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What is an Epic? Epic - A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization. The Iliad is the epic of war The Odyssey is the epic of a long journey
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Characteristics of an Epic
A physically impressive hero of national and historic importance Vast setting involving much of the known world but also the underworld A journey is taken in search for something of value or to achieve something Evidence of supernatural forces at work Glorification of the hero at the end Roots in a specific culture or society
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Characteristics of an Epic cont.
Contains more than 1000 lines Involves a hero and a villain Action such as a quest or journey requiring superhuman ability and courage Starts in the middle (en medias res) Involves the gods
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How Epics Were Told Were originally told aloud by people who could not read or write Were composed according to a basic storyline Were made up on the spot, then retold throughout the years… passed on from generation to generation
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Epic Hero Characteristics
Possess admirable qualities (trust, respect, etc.) Skillful warrior who possess a special weapon Capable of fear Has allies and followers Takes a journey to battle evil
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Homer Lived from BC A blind minstrel (or rhapsody: “singers of tales”). The entertainer and myth-maker of his time Homer is the Greek storyteller and poet credited for combining isolated tales about various heroic exploits into a single, coherent whole, creating the epics
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The Illiad and The Odyssey
An archetype of a war epic Contains the morals and values of the Greek society in war Odyssey: An archetype of the adventure/heroic epic Seen as a metaphor for living one’s life Contains the morals, themes, and values of the Greek society about adventure, hardship, and life.
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The Trojan War the ten year siege of Illium (Troy) by a coalition of Greek city states led by King Agmemnon and Menelaus the Greeks attacked Troy to avenge an insult suffered by Menelaus, King of Sparta. Helen, Menelaus’ wife, ran off with Paris, the young prince of Troy. Helen was said to be so beautiful that “her face launched a thousand ships” and started the Trojan War. Achilles, the great Greek Warrior, fought for Agmemnon and Menelaus
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The Illiad The epic poem depicts the battles and events of only a few weeks of the 10 year war in which Agamemnon and the Greek warrior, Achilles, quarrel over whether or not the Greeks should continue to fight as it seemed they would never get past the great walls of Troy. Fought 10 years outside the walls of Troy Odysseus thought of the wooden horse trick (The Trojan Horse) which led to the downfall of Troy. Greeks built an enormous wooden horse and hid inside the belly. They offered the wooden horse as a surrender to the Trojans. They waited in the belly until the Trojans fell asleep and attacked and burned the city killing everyone. Thus winning the Trojan War.
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The Odyssey Odysseus: a hero in trouble
Before Odysseus leaves for the war he married Penelope, who had his son. Telemachus, was 3 when Odysseus leaves After winning the Trojan War for the Greeks, the hero of war has difficulty finding his way back home to Ithaca because he upsets Poseidon Poseidon punishes Odysseus and makes him wander for 10 years before he finally returns home to Ithaca (he is gone a total of 20 years)
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Literary Terms Homeric Simile – a long comparison of something that everyone would be familiar with to help create an image of something fantastic. the comparison had heroic qualities and acted as an extended metaphor. Example: “Its crackling roots blazed and hissed - as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens - that's the iron's strength - so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake.” Here Odysseus compares the sizzling sound of the Cyclops' eye to that of sticking fire-hot metal in cold water. Blacksmiths of the day would have understood this reference.
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Literary Elements cont.
Epithet – an adjective or descriptive phrase that is used to characterize a person, place, or thing Allusion – author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work and it is up to the reader to make the connection to the subject Euphemism – using a comparatively milder or less abrasive form of a negative description instead of it’s original, unsympathetic form
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Words to be Familiar with
Alienation -The feeling of separation Fate - Something that unavoidably happens to a person Hero - Someone who demonstrates courage or ability Quest - A search or pursuit made in order to find something
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