Transcript Odyssey

An Epic Poem
A long narrative poem that tells of the
adventures of a single hero, who in
some way embodies the values of his
civilization
 The setting is vast in scope, covering great geographical
distances or even visiting the underworld, other worlds or
other times
 There is an epic hero – a physically impressive man with
superhuman qualities who is of national or historical
importance; he is glorified at the end
 It contains epic similes, speeches, and battles
 A quest or journey is undertaken in search of something of
value
 The style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial
 There are supernatural forces involved
 There is an opening statement of theme
 There is an epic question asked
 There is an invocation to a Muse, one of the nine
daughters of Zeus, in order to ask for inspiration
 It begins in media res (in the middle of things)
 Earlier portions of the story appear later as flashbacks
 There is an objective narrator
 Catalogs and genealogies are given
 These long lists of objects, places, and people place the finite
action of the epic within a broader, universal context
 Oftentimes, the poet is also paying homage to the ancestors
of audience members
The epic hero:
 Is a figure of great national importance from history or
legend
 Has superhuman qualities – including strength, bravery,
and physical stature
 Is a warrior, leader, and polished speaker
 Must undertake a long, perilous journey facing trials and
enemies that test his endurance and courage
 Not only possesses the virtues and qualities that his people
value, but is the cultural ideal of those values
 Must face the final task of his epic journey alone
 Returns home, a leader of his people
 Extended comparisons that compare heroic or epic
events to simple and easily understandable everyday
events – events the audience would recognize instantly
 They are often based on images from nature (lions,
storms, deer, rivers) and everyday activities (fishing,
herding)
 They are lengthy and may continue for several lines
 Fun fact – The Odyssey is 12, 110 lines
 Traditional stories, rooted in a particular culture, that
usually explain a belief, a ritual, or a mysterious
natural phenomenon
 They are essentially religious because they are
concerned with the relationship between human
beings and the unknown or spiritual realm