An epic, according to Merriam Webster is: “telling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures”. Now, we both know that there is a little more to an epic than that, like the many elements that make an ordinary story an epic. These elements are portrayed in various forms in both Star Wars and The Odyssey. However, some are not so obvious or easily detected. This can help us decide which is a better example and which is a better choice to teach to students. Read on
Having a vast setting that is often worldwide and perhaps even beyond, is one of the more basic elements of an epic. Star Wars and the Odyssey fit the criteria in that aspect pretty well. Odysseus travels all over the sea, to several distant islands even to the underworld.
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And in Star Wars, the setting takes place across an entire galaxy, and on many planets. Also, The Odyssey and Star Wars both have a war background, the Trojan War and the Clone Wars. There are many other elements that both epics have in common, like the hero being helped by people or beings with special powers (Obi wan Kenobi, and the gods, like Athena). In epics there is always an issue that acts as an incentive to start the reluctant hero on their journey. This is the case in both Star Wars and The Odyssey, Luke’s aunt and uncle being murdered, and the Trojan War ending, start the heroes on their journeys, whether it be to defend the galaxy or a long journey to return home. They also have to overcome challenges (suprise suprise) like destroying the death star and outsmarting the cyclops. I won’t go into all the other obvious similarities right now, because I’m pretty sure you get the point, and if you’ve read The Odyssey and know anything at all about Star Wars, this is where you're probably falling asleep… The elements of an epic that are easy to point out in both Star Wars and The Odyssey won’t help us decide which is a better example of an epic, but, these ones do!
In all epics, the author states the theme at the beginning of the story, which begins in media res, or in the middle, at a crucial point. These elements, along with a few others are a little bit harder to find in Star Wars, especially if you’ve only watched the movie. We know that The Odyssey begins with the suitors taking over Odysseus’ home and Athena giving Telemachus advice, which eventually leads to a theme, ‘a boy must become a man’. This is in media res because Odysseus has been gone for years already, which is later clarified by Homer as Odysseus is telling of his journey. In Star Wars, the theme isn’t so obvious, but it is there. Luke is a little bit of a whiner at the beginning of the story, but grows up in a hurry when his family is killed, and he begins his adventure (theme: a boy must become a man). And, especially if you’ve only watched the first movie, it’s a little hard to tell that the story starts in the middle, but it does. Luke is right in the middle of a conflict started years ago by Darth Vader which you’ll later find out is his father. The beginning crucial point is when Princess Leia is captured, and somebody must rescue her. . .Luke. She turns out to be Luke’s twin sister, (but you don’t know that yet) You can see, that in a movie, it’s a little easier to miss things, but if you do have time to talk about it before and after and even perhaps while watching the it, then it would be a little easier to catch all of the important pieces of the elements in an epic. So, as of now, we still can’t really say which story is a better example of an epic. But, as much as I love Star Wars, I’m starting to lean a little bit towards the
Odyssey. Some people might argue that Star Wars, as a modern epic, is more relevant to us today, and that kids can relate to it better than something written so long ago, besides, kids are more likely going to pay more attention to something they enjoy. I can definitely agree with the fact that kids are going to pay better attention to something they enjoy, but is Star Wars really more relevant to us than the Odyssey? The morals, lessons, and values in the Odyssey still pertain to us today, just as much as what is portrayed in Star Wars, like being brave, loyal, and wise. Also, are kids going to get more from a book or a movie? This is an easy question to ask but a hard on to answer. When watching a movie, it’s easy to get caught up in the drama and forget to pay attention to all the details. And when reading it’s easy to drift off and not pay attention, but when reading in class, the option is available to stop and talk about details, which makes reading a bit of a better option. So if I had the option of either Star Wars or The Odyssey, as an example in teaching someone about epics, it would be a tough decision. As a first choice, I would probably choose to do a combination of the two, sort of like what we did in class, but if for some reason, I could only choose one, then I guess it would have to be The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a better example because the elements of an epic are more clear than those in Star Wars, and Star Wars is a modern epic.
One of the main similarities in ancient Greek epics is that there are always great heroes who overcome many difficult and daunting challenges and goes on long adventures. The issue of heroic stature and the character of the hero have a great importance on the epics itself. Classical Greek heroes are usually born to do great things, go on epic journeys and in the end they would receive a reward for their troubles.
An epic hero is character who is brave and noble, and that person is someone who carries good leadership traits and goes through an epic journey. Usually an epic hero is from an epic, and an example is Odysseus. Odysseus goes through a journey to return back to Ithaca, his homeland. In the modern era, there are epic heroes all around us. They can be in books, movies, or plays. One great example of a modern epic hero is Woody from Toy Story 3. He is confident, courageous,selfless, and humane. Woody is a toy cowboy and his owner, Andy is going off to college. Woody and his buddies get misplaced and get donated to a child day care center. There, they have to try to escape and return home, after realizing how bad the place
The question has been raised as to whether or not Odysseus, the hero of Homers The Odyssey, is an epic hero. An epic Hero portrays many classic properties, including being very strong and courageous. Odysseus is an epic hero, because he portrays many of these and other traits, such as having a goal that is foremost in his mind, and having descended into the underworld.
