1. The Odyssey and Literary Archetypes
November 9, 2015

2. About The Odyssey Recited by Homer Composed around 1200 B.C
A blind Greek poet who went town to town chanting his poetry to the accompanying lyre
Composed around 1200 B.C
Over 20 different translations
Sequel to The Iliad (focused on the Trojan War and Achilles)
Focuses on Odysseus’ journey back home from The Trojan War
Ulysses a novel by James Joyce was influenced by it
O Brother Where Art Thou? Is loosely based on it
About The Odyssey

3. Classical Features of The Odyssey
Simplicity of language
Swift movement of narrative
Creation of characters with uncomplicated motives
Actions that are true to human nature
Plots that blend the joys of living with the tragic sense of life
Long, musical lines (in the original Greek or in a poetry translation)
Classical Features of The Odyssey

4. Important Terms Epic Folk epic Simile
A narrative poem that tells in elevated style the achievements and brave deeds of heroic characters. Miraculous events and supernatural beings often play a part.
Folk epic
A narrative loosely based on heroic legends
Simile
Literary comparison using like or as
Important Terms

5. Important Terms Continued
Epithet
An adjective or descriptive term that points out some trait of the person or thing being considered
“Gray-eyed Athena; Odysseus, canniest of men.”
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases for emphasis or for retention in memory
Important Terms Continued

6. Epic Devices Stating the theme Invoking the muse
Beginning in Medias res
Medias res- in the middle of things
Supplying the exposition gradually
Greek gods and goddesses as plot devices
Fatal Flaw
Hubris- excessive pride
Epic Devices

7. Literary Archetypes
Heroic Archetypes and Archetypal Journeys

8. Carl Jung first applied the term archetype to literature
Recognized they were universal regardless of culture or historical period
Hypothesized that it had something to do with collective unconsciousness shared by all humans
Joseph Campbell took this idea and applied it to the world of mythology
George Lucas used Campbell’s writings and Jung’s theory to write the Star Wars Saga
About Archetypes

9. Archetypes can Apply to Be expressed in An image A theme A symbol
An idea
A character type
A plot pattern
Myths
Dreams
Literature
Religions
Fantasies
Folklore
Archetypes can

10. Heroic Archetypes Hero as warrior (Odysseus)
A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies
Hero as lover (Prince Charming)
A pure love motivates hero to complete his quest
Hero as Scapegoat (Jesus)
Hero suffers for the sake of others
Transcendent Hero (Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth)
The hero of a tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall
Heroic Archetypes

11. Romantic/Gothic Hero (Batman/ Billy from The Departed)
Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side
Proto-Feminist Hero (Mulan, GI Jane)
Female heroes
Apocalyptic Hero (Elijah, The Book of Eli)
Hero who faces the possible destruction of society
Anti-Hero (Homer Simpson)
A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous
Defiant Anti-hero (Walter White)
Hero who opposes of society’s definition of heroism/goodness

12. Unbalanced Hero (Sam, I am Sam)
Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional deficiencies
The Other/ denied hero (Avatar)
The protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible
The Super heroic (Superman/ Hercules)
Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity, frequently has divine or supernatural origins.

13. Archetypal Journeys The quest for identity
The epic journey to find the promised land
Quest for vengeance
The warrior’s journey to save his people
The search for love
The journey in search of knowledge
The tragic quest; penance or self-denial
The fool’s errand
The quest to rid the land of danger
The grail quest (human perfection)
Archetypal Journeys

14. Classification Précis
Write a précis that explains how a popular character, movie, song, book, etc. meets the criteria for one of the archetypes
For an example (my example don’t use it)
Naruto from Naruto and Naruto Shippuden as the Denied hero
He is a social outcast in his village due to being the host of the nine-tailed demon fox
He cannot past the exam to become a ninja
He has no real talent
He uses the power from the nine-tailed fox demon to protect his friends and village
Classification Précis