios’; p.2O3 'strong Diomedes’

Diomedes Encounters the war-god Ares on the battlefield: Similes Diomedes Encounters the war-god Ares on the battlefield: “Diomedes of the great war cry shivered as he saw him, and like a man in his helplessness who, crossing a great plain, stand at the edge of a fast-running river that dashes seaward, and watches it thundering into while water, and leaps a pace backward, now Tydeus’s son gave back, and spoke to his people: ‘Friends, although we know the wonder of glorious Hektor to be a fighter with the spear and a bold man of battle, yet there goes ever some god beside him, who beats off destruction, and now, in the likeness of a man mortal, Ares goes with him. Come then, keeping your faces turned to the Trojans, give ground Backward, nor be we eager to fight in strength with divinities’” (5:596-606).

Elaborate Description Achilles’ Shield Iliad 18

Elaborate Description in Star Wars More Visual than Verbal http://airows.com/star-wars-filmmakers-created-elaborate-scenes-cgi/

Homer's Iliad and the Catalogue of Ships Iliad 2

Catalogue in Star Wars http://www.starwars.com/databank/rebel-alliance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Alliance

Vision of the Future in the Iliad Post-Iliad Stories arrival of the Amazons as Trojan allies death of Penthesileia, their queen (killed by Achilles) assistance of the Ethiopians on the Trojan side death of Memnon king of the Ethiopians8 death of Achilles (shot by an arrow aimed by Paris & Apollo) contest for the arms of Achilles between Odysseus & Ajax (see Ovid for details) suicide of Ajax arrival of Achilles' son Neoptolemus (or Pyrrhus-"red-haired) successful attempt to get the bow & arrows of Heracles9 death of Paris (killed by Philoctetes with Heracles' bow) marriage (?) of Helen & Deiphobus, another of Priam,s sons theft of the palladium (statue of Athene) by Odysseus and Diomedes strategy of the wooden horse story of Sinon & death of Laocoon, priest of Poseidon FALL OF TROY death of Priam at the altar (killed by Neoptolemus) escape of Aeneas rape of Cassandra by lesser Ajax sacrifice of Polyxena to Achilles' ghost murder of Astyanax enslavement of the Trojan women

Epic Scenes and Features invocation in medias res grand assemblies arming scenes embassy scenes battle scenes epithets similes elaborate descriptions an epic catalogue or list divine machinery epic games or contests funeral scene a trip to the Underworld a vision of the future