Epic Poem Test

renaming something without using its actual name

rhapsodes

• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• The Iliad
• The Odyssey
• The Aenid
• Beowulf
• The Ramayana

• Star Wars
• Lord of the Rings
• Harry Potter

The main character is a hero who often has supernatural abilities or qualities

Hero is charged with a quest

The hero is often tested to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest

The prescence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and human helpers and companions

The hero's travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal beings are barred from entering

The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up on his quest or appears defeated

A resurrection

Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining the rightful place

Odysseus is renowned for his brain and his muscle. He has outstanding prowness and bravery

Odysseus sets out on a quest to return home to regain his throne and punish the suitors

Odysseus is tested by Poseidon, Cyclops, the king of the winds, the Laestrygonian cannibals, the goddess Circe, the sirens, Sycalla, Charybdis, and Hypernion

Athena helps free Odysseus and a sea nymph saved Odysseus from drowning at sea

Odysseus sailed to the end of the world. Here they made libations to the dead and sacrificed a lamb. He spoke to Tiresias who advised him and told the future

Odysseus landed on the island where Hypernion kept his cattle. He told his men not to slaughter the cows (Circe + Tiresias advised him of this) but the men did anyway, incurring the wrath of the gods. A storm came and Odysseus was the only survivor

Met the Phaeacians who helped him back to health and transported him to Ithaca

Odysseus returns, kills the suitors, and takes back his wife and the throne

A series of epic poems and were widely performed and learned in Greek society

Homer, a bard, is credited with writing the epics down, but its doubtful that the stories had one composer or that both were written by the same person. The epics are a product of a long line of oral tradition.

Very little, except that he is supposed to have been blind

Only a few days of the Trojan War

By a fire around 1100

long narrative poem told in elevated diction

dramatic

here (and archetypes) and he is larger than life and of national importance, a legendary guy

big adventures, great dangers, superhuman courage when doing his deeds of great valor

help and hinder the hero

vast

armies, ships, and warriors

long speeches (monologues)

medias ves

in the middle of things

and invocation to the Muses and a statement of the theme

Calliope

Homeric similies/epic similies

Homeric/epic similies carry on for several lines

Character types. There are several. Look for them.