Marc D. Smith
Hylton High
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The Odyssey: Notes on epic characteristics and the epic hero
What is an epic poem?
A long narrative poem that represents the cultural values and mores of a particular society.
Examples Aenid – Rome; Illiad and Odyssey = Greece; Beowulf – Anglo Saxon; Siddartha – India
What should I expect to see in an epic?
Begins with an invocation; a calling of the gods
o specifically the muses – daughters of Zeus who inspire artisans
o (Calliope) - goddess of epic poetry
starts in media res (In the middle of the action)
setting is expansive often covering several countries and continents; often covers a very long period
of time and distance
the central character (protagonist) is the epic hero who typically moves through the epic cycle (see
What is an Epic/Heroic Cycle?)
written in a formal elevated style because it deals with serious cultural and natural consequences
super natural forces are involved directly and indirectly in the events of the epic
use of allusion – a figure of speech that makes an indirect reference or representation of or to a wellknown person, place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art. The purpose is draw parallels between
what is happening in the text to the allude text.
o quickly stimulates different ideas and associations using only a couple of words
o relies on the reader being able to understand the allusion and being familiar with the meaning
hidden behind the words
Example: Describing someone as a "Romeo" makes an allusion to the famous young lover in
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
use of epithets – an adjective phrase that describes a characteristic or quality about a noun
o fleet footed Achilles
o the raider of Troy, King of Ithaca - Odysseus
uses epic similes – long drawn out comparisons that use signal: Like, As, or Than. These similes
compare a heroic or godly deed to something everyday and simple.
o This epic simile is an extended comparison between the way the sea pulls Odysseus out of the
rocks and the way a fisherman pulls an octopus out of its lair. Note the clever inversions between
land-creatures and sea-creatures.
During his meditation, a heavy surge was taking him, in fact, straight on the rocks. He [would
have] been flayed there, and his bones broken, had not grey-eyed Athena instructed him: he
gripped a rock-ledge with both hands in passing and held on, groaning as the surge went by,
to keep clear of its breaking. Then the backwash hit him, ripping him under and far out. An
octopus, when you drag one from his chamber, comes up with suckers full of tiny stones:
Odysseus left the skin of his great hands torn on the rock-ledge as the wave submerged him.
And now at last Odysseus would have perished, battered inhumanly, but he had the gift of
self-possession from grey-eyed Athena.
Homer. The Odyssey. Robert Fitzgerald, trans. NY: Doubleday Books, 1963. Book 5,
lines 443-57.
continued . . .
Name:
Date:
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Marc D. Smith
Hylton High
What is an Epic/Heroic Cycle?
Throughout all literature and all cultures there are reoccurring patterns, characters, and storylines. These
are called archetypes. The idea of a “journey home” is an archetype because we can think of 1,000
stories and movies that re-invent the same idea. What researches noticed was that the hero within this
journey tends to follow a pattern or cycle to get back home these are the Heroic Cycle and the Stages of
a Journey. You will notice similarities between the two. Although not absolute, we should be able to apply
there to Telemakhos’ adventure and Odysseus’.
Heroic Cycle
The Stages of a Journey
Birth: Fabulous circumstances surrounding conception, birth, and
childhood establish the hero’spedigree.
Call to Adventure: The hero is called to adventure by some external event
or messenger. The Hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly.
Crossing the Threshold/Test: Upon reaching the threshold of adventure,
the hero must undergo some sort of ordeal in order to pass from the
everyday world into the world of adventure. This trial may be as painless as
entering a dark cave or as violent as being swallowed up by a whale. The
important feature is the contrast between the familiar world of light and the
dark, unknown world of adventure.
.
Helpers/Amulet: During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often
receive aid from a protective figure. Helpers: The hero is often
accompanied on the journey by a helper who assists in the series of tests
and generally serves as a loyal companion. Alternately, the hero may
encounter a supernatural helper in the world of adventure who fulfills this
function.
Tests: The hero travels through the dream-like world of adventure where
he must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often violent encounters
with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature. Each successful
test further proves the hero's ability and advances the journey toward its
climax
Climax/The Final Battle: This is the critical moment in the hero's journey in
which there is often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior which
facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.
Flight: After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the
threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If
the hero has angered the opposing forces by stealing the elixir or killing a
powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight. If the hero
has been given the elixir freely, the flight may be a benign stage of the
journey.
Return: The hero again crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to
the everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the form of an
awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or
forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure world by a force
from the daylight world.
Home: The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the
power to bestow boons on his fellow man.