THE EPIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPIC
THE EPIC
• An epic is a long narrative
story or poem.
• An epic recounts the
adventures of an epic hero, a
larger-than-life figure who
undertakes great journeys
and performs deeds requiring
remarkable strength and
cunning.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPIC
ARCHETYPE –
PRONOUNCED (ÄR K -TYP)
• An archetype is a pattern in
literature that is found in a variety of
works from different cultures
throughout the ages.
• An archetype can be a plot, a
character, an image or a setting.
• Heroes
• Shadows
• Mentors
• Heralds
• Threshold Guardians
• Shapeshifters
• Tricksters
• Allies
• Woman as Temptress
EXAMPLES OF ARCHETYPES
AS CHARACTERS
HEROES
THE EPIC HERO
•
Often possesses
supernatural strengths
or abilities
•
Is charged with a quest
•
Is tested, often to
improve the worthiness
of himself and his quest
•
Restitution. Often this
takes the form of the
hero regaining his
rightful place on the
throne.
Odysseus is considered an epic
hero in The Odyssey
SHADOWS
• Villains
• Enemies or
perhaps the
enemy within.
Voldemort from
Harry Potter
MENTORS
The hero’s guide
or guiding
principles
Gandalf from The
Hobbit and The Lord
of the Rings
HERALD
The one who
brings the call to
adventure
Can be a person
or event
The tornado is a herald in
The Wizard of Oz
THRESHOLD
GUARDIANS
The forces that
stand in the way
at the turning
points
Draco Malfoy in Harry
Potter
SHAPESHIFTERS
Creatures who
change their
shape
The goddess, Athena, can become
most any person or animal.
TRICKSTERS
Clowns and
mischief makers
Pippin and Merry from
The Lord of the Rings
ALLIES
Characters who
help the hero
through the quest
Donkey from
Shrek
WOMAN AS
TEMPTRESS
• Femme fatale
• Offers danger
to the hero
Princess Leia from
Star Wars
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
• Discovered by
Joseph Campbell in
his analysis of epic
stories.
• The hero’s journey
is a cycle that is
followed in hero
myths and stories.
An example of what the Hero’s Journey
would look like in a diagram.
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
The Ordinary
World – the hero
lives in a world
that is normal or
uneventful – (ex.
Frodo Baggins
and the Shire)
The Call to
Adventure – the
hero is charged
with a quest –
(ex. Dorothy and
the red slippers)
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
Refusal of the Quest –
the hero decides whether
to accept or deny quest –
(ex. Simba refuses to
return to Pride Rock)
Accepting the call
The hero makes the
decision to accept the call
(ex. Luke in Star Wars)
Entering the Unknown –
the hero enters a world
previously unknown to
him/her (ex. Frodo
outside of the Shire)
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
• Supernatural Aid
– could be a being
or object (Frodo –
Gandalf the
Wizard)
• Allies/Helpers –
the hero is aided
by helpers (ex.
Dorothy and the
lion, tin man and
scarecrow)
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
• Tests/Belly of the Whale
– the hero is tested (ex.
Dorothy – defeating the
Wicked Witch)
• Reward and the Journey
Home – The hero claims
reward (ex. Shrek – Fiona)
• Master of the Two
Worlds/Restoring the
World – the hero restores
order in his former home
(ex. Simba and Pride
Rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGV1BvnyvGo
THE HERO’S JOURNEY IN
FILM