EPIC HEROESVocabulary

Enhanced Language Arts

Epic • Noun

•A long narrative poem or story, typically one

derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the

deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary

figures or the history of a nation

• Example: Beowulf

Epic Hero

• Noun• A brave and noble character in an epic, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events; often represents the values of a nation or group

Epic hero Cycle

•Noun• The epic hero usually undertakes a quest or journey to achieve something of great value to themselves or society.

Quest

• Noun or Verb

• The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something; a search. An expedition undertaken in medieval romance by a knight in order to perform a prescribed feat.

• Example: Sir Gawain’s quest to find the Green Knight.

Chivalry • Noun

• The ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms. The rules and customs of medieval knighthood.

• Examples :When Sir Gawain takes the challenge presented to King Arthur. Sir Gawain shows this bravery by standing in front of the Green Knight without fear.

Invocation• Noun

• The act of calling upon (asking) a deity, spirit, etc., for aid, protection, inspiration, or supplication.

• Example from the Iliad: “Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring Of woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing”

In medias res•Adverb phrase

•Technical term for the epic convention of beginning "in the middle of things," rather than at the very start of the story.

•Example : In both Beowulf and The Iliad, the reader starts in the middle of the story.

Oral Tradition

• Noun

• Oral tradition is information passed down through the generations by word of mouth that is not written down. This includes historical and cultural traditions, literature and law.

Archetype

• Noun

• A recurring symbol in literature, art, or mythology.

• In literature, there are situation archetypes, setting archetypes, symbolic archetypes and character archetypes.

Monomyth

• Noun

• A popular form of story structure derived from Joseph Campbell’s book The Hero With A Thousand Faces and adapted by Christopher Vogler is the Twelve Stage Hero's Journey.

• A three-act character arc.