1. The Hero Cycle It’s epic!

2. Call to Adventure ► The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger. ► The hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly

3. Supernatural Aid/Amulet ► During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive aid from a protective figure. ► The helper gives the hero a protective object or weapon for the journey. ► Helpers take all sorts of forms:  Wizard,  Old man,  Dwarf,  Crone,  Fairy godmother  Etc.

4. Crossing the Threshold ► The threshold of adventure ► The hero must go through an ordeal to go from the real word to the world of adventure ► Contrast of familiar (light) and unfamiliar (dark) ► Commitment to journey!

5. Hero’s Reconciliation ► The hero MUST confront death  Confronts personal weakness ► Fear, loneliness, despair count as a type of death ► Hero is led to enlightenment or maturity ► Change

6. Road of Trials ► The hero must meet and overcome overwhelming obstacles  Often violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature ► Sometimes secretly advised by advice, amulets, and secret agents of the supernatural helper

7. Final Battle/Transformation ► While the goal is sometimes tangible, the success or achievement is more spiritual ► Maturity/growth is more important than object of the goal

8. Return/Elixir ► The changed hero crosses back to the everyday world from the world of adventure ► The object, knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired in/during the adventure is not used everyday.

9. Mythology Odyssey Background information

10. What are myths? ► A story based on tradition or legend  Generally has a deep symbolic meaning ► “Conveys a truth” to those who tell and hear  Doesn’t necessarily record a true event ► Often used to explain universal and local beginnings and involve supernatural beings ► The great power of the meaning of these stories, to the culture in which they developed, is a major reason why they survive as long as they do (1000s of years!)

11. 6 Categories of Myth 1. Creation 2. Human Psychology 3. Science/Nature 4. History 5. Cultural Values/Rituals 6. Concepts/Philosophy ► Myth comes from the Greek word muthos meaning “anything uttered by word of mouth.” The word itself explains to you how most ideas, stories and news were transmitted by humans for a long time, orally. Mythology is seen as fiction, but fiction with a particular purpose... what is that purpose?

12. What is an epic poem? ► A long narrative poem that:  Is complex,  Revolves around several main characters,  Spans several years,  Cannot be told in one sitting

13. Can you think of examples? ► Lord of the Rings ► Star Wars ► ??

14. Eight Key Traits of an Epic Poem 1. Heroic Figure A very human heroic figure who performs heroic deeds.A very human heroic figure who performs heroic deeds. Imposing statureImposing stature Of national or international importanceOf national or international importance Of great historical or legendary significanceOf great historical or legendary significance 2. Setting:  Vast in scope  Covering nations, the world, or the universe 3. The action:  Consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman strength

15. Eight Key Traits (cont) 4. The poet’s role:  Recounting the deeds of the hero with objectivity 5. Themes:  Universal (timeless and across all cultures) ► Themes in Odyssey  Hospitality  Loyalty  Importance of lineage  Pride and honor  Resisting temptation /self- discipline  Importance of leadership  Justice  Revenge  Fate  Reconciliation

16. Eight Key Traits (cont) 6. Epithet:  An adjective or adjective phrase used to point out a characteristic of a person or thing ► “Grey-eyed” Athena ► “All-seeing” Zeus ► “rosy-fingered” dawn 7. Simile  Epic poems use long similes where the image becomes an object of art in its own right as well as serving to clarify the subject

17. Eight Key Traits (cont) 8. In media res:  “in the midst of things.”  Literary technique ► Opens the story in the middle of the action and then supplies information about the beginning of the action through flashbacks and other devices of exposition

18. Let’s look at the categories of myth! ► Read each myth and designate which category you think is the main purpose of each myth. Supply one quote from each myth as evidence to support your claim. Which category do you think goes with which myth and why? In addition you will designate a secondary, and if necessary, tertiary purpose for the myths.