What Elements Will You Find in Epics and Myths?

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Epic Literature

Elements of Epics

Oral Tradition

Epic Characters

Character Foils

Myths

Purposes of Myths

Mythic Characters

Your Turn

Epics are long narrative poems that tell of the adventures of heroes.

Epic Literature

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In some way, epic heroes embody the values of their civilizations.

For example, a hero may demonstrate values of strength, bravery, or intelligence.

Epics are found in many cultures and share the following characteristics:

Elements of Epics

• a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance

• a vast setting

• a quest or journey in search of something of value

• the involvement of supernatural forces

• a basis in a specific culture or society

• characters struggling against fate

Elements of Epics

Read the following passage from the Odyssey, which is based in Greek culture.

Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the northa storm against the ships, and driving veilsof squall moved down like night on land and sea.The bows went plunging at the gust; sailscracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.

How do supernatural forces play a role in this passage?

Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the northa storm against the ships, and driving veilsof squall moved down like night on land and sea.The bows went plunging at the gust; sailscracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.

The god, Zeus, stirs up a storm.

How does this passage show the Odyssey’s vast setting?

Elements of Epics

Quick Check“What of my sailing, then, from Troy?

What of those yearsof rough adventure, weathered under Zeus?The wind that carried west from Ilionbrought me to Ismaros, on the far shore,a strongpoint on the coast of the Cicones.

. . .

I might have made it safely home, that time,but as I came round Malea the currenttook me out to sea, and from the northa fresh gale drove me on, past Cythera. Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea. . . .”

from the Odyssey by Homer,translated by Robert Fitzgerald

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Oral Tradition

Many ancient epics were sung or spoken by generations of anonymous storytellers.

As a result, the epics changed slightly with each retelling.

Literary epics, however, were created by individuals.

Oral Tradition

Most epics include poetic elements, such as figurative language.

Figurative language puts aside literal meanings in favor of imaginative connections.

His mind was a well-oiled machine.

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His mind isn’t literally a machine, but this figure of speech expresses his intelligence.

Oral Tradition

Epics may also repeat certain images and phrases.

Read the following selections from the Odyssey.

When the young Dawn with fingertips of roselit up the world, the Cyclops built a fireand milked his handsome ewes, all in due order. . . .

When Dawn spread out her fingertips of rosethe rams began to stir, moving for pasture,and peals of bleating echoed round the pens. . . .

When the young Dawn with fingertips of roselit up the world, the Cyclops built a fireand milked his handsome ewes, all in due order. . . .

When Dawn spread out her fingertips of rosethe rams began to stir, moving for pasture,and peals of bleating echoed round the pens. . . .

What is the repeated image?

How does this passage about the Cyclops use figurative language?

Oral Tradition

Quick Check

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“Neither reply nor pity came from him, but in one stride he clutched at my companionsand caught two in his hands like squirming

puppiesto beat their brains out, spattering the floor.Then he dismembered them and made his

meal,gaping and crunching like a mountain lion—everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones.”

from the Odyssey by Homer,translated by Robert Fitzgerald

Epic heroes are exceptional people who undertake difficult quests or journeys.

The epic hero, who represents the values of a society, is at the center of every epic.

Epic Characters

Through the journey, heroes aim to achieve something of value to themselves or their people.

Epic heroes may experience many obstacles, or conflicts, along the way.

Epic Characters

These conflicts are sometimes external, created by forces of nature or, as in many epics and myths, the gods.

Epic heroes also experience internal conflict.

Epic Characters

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Faced with an internal conflict, the heroes struggle to overcome their own feelings or fears.

Most epic heroes have a foil.

Character Foils

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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.

Epic Characters

Quick CheckIdentify the conflict Odysseus faces in this passage. Is the conflict internal or external?

“I might have made it safely home, that time,

but as I came round Malea the currenttook me out to sea, and from the northa fresh gale drove me on, past Cythera.Nine days I drifted on the teeming seabefore dangerous high winds.”

from the Odyssey by Homer,translated by Robert Fitzgerald

Myths

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Myths are stories that are nearly always religious.

Often, myths were passed on by word of mouth.

We can learn a lot about a culture or society from its myths.

