EpicAn epic is a poem that tells the

story of a great hero and reflects the values of the culture from

which it comes.

Epic Hero

The epic hero is usually drawn from history or legend and is not

merely an individual; he stands as the embodiment of the special

values of a culture.

Characteristics of an Epic Hero• Superior in degree to other men and to his

environment; virtuous• Although the epic’s action is larger than

life, the hero is decidedly human, capable of error, vulnerable, and not immune to death

• Strives for honor and fame• Possesses Christian characteristics of

kindness, valor, loyalty, and gentleness

What makes a hero?

Our hero can do things others cannot.

Our hero can do things others cannot.

The protagonist of superhero fiction has superhuman abilities, or is extraordinarily

skilled.

• Spiderman – He can shoot webs, climb up the sides of buildings, and his injuries are always minor compared to what the rest of us would suffer.

• Superman – He can fly, shoots meteor destroying rays from his eyes, and can save people on every continent in a matter of minutes.

Our hero helps others.

Superhero fiction is concerned with the divide between good and evil, or right and

wrong.• Spiderman protects people that are

weaker than himself. Uncle Ben reminds us that with great power comes great responsibility. He spends his life trying to make up for not being able to save his uncle from thieves he let escape.

• Superman saves humans that are in peril. He is constantly chasing and putting a stop to the evil Lex Luthor is always trying to cause.

Our hero has a job.

Our hero helps others.

Superheroes regard their role as a duty, a calling, or a job.

• Spiderman feels it is his duty to save people. He feels guilty when he slips the persona and lets crime slide.

• Superman looks at it as a calling. He thinks part of his destiny was ending up on Earth. He believes he was put here to help us. This idea is often propagated by the clips with his father.