Aim: How can we understand Greek myths and heroes prepare us for our examination of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey ?
Right before class was continued, we were quizzed on poetic devices and literary terms.
Once the quiz was over, we went over what our Poem Anthology Final Project should have, and if we have any questions.
Do Now:
Brainstorm the qualities that you feel belong to a “hero”. What do you believe might be a working definition of “hero” you could share with the class.
We had a discussion about terms to describe a hero. There were words from selfless to brave.
After this discussion, we had another discussion where we shared what information we knew about greek mythology. Most people knew information about gods like Zeus and Poseidon. They also spoke about books like the series Percy Jackson.
The Gods and Religious Customs
On the next slide, we read about Gods and what religious customs they had in store. For example, the slide mentioned that the Greeks believed in the existence of gods and goddesses, making them polytheistic. The Greeks looked up to heros who played a major role in their town.
Epic Poetry of Ancient Greek
Moving on, we were introduced to Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey. These pieces have been highly influential and respected by the Ancient Greeks, making it the cornerstone of their civilization. Because of The Odyssey, they have set a standard for the word “epic”.
What is an EPIC?
An epic is a long narrative poem about a national or legendary hero.
We then discussed what makes an epic live up to its term.
Below are a few key points:
They begin “in medias res” (in the middle of things)- uses a flashback to explain important action that occured before the story.
Has a vast setting, covers many nations (and the underworld)
Features lengthy, formal speeches
Contains divine interventions—THE GODS!
Features heroes that embody the values and morals of the civilization
Whole Class Discussion
Why would an author/storyteller choose to use these elements?
The discussion started by a few classmates saying these elements are used to allow the reader to be engaged with the story. It sparks the interests of readers and gives them such joy to each plot.
What makes a hero epic?
On this slide, we went over qualities that heroes would have. As much as heroes have such powerful qualities, they are still human. The heroes are given flaws so readers can relate to them. Not every person is perfect.
Etymology of the word “hero” & its overuse in the modern era
Our ancestral heroes first appeared in the oral storytelling tradition. They were superhumans, almost gods, and the actions they took were mostly in the best interest of humankind. The dictionary traces the word's [hêrôs]meaning from "a being of godlike prowess and beneficence" to "a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage or ability" during the Homeric period of ancient Greece.
By the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911, the word had come to be applied "generally to all who were distinguished from their fellows by superior moral, physical or intellectual qualities." As a result, scholars argue: “[it is difficult to] grasp the ancient Greek concept of hero and now go beyond the word's ordinary levels of meaning in casual contemporary usage.
Team Collaboration
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?
My team discussed that the work “hero” has become overused because of the amount of times people have assumed someone with many qualities as a hero. People now expect other people with “hero” titles to be there whenever there’s trouble, and save people.
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”.
Compare some of today’s superheroes with the original definition of “hêrôs”.
A couple superheroes my team noticed were Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and etc. We discussed how each hero had certain characteristics very similar to the original definition of “hêrôs”, like brave and fearless.
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?
To my group, I said that as a modern society, we are searching for a “superhuman” hero similar to the Ancient Greeks, despite our overuse of the term because it changes a lot for our world. For example, there could be someone with hidden talents that can possibly save the world from a future disaster. Because this is modern society, anyone is looking out for anything to take advantage of, even if it’s a little thing.
Reflection
Overall, I learned how the word “hero” has changed over the course of history. From the Ancient Greeks to modern society. Because we overused the word, we’ve always assumed that we would always rely on that “hero” for the rest of our lives. Everyone looks up to those with such great talents and characteristics, that they forget that the hero is just like us, human. We forget that not everyone is capable of such high responsibilities and that we’re often overlooked. In my eyes, the true definition of a hero is someone who is willing to use what they have in order for someone to feel safe and protected. A hero is someone who can help those that are in need of comfort. Not all heroes have to make a change. Even if they have done the littlest thing, they are still hero worthy.
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