The Epic - Sanderson High School
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Transcript The Epic - Sanderson High School
(Everything you wanted to know about epic
poetry but were afraid to ask!)
The Epic
A long, narrative poem told in an exalted
style (grand manner) that tells of the
exploits and adventures of a hero
Oral Tradition
– the way a culture passed on its history, legends,
myths, and stories from one generation to the
next
– essential means of archiving history before
printing and mass media
– often includes rhythm, rhyme, and repetition
The Epic
Significant to a particular race or culture--
part of a given culture’s history and
mythology
Often based in literal truth
Reveal that culture’s value and belief
systems and character
Certain elements may be universal,
transcending cultural, geographical, and
historical boundaries
Beowulf as Epic: Anglo-Saxon Scops
Professional tribal poets
Celebrated cultural values by singing epics on
occasions of great ceremony and festivity
Presented the stories, legends, myths, values,
belief systems, and histories of the AngloSaxon culture
Passed them down from one generation to the
next
Beowulf as Epic: Scops
Fulfilled many roles in an Anglo Saxon tribe:
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court singer
tribal historian
genealogist
teacher
composer
critic
warrior
traveler and reporter
Beowulf as Epic
Cultural values embodied in Beowulf:
– Loyalty
– Valor (courage, bravery)
– Selflessness (willingness to sacrifice self for the
good of the people)
– Justice
Beowulf as Epic
Prevailing philosophies & religious beliefs
evident in Beowulf:
– Uneasy mix of Christian and pagan elements
(images, symbols, beliefs)
– Incl. fatalism: a belief that humans are not in
control of their own destinies; Fate is.
Archetypes
Universal symbols that transcend boundaries of
culture, time and geography
Part of humanity’s collective unconscious (Carl
Jung)
Examples include certain-• Images (sun, water, circle, tree, serpent, garden,
desert)
• Colors (red, green, blue, white, black)
• Numbers (3, 4, 7)
• Character types (The Good Mother, The Wise Old
Man, The Hero)
Archetypes--Sun
Sun (fire and sky)
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creative energy
consciousness
father principle
passage of time and life
Rising sun
– birth; creation; enlightenment
Setting sun
– death
Archetypes--Water
Mysteries of creation
Birth-death-resurrection cycles
Purification and redemption
Sea
– mother of all life
– timelessness and eternity
River
– death and rebirth (baptism)
– transitional phases of the life cycle
Archetypes--Colors
Red: blood, sacrifice, violent passion; disorder
Green: (Positive) growth; hope; fertility;
(Negative) death and decay
Blue: highly positive, associated with truth,
religious feeling, security, spiritual purity
Black: (darkness) chaos, mystery, the unknown;
death; the unconscious
White: (Positive) light, purity, innocence;
timelessness; (Negative) death, terror, emptiness,
blinding truth of mystery
Archetypes--Circle
Circle (Sphere): wholeness, unity
Egg (oval): the mystery of life and forces of
generation
Wheel--symbol of fortune, fate
Yang-Yin: a Chinese symbol; represents the
union of opposite forces--(Jungian theory of anima and
animus)
– Yang: masculine principle; light; activity; the
conscious mind
– Yin: female principle; darkness; passivity; the
unconscious
More Archetypal Images
Serpent
• The Garden
Evil
• Paradise
Corruption
Sensuality
• Innocence
Destruction
• Unspoiled beauty
The unconscious
• Fertility
More Archetypal Images
Desert
Spiritual aridity (dryness)
Emptiness
Hopelessness (Wasteland)
Tree
Life; consistence and growth
Proliferation
Immortality; generation and regeneration
Archetypes--Numbers
Three (3)
Spiritual awareness and unity
– Example: the Holy Trinity
Male principle
Four (4)
Associated with circle and earth (four corners)
Life cycle (four seasons)
Female principle
Seven (7): Most potent of all symbolic numbers
Union of 3 & 4
Completion of a cycle; perfect order
Archetypes--Character Types
The Good Mother (positive qualities of E.M.)
associated with life principle
represents birth, warmth, nourishment
represents protection and abundance
Examples:
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Mother Nature--the earth mother
Demeter/Ceres
Marmie March (from Little Women)
Captain Planet--Gaia
Cinderella--Fairy godmother
Star Wars--Anakin Skywalker’s mother(?)
Archetypes--Character Types
The Terrible Mother (negative qualities of E.M.)
femme fatale
witch, sorceress, siren, whore, seductress
associated with fear, sensuality, danger, darkness,
emasculation, death
Examples: Delilah
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Cinderella--evil stepmother
Hera
any soap opera
The Little Mermaid--Ursula
Archetypes--Character Types
The Soul Mate
Sophia figure--associated with spiritual wisdom
Holy mother
Princess or “beautiful lady”
Incarnation of inspiration and spiritual fulfillment
Jungian anima (completion)
Examples:
– Wizard of Oz--Glenda the Good Witch
– Star Wars--Princess Leia
– Blue woman (Diva) in The Fifth Element
Archetypes--Character Types
The Wise Old Man
savior, redeemer, guru figure
personification of the spiritual principle
represents knowledge, reflection, insight, wisdom,
cleverness and intuition
also represents moral qualities such as goodwill,
readiness to help
the sagacious and helpful old man
Examples: Obiwan Kenobi, Yoda, Merlin,
Gandolf, Mr. Miyagi, Splinter, Rafiki, Teiresius
Archetypes--Character Types
The Hero Archetypes (archetypes of
transformation and redemption)
Hero’s Initiation (from ignorance and
immaturity to social and spiritual adulthood)
– Separation
– Transformation
– Return
Examples: Huck Finn, The Lion King, Luke
Skywalker, Ebeneezer Scrooge, Overboard, The
Prodigal Son
Archetypes--Character Types
The Sacrificial Scapegoat
the hero with whom the welfare of the tribe or
nation is identified
must die to atone for the people’s sins and to
restore the land to fruitfulness
Examples: Braveheart--William Wallace, Jesus,
Maximus of Gladiator, Somersby, Bruce Willis’
character in Armageddon
The Hero Archetype
The Hero’s Quest
– Undertakes a long
journey
– Must perform
impossible tasks and
overcome
insurmountable
obstacles
– Has an important goal
to achieve
– Is often a savior,
deliverer figure
Other Archetypal Motifs
Creation
Immortality
Battle of Good v. Evil