1. Epic Hero Notes For The Odyssey

2. We are a culture obsessed with heroes…
Who can provide examples of heroes in our culture?

3. There are songs about heroes, books about heroes, movies and television shows about heroes. Children grow up dreaming of becoming a hero. CNN honors heroes every year. Newspapers and news networks gravitate towards a hero in a story. Here are some examples from pop culture.

4. Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece there were no televisions or movies…the people would go to hear someone tell a story or to see it acted out.
The Greeks had some of the greatest heroes of all time.

5. The Greeks practically invented the hero!
They loved them so much that they devised a way to immortalize their heroes forever.

6. General Notes on the epic
EPIC—long narrative poem that traces the adventures of a hero
(originally recited orally)

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

8. General Notes on the epic
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.

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

10. Epic Hero
A legendary figure who usually represents the goals and virtues of an entire nation or culture.

11. Characteristics of an Epic Hero
Wise – scholarly, judicious
Clever – witty, sharp, quick
Winners
Athletic
Come from nobility or royal blood

12. Characteristics of an Epic Hero
Self-sacrificing
Immense physical strength
Love of danger - they seek it out
Respect for justice and law - especially of the gods
Adventurous

13. Characteristics of an Epic Hero
Relationship with the gods - help or hinder success
Leaders among the population
Love of homeland and family
Hubris – pride.
A brave and noble character admired for great achievements or affected by grand events.

14. What do the heroes in literature say about their culture and time period?
Does the type of literature dictate what kind of hero will be featured within it?
What are heroes responsible for?