Transcript Powepoint for Unit- Lesson #1 Greek History(1)

Greek Culture and History:
Epics and the Epic Hero
What is an epic?

“A long narrative poem that tells of the adventures of
heroes who in some way embody the values of their
civilizations” (878).

Examples: The Odyssey and The Iliad by Homer

Epics became an essential for Greek Education.
They gave form to Greek values.
How Greek Epics were
performed in Greek culture

Told Orally:
“[T]he Iliad and the Odyssey were originally told
aloud by people who could not read and write” (883).
Spoke or sang the epic and an audience would watch.

Epics were so long that they could not be told in
one sitting. It would take a couple of days.
Performance of Epics
continued..

Repetition since it was orally told: “We can see
from this why there is so much repetition in the Homeric epics. The oral
storyteller, in fact, had a store of formulas ready in his memory” (883).

Homeric Similes were used: “[C]ompare heroic or epic
events to simple and easily understandable everyday events- events the
audience would recognize instantly” (884).

Use masks to show emotion when
performing
What Epics possessed:

Greek gods and goddesses: Zeus, Athena,
Aphrodite, Hermes, Apollo

Greek values and traditions. Love for their
country.

Foreshadowing, flashbacks, Homeric similes
Foreshadowing: the use of clues or hints to suggest what is going to happen later in
the story.

Epic Heroes
What is an Epic Hero?

The main character in an epic whose heroic
actions are central to his culture’s traditions and
values.

Usually goes on a long journey and faces many
obstacles.
Example: Odysseus from The Odyssey
Achilles from The Iliad
Background on the Iliad

The story before The Odyssey.

War between the Greeks and the Romans.

Based on theTrojan War and the myth of the
Trojan Horse (wooden horse)
Book 22: Desolation Before Troy

The Greeks and the Trojans in the middle of war.

Achilles vs. Hector: Greek hero vs. Roman hero

Hector kills Achilles’ best friend and now the two are
after one another. The battle scene.
Homer…the author of
the Iliad

We know very little about Homer

Many think he was a blind author/oral bard:

Some think Homer is just a legend
He was a model for rhapsodes, which were
singer of tales (882).

“The
later Greeks believed he was a blind minstrel who came from
the island of Chios” (882).
References

Holt, Rinehart, & Winston (Eds.). (2003).
Elements of Literature (3rd ed.). Austin,
TX: A Harcourt Education Company.