English 12 Heroes and Monsters

How are implicit descriptions used to describe heroic or monstrous traits?

Implicit descriptions let the reader use his or her own understanding to decide a character's traits. For example, the reader knows Odysseus is important because he was asked to speak at King Alcinous's palace.

How is a hero in a traditional story, such as an epic poem, similar to the average person? How is a hero unlike an average person?

In a traditional story, a hero usually embodies the same cultural values as the average person, but unlike in an average person, these values are usually magnified in the hero.

Why is it inaccurate to say that the conflict in a story is always about a clash between "good guys" and "bad guys"? What are some exceptions?

Internal conflict is one exception. In that case, the hero and the monster — or the protagonist and antagonist — may be the same person.

What is the difference between internal conflict and external conflict?

Internal conflict takes place inside a character. A difficult decision is a good example. External conflict takes place between a character and society, nature, or another character.

In traditional stories, like epics, what do monsters usually represent? What do heroes represent?

Monsters usually represent whatever a culture hates or fears, while heroes represent its values: honesty, bravery, strength, etc.

implicit

Not directly stated, but understood.

How can archetypes help you understand a society's cultural values?

Unlike specific story elements, such as a single character, archetypes span many different stories. Trends in storytelling can say a lot more about what a culture values or fears than any single story element.

Cultural values

A group's ideas about what is right, fair, and admirable.

Epic

A long poem about a hero whose actions affect and reflect an entire nation. Epics have a hero, supernatural figures, cultural values, and a broad setting.

What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?

A protagonist is the character in a story who wants something, while the antagonist is the character (or force) that tries to stop the protagonist from getting what he or she wants. The protagonist is usually the main character while the antagonist is usually the villain.

How are a society's oral tradition and cultural values related?

A society's oral tradition is used to pass on cultural values from one generation to the next. An example is a fable, like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," which teaches a lesson about lying.

Internal Conflict

A struggle between the character and himself or herself; the struggle happens in the character's heart and mind.

Conflict

A struggle or problem.

Why is Odysseus's speech from King Alcinous's banquet so important?

Because it explicitly states what the ancient Greeks thought was the best part of life.

What can a protagonist's approach to conflict show about the cultural values behind a work of literature?

Because the protagonist is usually the hero of a story, the way that a protagonist solves problems is usually considered acceptable behavior within a culture. If the protagonist solves all of his or her problems with violence, for example, we can guess that violence is an acceptable way to do things in certain circumstances

explicit

Clear and obvious.

In one or two sentences, write down the gist, or main point, of this study.

Conflict, archetypes, and characters, especially heroes and monsters, are all clues about the cultural values that epic poems and other traditional stories are meant to pass on from generation to generation.

What are some characteristics of an epic poem?

Epics are long poems (often the same length as a novel) that usually come from a society's oral tradition. Epics tend to feature exceptional heroes who go on a journey of some kind.

attributes

Qualities.

How did the Cyclops character contradict everything the ancient Greeks thought was important?

The Cyclops did not want to be part of a society, he did not want to develop and plant crops on his land, and he had no interest in following the rules of the Greek gods. For the Greeks, the best part of life was being part of a society where food and good company were abundant. They tried to make sure their plans would work out by following the rules of the Greek gods

Protagonist

The character in a work of fiction who is trying to achieve a particular purpose, and who is usually the main character.

Antagonist

The character or force in a work of fiction who tries to stop the protagonist from achieving his or her purpose; the villain of a story is often the antagonist.

What does it mean when an author describes a character in an explicit way?

The character's traits are shown directly to the reader. For example, Odysseus's cleverness is shown in an explicit way when he outwits the Cyclops by tricking him into drinking the wine.

How does an author use repetition to show the traits of a heroic character?

The characters repeat phrases and words that are important to what the author considers heroic. For example, Odysseus refers to "young Dawn with her rose-red fingers" several times in the story to show he has hope that he will survive his ordeal with the Cyclops.

Archetype

The original model or pattern on which something is based; a typical example of something.

Oral Tradition

The practice of communicating information and stories by spoken, rather than written, word.

In one or two sentences, write down the gist, or main point, of this study.

The ways authors choose to describe their characters influence the development of the story. When authors use repetition, they are trying to emphasize certain ideas. Explicit descriptions show obvious character traits, while implicit descriptions give readers a chance to develop their own understanding. By combining these ideas, a reader can make inferences about the ways an author's culture thinks about the heroic and the monstrous.

wreak havoc

To cause all kinds of destruction and terror.

How does making an inference help the reader understand a story?

To make an inference, readers need to observe what is happening in a story and then make a reasonable conclusion about their observations. For example, readers can infer that the ancient Greeks relied on the kindness of strangers, because the author made the one character that was unkind to strangers, the Cyclops, brutally monstrous.