The Epic

and the
Epic Hero
Characteristics of an epic:
The hero, generally male, ______________
_____________________________________
The heros ________________ reflect
important ideals of his society
The hero performs courageous deeds that
reflect ______________________
His _______ determine the fate of many
Characteristics of an epic continued:
The _______ is vast
Written in formal _______ with a serious
____
Characters have long, formal ________
Heros journey (slides to follow)
Poem reflects timeless values (_______,
etc)
Treats ________________ (good vs. evil,
etc.)
A Call to Adventure
You must go with me to Alderaan. -Obi-Wan Kenobi
The ____ starts out living an ordinary life.
He or she is called to go on a quest, often by a
______.
Glinda the Good Witch tells _______ she must visit the Wizard of
Oz
Obi-Wan Kenobi asks Luke Skywalker to help
__________________
_______ enlists Frodos help to destroy the One Ring.

The ____ might doubt that he or she is capable of
completing a quest, and _______________.
However, the ______ encourages the ____ or even
gives magical items to help.
The ______ Journey
Were off to see the Wizard. -_______
The ____ goes through many trials on his or her
way to achieving the quest.
___________________ will block their way to
new places. The ____ must either outsmart or
defeat them.
Allies join the hero to help.
The Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion help _______
____ and Obi-Wan hire Han Solo and Chewbacca
_______________________________ journey with Frodo
Showdown with a ______
The force is with you, young Skywalker,
but you are not a Jedi yet. -Darth Vader
A __________ represents the dark side of the
_______.
________________________: an evil user of magic
Darth Vader: a fallen Jedi who uses the dark side of the Force
Gollum: a hobbit corrupted by _______________
The _________ stands in the ____________ way of
achieving his or her goal.
Only the ______ may fight the shadow. The
________s ___________ or his or her allies are not
allowed to interfere.
Claiming the Prize
What have you learned, Dorothy? -The Tin Man
The _______ defeats the __________ and is
able to finish his or her quest.
The _____ returns back home as a different
person then when the quest started.
Sometimes the _________ or the allies
leave the hero, knowing that the quest is
completed.
There and Back Again
Theres no place like home. -Dorothy
Others may not recognize the ________ when he
or she returns home because the __________ has
changed.
Sometimes the ________ has to clean up or fix
something that happened to his or her hometown
when the ________ was on the quest.
The ________ has help along the way from
magical items, ___________, and allies, but it is
ultimately whats ___________ the ________ that
helps the __________ win.
__________ Characteristics
The ______ is introduced in the ____________ of the storys
action; previous events will be recounted in _____________.
The _______ is not only a warrior and a leader, but also a
______________________.
The _____, often a ________________, possesses weapons
of great size and power, which are often presents from the
gods.
Odysseus bow
The _____ must undertake a long, perilous journey, often
involving a descent into the ________________, which tests
his endurance, courage, and craftiness.
Characteristics of Epic Poetry
Epic poetry often begins with an
____________, which is when the narrator
calls on creative help to tell the story.
Epic poems often begin in medias res,
which is Latin for ____________________
This means a good part of the story has
already happened and the narrator begins the
poem by catching the reader up on whats
happened.
Mythological Analysis
________________________ come from the Greek word
archetypos, meaning first of its kind.
They are universal images/concepts/ ideas that come from
shared common experiences, which
______________________
_____________________________________________________
____
The value in using __________________ characters in
fiction derives from the fact that we unconsciously already
recognize the __________________, and thus the
motivations, behind the character's behavior.
Beowulf
Key Elements and ________ Journey
The plot is complicated by ______________ beings or
events.
The actions of the ______ often determine the fate of a
nation or group of people
The poem reflects ______ such as courage and honor.
Themes & Conflict
Look for the struggles of
____________________
strength against weakness
light against dark
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________