Blogger #21 - Ethan Qiu - Period 9 - 12/7/20 - Day C - Freshmen Lit 2021

Blogger - #21 Ethan Qiu - Period 9 - 12/7/20 - Day C - Freshmen Lit 2021

Aim: How can an understanding of Greek myths and heroes prepare us for our examination of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey?

Our Do Now was the following question:

With a partner, brainstorm and list qualities that you feel belong to a “hero”.  Then create a unified, working definition of “hero” to share with the class.

We were given a few minutes to consider what a hero was, and after we had collected our thoughts, we gathered and shared what we thought a hero was. The definition of a hero I came up with was someone who helps others, regardless of what is considered “right” and “wrong”, and is more intention rather than execution. Other people offered similar ideas for what defines a hero; someone with traits like selflessness, courage, virtue, and admirability. The general consensus we came up with was that a hero is someone respectable for doing something out of positive intent. 

Class Discussions:

We were then asked about what familiarity we had with Greek mythology. Most of us had basic knowledge of Greek mythology from various sources, some more than others. We were then presented with the question of “What was the goal of Greek myths?” After some mild discussion, we came to the conclusion that the goal of Greek myths was to explain aspects of life. An example of this was the Greek god Zeus, who personified lightning and was used to explain how thunderbolts seemed to be thrown from the sky.

We then had some Spirit Reading about several Greek Gods and Greek culture. 

Poseidon 

• God of the sky, lightning, and thunder

• King of the gods on Mount Olympus

Hades

• God of the Underworld/Lord of the Dead

• His wife is Persephone 

Athena

• Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, courage, battle etc. 

Poseidon 

•  God of the sea and earthquakes

The Greeks had a polytheistic religion, meaning they believed in the existence of multiple gods and goddesses. They believed that the gods had human behaviors and appearances, which made them more relatable, and that the gods took an active interest in human life. Greek culture is also centered around hero-worship, with heroes being either the founder of a city or historical figure from a major battle. Greek mythology was passed down through oral tradition, as many Greeks were illiterate, and served as both entertainment as well as the passing of history to the next generation. 

We were then introduced to epic poetry by the Greeks, specifically the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. Both of these epics were revered by the Greeks, and set the standard for what was considered an epic. We were also asked if anyone knew the potentially older epic that existed before the Greeks, and someone responded with the Gilgamesh. 

We began to discuss the qualities of epic poetry as well as epic heroes. An epic is a long, narrative poem about a national or legendary hero. Epics often begin “in medias res”, which means in the middle of the story, and often uses flashbacks to recount events prior in the plot. Epics also often include different aspects such as vast settings, memorable speeches, divine intervention, and heroes that embody certain morals or values. Epic heroes often share several characteristics; namely superhuman qualities and physical beauty, often embarking on a quest and conquering difficult obstacles. Epic heroes are also clearly defined to be human, showing some kind of flaw or weakness. 

After being given the above information, we were then presented with the question of “Why would an author/storyteller choose to use these elements?” After some debate, we came to the agreement that these writing elements are used to target the reader, and that the goal of an epic is to teach a lesson or send a message. By starting in the middle of the story, the reader is drawn in to continue, and flashbacks allow the reader to follow the journey and see how a hero went wrong. This allows the reader to reflect on the mistakes of the hero and apply it to everyday life. 

We had more spirit reading regarding the use of the word hero, more specifically its overuse, in the modern era. The origins of the word hero stem from ancient times in oral storytelling, often legendary for their otherworldly prowess as exemplified by Greek myths and Homer’s epics. Over time, the word has become “watered down” so to speak, being used to describe anyone with superior qualities to their fellows. In the modern era, the word “hero” is used relatively often without much thought; every celebrity is a childhood hero, all parents are heroes, every American is a hero, and the list quite literally goes on. This bolsters the argument that the word “hero” has been overused to the point that it has lost its value. Following this text, we had a discussion within breakout groups based on the following questions before coming back together: 

1. Draw your own conclusion on this argument.  Do you agree or disagree with the concept that the word “hero” has become overused?  Why or why not?

2. When we create heroes in fiction, we almost can't help but give them superhuman powers because what a hero does to be a hero is something which seems like people should be incapable of doing.  It is something truly “other”.

1. Compare some of today’s superheroes with the original definition of “hêrôs”. 

2. Do you think, as a modern society, we are searching for a “superhuman” hero similar to the Ancient Greeks, despite our overuse of the term?  Why or why not?

With the first question, the class was relatively evenly split between the idea that the word “hero” had become overused. On one side, the idea that the word “hero” is overused and undervalued was supported by how often it was used to describe the smallest things. To this group, myself included, it mirrors much like the concept that if everyone is special, no one is because everyone is the same. Someone interjected the comparison of how modern heroes may stop petty crimes while ancient heroes saved the world, showing the impact of “heroes” in the modern era. The other side argued that the word “hero” is not overused and undervalued because it is still used to describe the same concept: courageous and selfless people doing things for the betterment of others. Another person came up with the idea that the modern definition of “hero” is simply shifted, and that ancient heroes are now personified in the form of our fictional superheroes. For both parts of the second question, the class was more in agreement. For the first part, we came to the unanimous conclusion that modern fictional superheroes do embody similar characteristics and intentions of original heroes from ancient times. Both often share superhuman characteristics, appealing physique, and overcome some kind of obstacle. For the second part, we first came together with a general “no”. Then Ms. Peterson pushed us along with the question of “When do superheroes most often appear in history?” After some thought, we realized that superheroes often appear during times of strife or crisis, such as war or the Great Depression. After some debate, we concluded that during times of uncertainty, people are searching for some kind of comfort or hero to look up towards for morale, and as a result members of modern society are indeed searching for a “superhuman” hero similar to the Greeks. 

Reflection:

In this lesson, I learned about Greek culture and the concept of a “hero”. Knowing about the different gods in Greeks polytheistic religion, as well as its emphasis on hero-worship will be immensely helpful when we begin to examine the epic poems of Homer. Going in depth about the origins and current denotations of the word “hero” was enlightening in two different ways. For one, it opened my eyes to just how often we actually use the term “hero” in our modern society, and how its meaning has changed over time in definition. The second and more broad concept was that it shows how time can warp a concept from its origins. Consider all the different aspects of our modern society, such as verbal slang. Just as how the word “hero” has shifted over time, our contemporary slang such as “LOL” may be used completely differently in the future. Keeping this in mind, I can apply this concept to my life, being open to change and always reconsidering my thoughts, because they too may change with time.