The ancient Greeks have brought upon numerous ideas, inventions, and stories to the world. Greek mythology influences modern day literature and life. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War. Odysseus does not achieve his goal of reaching home so easily; monsters and gods come in his way and hinder him. The Odyssey expresses Greek values of hospitality from the customs of Ithaca, humility from Odysseus’s reform, and loyalty from Odysseus’s family.
The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.
Brains over brawn, who will win this battle?Homer's tale of Odysseus' adventures in “The Odyssey” show that being intelligent and cunning can be far better than having physical strength. Being physically strong certainly has its advantages, but not in all circumstances. Strength in intelligence shows new meaning of strength. Odysseus is amused with himself when he defeats Polyphemus. His great skills with a bow outweigh the others abilities. Knowledge of the placement of his bed win his beloveds heart.
The epic poem called The Odyssey, which was written by the poet Homer, is one of the many classical stories from Ancient Greek culture. It tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey back home from the war with Troy, which had occurred in Homer’s other epic Greek poem, The Illiad. Odysseus faces many trials and quests in his journey home and to take back his kingdom from the suitors, such as meeting the witch Circe, blinding a Cyclops named Polyphemus, dealing with Poseidon, and staying with the goddess Calypso. The poem has many themes that are relevant to it. One such theme is the factor of redemption. Redemption is usually a typical subject in any kind of religion, like the Greek religion and Christian religion. The story of Odysseus has an underlying message of him receiving redemption from the Greek gods. The Odyssey is a tale of redemption because it deals with Odysseus being forgiven by the gods after having to go through many trials and wrongs to rightfully claim back his wife and the throne of Ithaca.
Homer’s poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope’s suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for murdering the suitors would force Odysseus to realize what he is about to do is not a good idea. Odysseus chose to ignore the consequences and killed the suitors anyway. Odysseus had absolutely no reason to kill the suitors; they had the right to stay in his home because Penelope made them feel welcome, Penelope and Telemachus both told them that Odysseus was dead, and although Telemachus told them to leave, he did not have the right to do so.
The epic The Odyssey is about a hero named Odysseus that must go through many life threatening situations in order to return to his loving family. Odysseus undergoes many trials and obstacles in the form of mythological beasts that stand in the way of arriving home. All of the archetypes that show up in Ancient Greek culture are very similar to the ones that appear in modern times. The Odyssey takes place in the twelfth century B.C where its plot setting stretches from the Aegean and surrounding seas to his birthplace of Ithaca. This epic is an example in which its main story is covered by what writers base their characters off of today:archetypes. Homer wrote The Odyssey to get readers excited to learn about the archetypes that relate to the
Picture this: a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that is exactly what makes Odysseus all the more fascinating. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet who wrote The Iliad, had to contain some variety of attributes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. An epic hero is a protagonist of a story that represents the most important attributes of a civilization. Odysseus, being based in ancient Greece, is the embodiment of intelligence, loyalty, and strength.
All in all Odysseus ultimately displays the criteria for an epic hero. Not only that, but Odysseus also doubles as a leader and chief of an army. Odysseus is cunning, confident, and a fighter. Odysseus may be arrogant but he sure has a reason to be. Without Odysseus The Odyssey would no longer be an epic without it’s epic
Socrates, a Greek philosopher stated, "Look death in the face with joyful hope, and consider this a lasting truth: the righteous man has nothing to fear, neither in life, nor in death, and the Gods will not forsake him” (Socrates). This explains the basis for Greek beliefs that can be carried over to values and qualities of them. As in this, Homer, the author of The Odyssey, portrays many Greek values that make up a righteous man or as, Homer’s character Odysseus, an epic hero. The Odyssey is the story of King Odysseus' return from the Trojan War to his kingdom of Ithaca. Stories, like The Odyssey, are told with the intent of delivering a message that was important to their culture. Through characters and situations, The Odyssey promotes and emphasizes many important ancient Greek values such as hospitality, pride, and fate.
Although both epics justify a status quo, codify a national mythology, preserve cultural memories, and establish literary tropes, they are united by sensibility and are traditionally poetic. They both almost have the same exact core values such as in the end, but project influence into a number to areas of cultural identity. Once more, after analyzing both texts, it is possible to conclude that Aeneas is the better leader, and The Odyssey is the greater epic. Knowing that this is the proper proposition made, this affects the readers of both well-known stories.
An epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. The main characteristics of an epic as a literary genre is that it is a long poem that tells a story, it contains an epic hero, its hero searches for immortality (but doesn't find it physically, only through fame), gods or other supernatural beings are interested and involved, and it delivers an historical message. The Epic of Gilgamesh is classified as an epic because it fits all the characteristics of an epic as a literary genre.
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.