The Hero

1
The Hero
2
What is a hero?

• Brainstorm here what do you think?

1. 2. 3.
3
Characteristics of the Epic Hero

• is better than other humans
• takes a round-trip (cyclical) journey
• battles supernatural enemies
• has companions during his journey
• faces trials and enemies while struggling on an
  journey
• exemplifies the virtues valued by his people
• must complete a final task alone
• returns home, a leader of his people

4
Joseph Campbells definition

• A hero is someone who has given his or her life
  to something bigger than oneself.

5
Hero Archetype

• has courage
• saves his society
• leads an adventurous life
• performs his deeds in public must have an
  audience

6
Archetype vs. Motif

• archetype

• motif

• a psychological term
• based on the work of Carl Jung and Joseph
  Campbell
• personality type

• literary term
• based on the work of Stith Thompson
• recurrent pattern

7
Commonalities of Archetype Project

• Work in groups of 3-4 to find similarities and
  differences in your projects (work with someone
  that you did not discuss the project with while
  you were working on it!!!)

8
Food for Thought

• Is it legitimate to apply terms used to examine
  myth and folklore to the study of Beowulf? Why
  or why not?
• Look at a map of Europe and find the setting of
  Beowulf and his home. How did this story become
  the first British epic?