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Odyssey Epic Literary Terms

Odyssey Epic Literary Terms. English I Pre-AP. Epics. Long narrative poems that tell of the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization. Epic Conventions. The work begins in medias res (in the middle of things) Odysseus’s story begins in the middle of his journey.

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Odyssey Epic Literary Terms

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  1. Odyssey EpicLiterary Terms English I Pre-AP

  2. Epics • Long narrative poems that tell of the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization.

  3. Epic Conventions • The work begins in medias res (in the middle of things) • Odysseus’s story begins in the middle of his journey

  4. Epic Conventions • The poem will open with an invocation of the muse.  • Muse, speak to me now of that resourceful manwho wandered far and wide after ravagingthe sacred citadel of Troy.

  5. Epic Conventions • Main character is a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance. • Odysseus fought for ten years in the Trojan War and devised the idea of the Trojan horse.

  6. Epic Conventions • Setting is vast in scope, including much of the physical world and, at times, the land of the dead. • Odysseus’ travels take him throughout the Mediterranean World.

  7. Epic Conventions • The action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage. • In TheOdyssey, Odysseus must overcome many challenges.

  8. Epic Conventions • There is evidence of supernatural forces at work. • In the Odyssey, the hero encounters gods, goddesses, sorceresses, monsters, giants, and the list goes on.

  9. Epic Conventions • The author uses a style of sustained elevation. • When the sun had left the splendid sea and risen upinto an all-bronze heaven, giving light to godsand mortal men and grain to farmers’ fields,the ship and crew reached Pylos, a well-built cityruled by Nestor.

  10. Epic Conventions • At some point in an epic there will be a journey to the underworld

  11. Epic Conventions • Epics will be rooted in a specific culture and society. • The Odyssey, for example, is heavily rooted in Greek society and culture.

  12. Epithet • the repetition of the same phrase over and over in a story to describe a character or object; the phrase stresses a particular quality of what is being described • ex. Odysseus is frequently referred to as “the man of twists and turns.”

  13. Epic Simile • a long, elaborate simile that goes on for a number of lines; often compares heroic or epic events to understandable and everyday things • Ex. She brushed [the arrow] away from his skin as lightly as when a mother / Brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep.

  14. Narrative Drift • an interruption in the narration to elaborate on what aspect of what is being talked about • ex. If Homer mentions a gift of wine, he will digress and describe both the history of the gift and the history of the giver.

  15. Epic Heroes • embody the important morals, values, and virtues of the society of which they are a product.

  16. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero is a larger than life person who embodies the highest ideals of his culture

  17. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero usually undertakes a quest/journey to achieve something of great value to themselves or society

  18. Epic Hero Characteristics • Epic heroes live on after death meaning they are forever remembered by those who live after them…achieving a type of immortality

  19. Epic Hero Characteristics • Not a superman with magical powers but a regular human whose aspirations and accomplishments set him/her apart

  20. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero overcomes great obstacles/opponents but maintains his/her humanity

  21. Epic Hero Characteristics • Epic hero experiences typical human emotions, yet is able to master and control these human traits to a greater degree than a typical person

  22. Epic Hero Characteristics • It is often necessary for the epic hero to connect/make contact with “lesser” humans in order to succeed

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