epic noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a...
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EpicEpic
Noting or pertaining to a long poetic Noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated achievements or events is narrated in elevated stylein elevated style
Characteristics of an epic:Characteristics of an epic:
• The hero is a figure of great national or even The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of his culture. He often has superhuman or his culture. He often has superhuman or divine traits. He has an imposing physical divine traits. He has an imposing physical stature and is greater in all ways than the stature and is greater in all ways than the common man. common man.
• The setting is vast in scope. It covers great The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even geographical distances, perhaps even visiting the underworld, other worlds, other visiting the underworld, other worlds, other times. times.
Characteristics of an epic:Characteristics of an epic:
• The action consists of deeds of valor The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage (especially in or superhuman courage (especially in battle). battle).
• Supernatural forces interest Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and themselves in the action and intervene at times. The intervention intervene at times. The intervention of the gods is called "machinery." of the gods is called "machinery."
• The style of writing is elevated, even The style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial. ceremonial.
HomerHomer
The blind poet who The blind poet who wrote the wrote the IliadIliad and and the the OdysseyOdyssey..
OdysseusOdysseus
The protagonist of The protagonist of the story. Was the story. Was gone from his gone from his home, Ithaca, for home, Ithaca, for 20 years after 20 years after fighting in the fighting in the Trojan War.Trojan War.
PenelopePenelope
Faithful wife of Faithful wife of Odysseus and Odysseus and mother of mother of Telemachus.Telemachus.
TelemachusTelemachus
Son of Odysseus who Son of Odysseus who sets off on a sets off on a journey to find his journey to find his lost father.lost father.
AthenaAthena
Goddess of wisdom, Goddess of wisdom, art, war, and art, war, and peace. She is the peace. She is the protector of protector of Odysseus.Odysseus.
CalypsoCalypso
Nymph who keeps Nymph who keeps Odysseus on her Odysseus on her island for 7 years.island for 7 years.
HermesHermes
The messenger god. The messenger god. He delivers He delivers messages from messages from Zeus to help Zeus to help Odysseus.Odysseus.
King AlcinousKing Alcinous
King of Phaeacia. King of Phaeacia. Odysseus tells the Odysseus tells the king the story of king the story of his travels.his travels.
Lotus EatersLotus Eaters
People who feed the People who feed the men with the lotus men with the lotus plant to make plant to make them forget their them forget their homes and desire homes and desire to do nothing but to do nothing but eat the lotus plant.eat the lotus plant.
PolyphemusPolyphemus
The cyclops son of The cyclops son of Poseidon who eats Poseidon who eats men.men.
PoseidonPoseidon
God of the sea and God of the sea and brother to Zeus. brother to Zeus. He causes He causes Odysseus to get Odysseus to get lost at sea for 20 lost at sea for 20 years. years.
CirceCirce
The witch goddess The witch goddess who turns who turns Odysseus’ men to Odysseus’ men to pigs.pigs.
TiresiasTiresias
The blind prophet The blind prophet who meets who meets Odysseus in the Odysseus in the Land of the Dead Land of the Dead to tell him how to to tell him how to get back to Ithaca.get back to Ithaca.
SirensSirens
Sea nymphs who use Sea nymphs who use beautiful songs to beautiful songs to lure sailors to steer lure sailors to steer their ships into their ships into rocks.rocks.
ScyllaScylla
A monster with 6 A monster with 6 snake heads, all snake heads, all with 3 rows of with 3 rows of fangs.fangs.
CharybdisCharybdis
A sea monster who A sea monster who feeds 3 times a day feeds 3 times a day by forming a by forming a deadly whirlpooldeadly whirlpool
HeliosHelios
God of the sun. He God of the sun. He owns an island full owns an island full of forbidden cattle.of forbidden cattle.
EurymachusEurymachus
One of Penelope’s One of Penelope’s suitorssuitors
AntinousAntinous
Penelope’s main Penelope’s main suitor and enemy suitor and enemy to Telemachusto Telemachus
EurycleiaEurycleia
Odysseus’ old nurse Odysseus’ old nurse who recognizes who recognizes him by a scar on him by a scar on his leg.his leg.
ZeusZeus
The most powerful The most powerful god on Mount god on Mount Olympus.Olympus.