They often include gods and other supernatural beings, and sometimes attempt to explain natural forces.

Most cultures have myths that explain natural phenomena, such as

Purposes of Myths

• seasonal changes

• fire

• lightning

• drought

• floods

• death

Myths also

Purposes of Myths

• teach moral lessons

• explain history

• express the deepest fears and hopes of the human race

Some myths describe rivalries among the gods.

Purposes of Myths

They also describe the consequences of disobeying higher powers.

Purposes of Myths

Quick CheckFrom this opening paragraph, what seems to be this myth’s purpose?

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King Priam sulked on hearing the envoys’ account of their visit to Salamis, and when his own son Paris ran away with Queen Helen of Sparta and brought her to Troy, the king refused to send her back. It was this decision that provoked the long, calamitous Trojan War, which benefited nobody, not even the conquerors.

from “Paris and Queen Helen”retold by Robert Graves

Mythic Characters

In some myths, the characters have notable characteristics, or traits.

For example, in Native American myths, Coyote is a trickster who is always causing trouble.

Mythic Characters

Several myths also feature horrible animals and monsters with terrifying strength.

These animals and monsters are difficult to escape from or subdue.

Mythic Characters

As in epics, many myths tell about gods and goddesses.

Athena

Zeus

Poseidon

These gods and goddesses often interact with humans, sometimes testing or playing with humans as if they were chess pieces on a board.

Mythic Characters

Quick CheckHow do the goddesses interact with the human, Paris?

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The goddesses arrived together, each in turn unveiling her beauty and each in turn offering a bribe. Hera undertook to make Paris Emperor of Asia. Athena undertook to make him the wisest man alive and victorious in all his battles. But Aphrodite sidled up, saying: “. . . You deserve to marry a woman almost as beautiful as myself—let me suggest Queen Helen of Sparta. One look at you, and I’ll make her fall so deep in love that she won’t mind leaving . . . everything, for your sake!”

from “Paris and Queen Helen”retold by Robert Graves

Your TurnRead the following excerpt from Virgil’s Aeneid, a story of the founding of ancient Rome. Then, answer the questions.

1. What qualities of the epic hero does Aeneas possess?

Aeneas escaped from the flames of Troy,bearing his old father on his back . . . accompanied by a few friends and his littleson Ascanius. He had been told in a dreamthat it was his destiny to found a nationin a country lying far to the west, Italy, towhich divine guidance would eventuallybring them. . . . Many years of wandering laybefore them, at the end of which they wouldReach their new home.

Analyze Elements of Epics and Myths

Passing Sicily, where lived the monsterPolyphemus, who shouted terrible threatsafter them from the shore, they were met bya fearful storm sent by [the goddess] Hera,who hated all the Trojans but especiallyAeneas, and had resolved that he should never reach Italy.

Your Turn2. In this excerpt, which kind of conflict—external or

internal—does Aeneas face?

Analyze Elements of Epics and Myths

Aeneas escaped from the flames of Troy,bearing his old father on his back . . . accompanied by a few friends and his littleson Ascanius. He had been told in a dreamthat it was his destiny to found a nationin a country lying far to the west, Italy, towhich divine guidance would eventuallybring them. . . . Many years of wandering laybefore them, at the end of which they wouldReach their new home.

Passing Sicily, where lived the monsterPolyphemus, who shouted terrible threatsafter them from the shore, they were met bya fearful storm sent by [the goddess] Hera,who hated all the Trojans but especiallyAeneas, and had resolved that he should never reach Italy.

Your Turn3. What role do the gods play in this excerpt?

Analyze Elements of Epics and Myths

Aeneas escaped from the flames of Troy,bearing his old father on his back . . . accompanied by a few friends and his littleson Ascanius. He had been told in a dreamthat it was his destiny to found a nationin a country lying far to the west, Italy, towhich divine guidance would eventuallybring them. . . . Many years of wandering laybefore them, at the end of which they wouldReach their new home.

Passing Sicily, where lived the monsterPolyphemus, who shouted terrible threatsafter them from the shore, they were met bya fearful storm sent by [the goddess] Hera,who hated all the Trojans but especiallyAeneas, and had resolved that he should never reach Italy.

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