Re: Epic Hero Characteristics Pdf Download
Susanne Sima
The two ancient Greek poets Hesiod and Homer, created the first guide on ancient Greek religion and customs. In this guide, it was stated that there were five Ages of Mankind and that the Age of Heroes was the fourth of those ages. In this age, Zeus, famously known as the King of the Greek Gods, created special men who are powerful and noble. Although they are mere mortals, their capabilities and characteristics were god-like. These men are known as epic heroes.
There are seven main traits of epic heroes; they are of noble birth or elevated status. They have superhuman capabilities, are a vast traveler, an unmatched warrior, a cultural legend, demonstrate humility, and finally, battle superhuman foes.
Most of the epic heroes that we know about were born to a noble family. They usually fall under the category of kings, princes, nobles or another position of high rank. Commoners are not usually found in their lineage.
A hero is usually first recognized in his own home country as a hero, which leads to them becoming known in other lands. Soon they will reach the status of legend where many different countries celebrate them.
Most epic heroes receive aid from a god or goddess when they are on a quest or are battling against some superhuman forces. This is the part that makes their action epic because they are in a battle that mere mortals cannot fight.
Examples would be Beowulf against Grendel and Odysseus against Cyclops, Polyphemus. One interesting fact is that for each of the heroes, their enemies are unique. It is unheard of that a hero would fight the same enemy that another hero has already fought.
According to ancient genealogy, the heroic age spanned approximately 6 generations. This was a time of legendary Greek figures like Perseus, Achilles, Heracles, Jason and Odysseus. These great legendary figures all lived throughout this 4th age. Although filled with great tales of exciting adventures and great challenges, it was also a time of sorrow, turmoil, and bloodshed, and most of these epic heroes died in battle.
Because of these circumstances, a mere mortal might see heroes as having more in common with the gods than mankind, but that is not the case. While gods live forever, heroes are just like other humans in that they are destined to die.
Mortality is a profound theme in the stories of ancient Greek heroes. It is a question for all heroes within these epic tales to grapple with. Epic heroes usually face dire circumstances in their lives and have to deal with much tragedy. Despite their seemingly superhuman abilities, they are ultimately unable to escape their inevitable demise.
Another epic hero, Achilles, from the famous Iliad, also experienced tragedies in the Trojan War. Unlike Heracles, who was born with miraculous strength and courage, Achilles was faced with his own demons in the form of his pride and anger, which outweighed everything else.
In conclusion, heroes are those who possess god-like characteristics, which earn them the status of legends. Although they faced death after achieving fame, their fame was passed on to what the Greeks called kleos, in which they achieved immortality.
Grand themes like fate are always the main focus in a narrative epic poem, and it usually includes heroic characters and divine beings. Although some women are epic heroes, it is almost always the men at the heart of an epic hero story.
In general, an epic is a mythologized history. Just like the traits of an epic hero, an epic origin consists of four elements. The first element is that it is a collection of pre-existing stories and characters. Secondly, an epic origin is often of oral origin. That is why some epic heroes have different versions or additions to their stories.
Protagonists come in many varieties. Some are relatable and easy to identify with. Others are constantly struggling and easy to sympathize with. An archetypal protagonist is the "epic hero", a main character with impressive superhuman capabilities who completes awe-inspiring deeds such as taking on a battle with superhuman foes. It was the Greeks who first defined the protagonist known as an epic hero. These heroes of a tragedy must evoke in the audience a sense of heroism through legendary, awe-inspiring lore. An epic hero must be someone whose fortune is brought about by his own admired characteristics. Many of the famous epic poetry, such as The Odyssey and The Iliad, contain these larger-than-life heroes and their deeds. King Arthur, Beowulf, Siegfried, Gilgamesh, and Rama are all examples of epic heroes.
Start by defining what an epic hero is and provide some epic hero examples from literature or mythology. Explain the traits of an epic hero that make a hero \"epic,\" such as strength, courage, intelligence, and noble qualities.
Choose an epic poem or story such as Beowulf, The Iliad, or The Odyssey, and read it with your students. Encourage them to take notes and analyze the story as they read. Discuss the themes, characters, and plot of the epic, and how they relate to the hero's journey.
The hero's journey is a common theme in epic literature. Discuss the stages of the hero's journey, such as the call to adventure, the initiation, the challenges faced, and the return home. Have students identify these stages in the epic story they read.
Have students compare and contrast different epic heroes from different stories. This can be done through group discussions, class debates, or individual essays. Encourage them to analyze the similarities and differences between the heroes and their journeys.
Ask students to create their own epic hero, complete with their own journey, challenges, and character traits. Have them present their hero to the class and explain why they chose certain qualities and characteristics.
Start by defining what an epic hero is and provide some epic hero examples from literature or mythology. Explain the traits of an epic hero that make a hero "epic," such as strength, courage, intelligence, and noble qualities.
Overall, teaching about epic heroes can be a fun and interactive way to engage students with literature and mythology. By analyzing epic poems and stories and creating their own heroes, students can develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the hero's journey. Check out our sample lesson below!
Activator: Students will be given Epic Hero Activator Worksheet and instructed to fill in the boxes to the best of their ability. If students cannot fill in Box 3 (List Epic Heroes) then tell them that they may leave it blank. After five minutes ask students to compare lists with someone sitting near them. Then ask each pair to say one hero or villain out loud and make a list on the board. Once that is complete, ask them why they know the lists on the board are heroes or villains? As a class, come up with definitions for each and a list of attributes they possess.
Teaching the term: Next, ask all students if anyone had prior knowledge and knew what an epic hero is or if anyone has a guess or list of this type of character. If they did, write down on the board what they give for an answer. If no one knows, begin to front-load the term. After giving students the definition, ask them to think of characters from movie, TV, and literature that they think would fall in this category and make a list. Repeat with a think, pair, share and make a list of characters and a list of attributes.
Defining the term: After students have come up with a list of attributes that they believe an epic hero possesses, go over definition and characteristics of a hero. Ask students to fill out and keep track of the attributes that make the protagonist of your work an epic hero by writing in the answers to Elements of an Epic Hero Template.
After students have finished reading the novel/play, reinforce this lesson by asking them to complete their storyboard that shows each attribute using a scene and quote from the text. This lesson extension coupled with a slide show presentation will help students master the concept of the epic hero.
Introduce the concept of archetypal patterns to students, explaining that they are recurring themes, symbols, or narrative structures that appear across different stories and cultures. Discuss the significance of archetypes in understanding the deeper meanings and universal elements of epic hero stories.
Teach students about the characteristics of an epic hero, such as extraordinary abilities, noble qualities, and a transformative journey. Help them recognize these key traits that define an epic hero and differentiate them from other types of heroes.
Guide students to identify the hero's call to adventure, which marks the beginning of the epic hero's journey. Help them recognize the moment when the hero is summoned or motivated to embark on a quest or undertake a significant task.
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