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Characteristics of an Epic. From The Odyssey to Star Wars —a formula identified by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces. An epic always has a hero The hero has three main qualities : strength, bravery, and intelligence. Always involves a dangerous and long adventure - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Characteristics of an EpicCharacteristics of an Epic
From The Odyssey to Star Wars —a formula identified by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces
• An epic always has a hero
• The hero has three main qualities : strength, bravery, and intelligence
• Always involves a dangerous and long adventure
• Always has many antagonists
• Always involves many wars and battles
• Man vs. man, man vs. himself, man vs. gods, man vs. fate, man vs. society, man vs. nature
• Examples?
• Always involves many parts (books)
• Always begins in the middle and uses flashbacks to tell the first part of the story
The Epic Mode
• Heroes are often of obscure or mysterious origin or they have reached manhood before learning of their parentage.
• Examples?
• All go through some form of initiation, which may come prior to the departure or during their journey; hence, the term initiation is attached to stories in which young people meet a challenge and learn something new about themselves.
• The heroes’ ways are beset by danger, loneliness, and temptation
• Monsters, demons, obstacles, hazards
• Women who tempt them
• The hero often has a guide or guides
• Supernatural aids
• Charms to protect hero
• Give advice and direction
• Many quest tales supply friends, servants, or disciples as company for the heroes
• The hero descends into darkness and is changed after he emerges. The descent into darkness is figurative rather than a literal symbol, for sometimes the “dark moment” takes place at high noon.
• The hero suffers a wound, but once again, the wound may not be physical
• The hero wins the prize; he is successful in his quest or reaches his goal.
• What the hero has sought is usually no more than a symbol of what he finds. The prize may be, and frequently is, different from what the hero expected.
• With few exceptions, the heroes are male (especially the mythological ones), but seldom achieve success without the aid of a female.
• The problems and solutions usually have universal significance and present valid lessons for all mankind.
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