Transcript Epic heroes
Homer, HEROES, and The Odyssey Archetype Definition Greek arche=first, typos=mold Dictionary: Original pattern or first of its kind; a prototype In literature: A symbol, setting, story structure, or character type that recurs in different times and places in myth and literature, suggesting that it embodies some universal human experience Forms: archetypal (adj.) Difference between archetype and motif? The Archetypes The Hero (“to serve and sacrifice”) His/her purpose is to separate and sacrifice self for the service of the Journey He/she does not have to be all good (antiheroes, outlaws, loner heroes) He/she grows or learns the most during the Journey Epic Characters The epic hero, who represents the values of a society, is at the center of every epic. Epic heroes are exceptional people who undertake difficult quests or journeys. Through the journey, heroes aim to achieve something of value to themselves or their people. Epic Characters Epic heroes may experience many obstacles, or conflicts, along the way. These conflicts are sometimes external, created by forces of nature or, as in many epics and myths, the gods. Epic Characters Epic heroes also experience internal conflict. Faced with an internal conflict, the heroes struggle to overcome their own fears, doubts, or downfalls. HUBRIS Character Foils Most epic heroes have a foil. A foil is a character that stands in stark contrast to another character. For example, Superman’s foil is Lex Luthor, a villain whose evil contrasts with Superman’s goodness. [End of Section] Goes through the Epic Hero Cycle: Epic heroes also all follow the same storyline. They go through the same cycle. • They are special, or supernatural, from birth. • They are charged with a quest. • They go through trials and challenges designed to test their strength and intelligence. • Epic heroes go to unnatural worlds that others may not enter. • Epic heroes get help from companions. • Even when they hit a low point, epic heroes always come back fighting. They have a resurrection and then they are restored to their rightful place. Types of Heroes Situation Hero: A person who “saves the day” by completing a heroic act. This person’s hero status may be celebrated, but only for a short period of time. Epic Hero: A hero has some unusual qualities that separates him from the average person. In Greek mythology, a hero was often of divine origin, being the progeny of a deity. A hero can be defined as a person who acts in a way that benefits the greater good of his society. OTHER TYPES OF HEROES Heroes fall into one of (or sometimes a combination of) three main archetypes or categories: • the Warrior, • the Scholar, • and the Saint. The Warrior Hero The Warrior archetype are those who in some way base their sense of hero-hood on strength. This could be strength of purpose, physical strength, will power, endurance, perseverance, or some other form of strength The Scholar The Scholar archetype bases their sense of hero-hood on being 'smart'. This could be founded in formal education, street-smarts, skills and abilities. The Saint The Saints base their sense of hero-hood in a desire to be (or be seen as) good. This could be played out through formal religion or through doing things that are generally seen as "good." The Tragic Hero Noble birth Well-liked Tragic flaw (hamartia) Downfall Other epic heroes you may know A Few Archetypes Character types, places, or symbols every culture shares Trickster Archetype God, human or animal that plays pranks or jokes on others and disobeys normal rules of behavior Prometheus (Greek) Raven (Northwest) Loki (Norse) Brer Rabbit (African American) Paradise Archetype A perfect place that once existed and will exist again Garden of Eden, return of Christ or life in Heaven (Christianity) Golden Age, Elysian Fields (Greece) Gold Age of Osiris, Fields of Aaru (Egypt) Paradise by Jan Brueghel (1620) The Underworld Archetype “The eye of the sun can never/flash his rays through the dark and bring them light” (Book 11, lines 17-18) Ghosts drawn to the blood—metaphor for life (they want to live again) “unearthly cries” (lines 48, 724) “Three times I rushed toward her (Odysseus’ mother), desperate to hold her/three times she fluttered through my fingers, sifting away/like a shadow, dissolving like a dream” (lines 235-237) “By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man—some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive—than rule down here over all the breathless dead” (Achilles, lines 556-558) The Greek Underworld and Hell How does the underworld in The Odyssey compare or contrast with modern depictions of Christian Hell? Another Journey to Hell and Back: People symbolically dead Don’t truly live Trapped with no escape No knowledge of outside world David and Jennifer are like Odysseus What archetype do the Sirens present? John William Waterhouse, Odysseus and the Sirens (1891) Temptress Archetype: The Sirens Temptress figures—females who seduce or sleep with men in order to cause them harm Sirens: Women with bird’s bodies Enchanting voices Lure sailors to the rocky cliffs Metaphor for the power of women? Metaphor for women who seduce men and keep them from home? Temptress Figures in The Odyssey The Sirens Calypso Circe Nausicaa Helen Right: Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus (1891) by J. W. Waterhouse Other archetypes? The Archetypes The Mentor (“to guide”) The Mentor provides motivation, insight, training, guidance Has traveled the road before May provide the hero with magical gifts May be an Inner Mentor like a code of honor or justice The Archetypes The Threshold Guardian (“to test”) Protects the Special World and its secrets from the Hero Provides Tests which the Hero must pass to prove commitment and worth May be characters, objects, or forces The Archetypes The Herald (“to warn and challenge”) Issues challenges or announces the coming of significant change Often appears at the beginning of the Journey The Archetypes The Shapeshifter (“to question and deceive”) Misleads the Hero by hiding a character’s intentions and loyalties Presence causes doubts and questions in the Hero’s mind Creates suspense The Archetypes The Shadow (“to destroy”) Represents our darkest or rejected desires Symbolizes our greatest fears and phobias May not be all bad May be another character or something lurking within the Hero that must be accepted or purged The Archetypes The Trickster (“to disrupt”) Disrupts the “status quo”, turning the Ordinary World into chaos Uses laughter to help the Hero see the absurdity of a situation Often is the Hero’s sidekick JOSEPH CAMPBELL’S HERO JOURNEY A Review Campbell’s Heroic Archetype The Hero’s Journey A hero’s journey can be divided into steps. The journey is a single process and an individual adventure towards growth and transformation. The sequence of elements and the duration of the experiences will vary from one person to another. Remember that the journey is a process of separation, transformation, and return. Each stage must be completed successfully if the herocandidate is to become Heroic. The Hero Journey (Review) Separation or Departure (from the known) -The Call to Adventure -Refusal of the Call -Supernatural Aid -Crossing the First Threshold Initiation and Transformation -The Road of Trials -Meeting with the Goddess -Atonement with the Father -Apotheosis -Ultimate Boon The Return (to the known world) -The Refusal of the Return -Rescue from Without -Magic Flight -Crossing of the Return Threshold -Master of Two Worlds -Freedom to Live