the archetypal hero - red lodge public schools /...
TRANSCRIPT
The Archetypal Hero
! Sometimes called “Classic Hero” – there are 3 types " Tragic Hero " Romantic Hero " Epic Hero*
Today we are going to focus on the Epic Hero.
Epic Hero
# Their Story Sometimes Begins in medias res $ “in the middle of things”
# Unusual Circumstances of Birth $ often born into danger or into royalty
# Leaves Family and Lives with Others $ raised away from his true family or people
# Traumatic Event Leads to Quest $ this one event changes the hero’s life forever $ causes him to embark on an epic journey where he must
fight an evil of some kind
There are many characteristics to an Epic Hero; they may not have all, but they will have most.
Epic Hero, continued…
# Special Weapon $ only the hero can wield this weapon – can be a weapon or
a characteristic (strength, judgment, intellect, etc.)
# Supernatural Help $ often has spiritual or otherworldly guidance
# Feminine Intervention $ encounters women as “temptresses” who threaten the
completion of his Quest, but he does fall in love
# Proves Himself on Quest $ performs feats while on the quest, but must often perform
one final task alone; once he returns “home,” he is a leader among his people
Epic Hero, the last slide
# Journey and Unhealable Wound $ enters a hell-like area and suffers wounding from his
encounter with evil – goes where normal humans can’t and finds out some truth about himself
# Atonement With Father $ redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with father
(over previous bad deeds done by hero)
# Spiritual Apotheosis $ fancy term that means the hero is spiritually rewarded at
the end of his life
Informa(onthatdidnotcomefrommyownknowledgeandexperience–ortheknowledgeandexperienceofmyeager-
to-sharecolleagues–camefromthiswebsite:
Davis, Bryan M. "The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture." 11 Oct 1997: 12 pp. Stephen F. Austin University. 3 Dec 2005. <http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/resources/heromain.html>.