Essential

Question

•How do classic heroes differ from modern heroes?

HEROES AND EPICSCharacteristics of the CLASSIC HERO:

unusual and/or NOBLE birth

part god/favored by gods

extraordinary STRENGTH

kills monsters with special weapons

goes on an arduous journey or QUEST

visits the underworld

UNUSUAL death

THE CLASSIC HERO1. Most often the TRAGIC hero has a “fall” or a FAILURE that seems to be predetermined or is fated in some way. 2. He must be in some way RESPONSIBLE for his own failure. His death is tragic, but is in SOME WAY DESERVED.

THE CLASSIC HERO

3. He makes POOR CHOICES.4. Usually his poor choices are due to hamartia or a

FATAL FLAW.5. Sometimes tragic heroes are UNDONE by their own

greatness. The greater the hero the more susceptible he is to MISTAKES.

EPIC POEM:750 AND 650 B.C.Erhapsode (STORYTELLER): HOMER

OdysseusClassic hero of Homer’s Odyssey

Characteristics of Odysseus/The OdysseySYMBOLIZES the journey of life and its challenges

Stresses the VALUES of:

Using one’s brain to get out of TOUGH SITUATIONS

GUILE (trickery): Odysseus escapes OBSTACLES

Pride (HUBRIS) as bad behavior / TRAGIC FLAW

Rudeness as BAD BEHAVIOR

Making DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Withstanding temptation

THE MODERN HERO

MODERN HERO:

a COMMON MAN

isn’t thought of as FLAWED

didn’t ASK to be a hero

RIGHT PLACE at the right time

makes a SACRIFICE because it is the right thing to do or for honor

THE MODERN HERO: SUB-SET

SUPERHERO: A. MODELED after classic hero but has modern hero characteristics as wellB. MASQUERADES as (or actually is) average but has superhero powers, TRAGIC HISTORY, faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles

HEROES NOW AND THENSymbolize the HUMAN EXPERIENCE

Embody the spiritual values of a culture

Provide models of VIRTUOUS BEHAVIORS (adventures of heroes, mistakes of fools)

ILLUSTRATE striking similarities as well as differences between cultures

Preserve elements of CULTURE/HISTORY

Encourage pride in culture

TEACH moral lesson/correct or incorrect behavior