Odyssey Epic Literary Terms English I Pre-AP. Epics Long narrative poems that tell of the adventures...
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Transcript of Odyssey Epic Literary Terms English I Pre-AP. Epics Long narrative poems that tell of the adventures...
Epics Long narrative poems that tell of the
adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization.
Epic Conventions The work begins in medias res (in the
middle of things) Odysseus’s story begins in the middle of his
journey
Epic Conventions The poem will
open with an invocation of the muse. Muse, speak to me
now of that resourceful manwho wandered far and wide after ravagingthe sacred citadel of Troy.
Main character is a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance. Odysseus fought for ten
years in the Trojan War and devised the idea of the Trojan horse.
Epic Conventions
Setting is vast in scope, including much of the physical world and, at times, the land of the dead.Odysseus’ travels take him throughout the
Mediterranean World.
Epic Conventions
The action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage. In The Odyssey, Odysseus must overcome
many challenges.
Epic Conventions
There is evidence of supernatural forces at work. In the Odyssey, the hero encounters gods,
goddesses, sorceresses, monsters, giants, and the list goes on.
Epic Conventions
The author uses a style of sustained elevation. When the sun had left the splendid sea and risen up
into an all-bronze heaven, giving light to godsand mortal men and grain to farmers’ fields,the ship and crew reached Pylos, a well-built cityruled by Nestor.
Epic Conventions
Epics will be rooted in a specific culture and society.The Odyssey, for example, is heavily rooted in
Greek society and culture.
Epic Conventions
the repetition of the same phrase over and over in a story to describe a character or object; the phrase stresses a particular quality of what is being describedex. Odysseus is frequently referred to as “the
man of twists and turns.”
Epithet
a long, elaborate simile that goes on for a number of lines; often compares heroic or epic events to understandable and everyday thingsEx. She brushed [the arrow] away from his skin as
lightly as when a mother / Brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep.
Epic Simile
an interruption in the narration to elaborate on what aspect of what is being talked aboutex. If Homer mentions a gift of wine, he will
digress and describe both the history of the gift and the history of the giver.
Narrative Drift
Epic Heroes embody the
important morals, values, and virtues of the society of which they are a product.
The epic hero is a larger than life person who embodies the highest ideals of his culture
Epic Hero Characteristics
Epic Hero Characteristics
The epic hero usually undertakes a quest/journey to achieve something of great value to themselves or society
Epic Hero Characteristics
Epic heroes live on after death meaning they are forever remembered by those who live after them…achieving a type of immortality
Not a superman with magical powers but a regular human whose aspirations and accomplishments set him/her apart
Epic Hero Characteristics
Epic Hero Characteristics
The epic hero overcomes great obstacles/opponents but maintains his/her humanity
Epic hero experiences typical human emotions, yet is able to master and control these human traits to a greater degree than a typical person
Epic Hero Characteristics