Characteristics of Epic Heroes

Tragic Epic Hero

1. something miraculous or special about origin of hero 2. comes to power with rapid success 3. rules with perfection/ ideal 4. failure of some sort (they are humans too) 5. the fall from grace ---- back to normal

Great Warrior

-before the hero of an epic does his business in the epic, he has usually established himself in combat during a war -we sometimes see the hero at war (like The Illiad) -hero has usually spent much time in battle (like Beowulf or The Odyssey)

Humility

-hero does not brag or take applause, even when the world recognizes his great deeds -hero does deeds because they need doing, not for the fame and rewards that he receives **Oedipus goes wrong hero = a tragic hero

Capable of deeds of great strength and courage

-hero has the potential for great deeds -magnitude of these actions are well above and beyond what the commoner does -while most epic heroes are good, not all are

National Heroism

-hero must be recognized in his home country as a great and heroic person before he can be recognized around the world

A Noble Birth

-most epic heroes will have an above average station in life -usually king, prince, or noble of some sort -usually not a commoner

Faces Supernatural Foes and/or Receives Supernatural Help

-receive aid from a god or goddess or battle some superhuman enemy -what makes a hero's action epic: fight something mere mortals cannot battle (Beowulf has his Grendel; Odysseus his Cyclops) -enemy is unique for each hero; never two heroes battling the same foe

Travels Over a Vast Setting

-you cannot be an epic hero if you stay in your village all your life -the more countries you go to, the better; farther away from your country the better -distance make's the hero's actions greater because they are for their country or people rather than for themselves