Traits of the Epic Hero, Book 1- Odyssey

Zeus

King of the gods

Trait 7: Faces Supernatural Foes and/or Receives Supernatural Help

Most epic heroes either receive aid from a god or goddess or battle some superhuman enemy. This is what makes a hero's action epic: they fight something mere mortals cannot battle. Beowulf has his Grendel; Odysseus his Cyclops. For each hero, the enemy is unique. You won't see two heroes battling the same foe.

Trait 1: A Noble Birth

Most epic heroes will have an above average station in life. They will be kings, princes, or nobles of some sort. Commoners usually do no become epic heroes.

Penelope

Wife of Odysseus

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid

allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

epic poem

A long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero

epic simile

An elaborate comparison developed over several lines of verse

Hero's journey

Archetype that shows a heroes growth into greatness

Trait 2: Capable of deeds of great strength and courage

Basically, this means the hero has the potential for great deeds. The magnitude of these actions are well above and beyond what the commoner does. While most epic heroes are good, not all are.

Trait 5: National Heroism

Before a hero can be celebrated by countries the world over, he must first be recognized in his home country as a great and heroic person.

Trait 3: Great Warrior

Before the hero of an epic does his business in the epic, he has usually established himself in combat during a war. Sometimes, as in The Iliad, we see the hero at war. In most, like Beowulf and The Odyssey, the hero has spent much time in battle

imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Trait 6: Humility

Even as the rest of the world recognizes the great deeds of the hero, he is never a braggart or even willing to take applause. He commits his deeds because he knows they need doing, and the fame and rewards that he receives are only a matter of course, not the reason for completing his quests

Athena

Goddess of wisdom

valor

Heroic courage; bravery

Odysseus

(main character) Son of Laertes and Anticleia, husband of Penelope and father of Telemachus. A cunning, shrewd and eloquent hero. Came up with the idea of the Trojan horse which led the Greeks to victory against Troy. "Man of many wiles".

Muse

(n.) One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts; the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer.

consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.

assonance

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity

alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Trait 4: Travels Over a Vast Setting

Simply put, you cannot be an epic hero if you stay in your village your whole life. The more countries or areas traveled to, the better. The farther away from your own country, the better. Distance makes the hero's actions greater because they aren't selfish; they are for another country or people.

Telemachus

Son of Odysseus

Helios

Sun god

weathered

Survived; came through safely

harried

To be troubled or bothered

plundered

Took goods by force; looted

epithet

an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.

stronghold

fortress