1. Epic Hero Notes The Odyssey

2. Epic Formula 1) statement of theme 2) invocation to the muse 3) beginning in medias res 4) catalogs of warriors 5) extended formal speeches

3. Themes for The Odyssey 1)Loyalty, devotion and courage in the face of great adversity or challenge 2) The Greek ideal of a strong body and a strong intellect

4. Themes for The Odyssey, continued 3)The wandering hero 4)The triumph of good over evil 5) Obedience to the laws of the gods

5. General Notes on the epic 6)EPIC—long narrative poem that traces the adventures of a hero (originally recited orally) 7) EPIC HERO—a legendary figure who usually represents the goals and virtues of an entire nation or culture

6. General Notes on the epic 8) In an epic, gods and goddesses often interfere in the hero’s affairs, sometimes to help protect and sometimes to hurt or punish

7. General Notes on the epic 9) The adventures of the hero take the form of a series of separate events, each a brief story on its own, as the hero moves from one challenge to another.

8. General Notes on the epic 10) Epic poet – recounts deeds with objectivity 11) style: formal language in poetic form, including epic similes

9. General Notes on the epic 12) HOMER—the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey; a wandering minstrel who lives around 800 BC. He was thought to have been blind.

10. General Notes on the epic 13) The purpose of an epic was to entertain and to teach lessons about society.

11. Characteristics of an Epic Hero WiseWise CleverClever Successful at winningSuccessful at winning AthleticAthletic Comes from nobility or royal bloodComes from nobility or royal blood

12. Characteristics of an Epic Hero Self-sacrificingSelf-sacrificing Immense physical strengthImmense physical strength Love of danger (to the point where they seek it out)Love of danger (to the point where they seek it out) Respect for justice and law (especially of the gods)Respect for justice and law (especially of the gods) AdventurousAdventurous

13. Characteristics of an Epic Hero Relationship with the gods (where they help or hinder success)Relationship with the gods (where they help or hinder success) Leaders among the populationLeaders among the population Love of homeland and familyLove of homeland and family HubrisHubris

14. Epic Simile Comparison of an epic event to a simple and easily understandable everyday eventComparison of an epic event to a simple and easily understandable everyday event