1. Epic Poetry vocabulary
Spring 2018

2. Epic poetry vocabulary
Epic Poem – an epic poem is a long narrative poem about a grand adventure and/or journey. It is typically about events or situations that are important to the culture of the poet. Epics cover vast distances, include supernatural or superhuman elements, and provide a portrait of a culture (beliefs, laws, values, ways of life, etc).
Examples – The Odyssey, The Iliad, Beowulf, The Epic of Gilgamesh

3. List 5 vocabulary
2. Epic Hero – a brave or noble character in an epic poem; they usually undertake quests to achieve something of tremendous value to themselves or their people. Epic hero examples include Odysseus, Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins, etc.

4. List 5 vocabulary
3. Tragic Flaw – the secret flaw of the character or hero that brings about their own downfall. Examples of tragic flaws include lack of self-awareness, poor judgement, pride, etc. 4. Hubris – excessive pride or self-confidence

5. List 5 vocabulary
5. Archetype - Universal pattern in character type, situation, or story plot. Examples include the epic hero, the trickster, the damsel in distress, the wise old man, the hero’s journey.

6. List 5 vocabulary
6. Invocation – an invocation is a call for help or support. In ancient times, poets or artists would call upon a muse to help them write or create. 7. Muse – a muse is a person or thing that inspires you to create. The Muses were 9 goddesses (daughters of Zeus) of literature, sciences, and the arts. Hint: Think about the muses from Disney’s Hercules. Ancient poets like Homer would start their poems with an invocation to the Muse, a call to help them create a great poem. 8. In medias res – translates to “in the middle of things”. Epic poems begin in the middle of the action.

7. List 5 vocabulary
A simile is a comparison of two things using like or as.
9. Epic simile -a longer, more detailed simile that can go on for several lines.
Example: “And Odysseus let the bright molten tears run down his cheeks, weeping [like] the way a wife mourns for her lord on the lost field where he has gone down fighting the day of wrath that came upon his children . . .”
10. Epithet - A phrase that describes a person and connects to their name. They are often seen in Homer’s Epic Poems. Epithets describe physical traits, lineage, or personality traits.
Examples: Odysseus, son of Laertes; Sparkling-eyed Athena; The Boy Who Lived; The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships

8. The Greek Virtues
All Greeks were challenged to live by the virtues set by their culture. Breaking one of the Greek virtues meant angering the gods. The virtues are:
Loyalty
Xenia (Hospitality)
Respect for the gods and goddesses
Respect for all forms of life
Courage

9. What is xenia?
The best modern translation for the concept of xenia is hospitality.
Today, we understand hospitality as showing generosity and kindness to our guests.
For the Ancient Greeks, showing hospitality to guests – strangers or family, invited or uninvited – was an absolute must. There was a strict code of hospitality that they followed.

10. Ancient Greek Xenia or the code of hospitality
Part 1 - The respect from host to guest. The host must be hospitable to the guest and provide him/her with food, drink, bath and gifts when they leave. It is not polite to ask questions until the host has taken care of the most pressing needs of the guest – typically, this would be a meal.
Part 2 - The respect from guest to host. The guest must be courteous to the host and not be a burden. The guest should also provide a gift if they have one.

11. Why was hospitality so important?
Zeus was considered the protector of guests. If you violated the code of hospitality, you were insulting Zeus.
The Greeks believed the gods walked among them. They never knew whether a visiting stranger were actually a god in disguise, and you never wanted to insult a god.
There were no hotels in Ancient Greece! Travelers relied on the code of hospitality for food/shelter when they were on the road. There existed a “pay-it-forward” understanding; if someone takes care of you when you’re a guest, you’re expected to repay the favor in the future (to any stranger who shows up at your own door).