Odyssey Epic Literary Terms

1. Odyssey EpicLiterary Terms English I Pre-AP

2. Epics • Long narrative poems that tell of the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization.

3. Epic Conventions • The work begins in medias res (in the middle of things) • Odysseus’s story begins in the middle of his journey

4. Epic Conventions • The poem will open with an invocation of the muse.  • Muse, speak to me now of that resourceful manwho wandered far and wide after ravagingthe sacred citadel of Troy.

5. Epic Conventions • Main character is a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance. • Odysseus fought for ten years in the Trojan War and devised the idea of the Trojan horse.

6. Epic Conventions • Setting is vast in scope, including much of the physical world and, at times, the land of the dead. • Odysseus’ travels take him throughout the Mediterranean World.

7. Epic Conventions • The action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage. • In TheOdyssey, Odysseus must overcome many challenges.

8. Epic Conventions • There is evidence of supernatural forces at work. • In the Odyssey, the hero encounters gods, goddesses, sorceresses, monsters, giants, and the list goes on.

9. Epic Conventions • The author uses a style of sustained elevation. • When the sun had left the splendid sea and risen upinto an all-bronze heaven, giving light to godsand mortal men and grain to farmers’ fields,the ship and crew reached Pylos, a well-built cityruled by Nestor.

10. Epic Conventions • At some point in an epic there will be a journey to the underworld

11. Epic Conventions • Epics will be rooted in a specific culture and society. • The Odyssey, for example, is heavily rooted in Greek society and culture.

12. Epithet • the repetition of the same phrase over and over in a story to describe a character or object; the phrase stresses a particular quality of what is being described • ex. Odysseus is frequently referred to as “the man of twists and turns.”

13. Epic Simile • a long, elaborate simile that goes on for a number of lines; often compares heroic or epic events to understandable and everyday things • Ex. She brushed [the arrow] away from his skin as lightly as when a mother / Brushes a fly away from her child who is lying in sweet sleep.

14. Narrative Drift • an interruption in the narration to elaborate on what aspect of what is being talked about • ex. If Homer mentions a gift of wine, he will digress and describe both the history of the gift and the history of the giver.

15. Epic Heroes • embody the important morals, values, and virtues of the society of which they are a product.

16. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero is a larger than life person who embodies the highest ideals of his culture

17. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero usually undertakes a quest/journey to achieve something of great value to themselves or society

18. Epic Hero Characteristics • Epic heroes live on after death meaning they are forever remembered by those who live after them…achieving a type of immortality

19. Epic Hero Characteristics • Not a superman with magical powers but a regular human whose aspirations and accomplishments set him/her apart

20. Epic Hero Characteristics • The epic hero overcomes great obstacles/opponents but maintains his/her humanity

21. Epic Hero Characteristics • Epic hero experiences typical human emotions, yet is able to master and control these human traits to a greater degree than a typical person

22. Epic Hero Characteristics • It is often necessary for the epic hero to connect/make contact with “lesser” humans in order to succeed