1. ELIT 46A – Day Two

2. Romans had held Britain 43 BCE to 450 CE

3. After 450 and fall of Rome, invasions by 3 groups plus Frisians

4. What makes a hero? Represents the people or nation Performs superhuman feats of strength or bravery or wit What the hero does determines the fate of the nation or people May be a “tragic hero” who has a flaw

5. What makes an epic? Long and serious Mentions many heroes, important figures, and sometimes gods Covers broad geographical area “high” language like poetry Begins by calling on the muse to aid the poet Starts in medias res (right in the middle of the action)

6. According to Joseph Campbell, the typical “Hero’s Journey”

7. A heroic epic written in Old English

8. Here’s what it says: Seamus Heaney reading Seamus Heaney reading

9. Compare to other cultures Gilgamesh: Sumerian Civilization Inanna : descended to the underworld to get back her beloved Egypt: the story of Isis traveling all over the known world to find Osiris Homer: – Iliad and Odyssey Japanese: stories of Momotaro China: Journey to the West (Monkey, Tripitaka, Horse, Sandman, etc.) India: Baghavad Gita and Ramayana British Isles: Beowulf