The Epic Hero

1
The Epic Hero
2
What is an Epic Hero?

• An epic hero, also known as an archetypal hero,
  is a symbolic representation of a cultures
  collective beliefs.
• Comparative literature studies have shown that
  all religions, mythologies, and stories of the
  world have similar epic heroes and archetypes.

3
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

• Unusual Circumstances of Birth Sometimes in
  danger or born into royalty

4
Unusual Circumstances of Birth
Luke Skywalker

• Many heroes are born to royalty, are in danger at
  birth, or experience some unusual situation at
  birth that sets them apart from others, and marks
  their destiny to achieve greatness.

Yahoo.com/images. Illustration of Luke
Skywalker http//images.search.yahoo.com/search/i
mages?_adv_propimagesfrFP-tab-web-timgszall
imgcvfallvastarwarslukeskywalkerfrFP-tab
-web-t. Retrieved June 3, 2005.
5
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

• Unusual Circumstances of Birth Sometimes in
  danger or born into royalty
• Departure from Family or LandUsually lives with
  others

6
Hero Leaves his Family

• The hero must leave their family or land to live
  with others. The departure is usually to escape
  danger, or as a result of a mystical force. The
  time period in which the hero is gone may be long
  or short, but they must experience a journey.

Bilbo Baggins
Frodo Baggins
Yahoo.com/Images, Illustrations of Bilbo and
Frodo Baggins, http//images.search.yahoo.com/sea
rch/images?_adv_propimagesfrFP-tab-web-timgsz
allimgc, Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
7
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

• Unusual Circumstances of Birth Sometimes in
  danger or born into royalty
• Departure from Family or LandUsually lives with
  others
• Adventure or QuestAn Event, often traumatic,
  leads to a quest

8
The Adventure Begins

• A traumatic, coincidental, or even ironic event
  happens that will lead to the heros adventure.

Yahoo.com/Images, Image from Big Fish,
http//rds.yahoo.com/S96062883/KBigFish2Cimag
es/v2/SIDe/lIVR/SIG12gga9h2t/EXP1117907274/-
http3A//www.killermovies.com/gallery/bigfish/big_
fish_08.html. Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
9
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

• Unusual Circumstances of Birth Sometimes in
  danger or born into royalty
• Departure from Family or LandUsually lives with
  others
• Adventure or QuestAn Event, often traumatic,
  leads to a quest
• Special WeaponHero has a special weapon only he
  can wield

10
Special Weapon of the Hero

• Epic heroes always have a special weapon, which
  is usually something only they can use.
• Often, in various media adaptations to the epic
  hero, the weapon is a personality trait that
  separates the character from others and provides
  them with the ability to overcome challenging
  obstacles.

Yahoo.com/Images, Illustration of Odysseus,
/-http3A//www.clarkson.edu/fbailey/ls195/11-4.h
tml. Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
Yahoo.com/Images, Image from Oh Brother, Where
Art Thou? www.reel.com/movie.asp?MID1311...
Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
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The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

1. Supernatural HelpHero always has supernatural
   help

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Supernatural Help
Merlin

• Heroes often receive supernatural help from
  either a god, wizard, witch, or spirit.

Yahoo.com/Images, Illustration of Merlin,
www.house-of-pain.com/artarchiv. Retrieved on
June 3, 2005.
Rafiki
Yahoo.com/Images, Illustration of Rafiki,
www.sesselpupser.net/Malvorlagen/. Retrieved
on June 3, 2005.
13
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

1. Supernatural HelpHero always has supernatural
   help
2. Worthiness of Hero Hero must prove worthy many
   times during adventure

14
The Hero Must Prove Himself
Beowulf

• An epic hero must perform heroic tasks to prove
  that they are above and beyond the common people
  of their culture.
• Heroic deeds may include fighting and winning
  battles, performing miracles, or demonstrating
  leadership and courage by overcoming tests and
  enemies.

Yahoo.com/Images, Illustration of Beowulf,
http3A//www.heorot.dk/beowulf-art.html Retrieved
on June 3, 2005.
15
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

1. Supernatural HelpHero always has supernatural
   help
2. Worthiness of Hero Hero must prove worthy many
   times during adventure
3. The Unhealable Wound and MaturityHero matures as
   a result of journey

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The Journey and Unhealable Wound

• A quest is what a heros journey is usually
  referred to. It is some form of adventure with a
  purpose, which is a descent into a kind of
  hell.
• This hell may be physical, mental, or
  spiritual, and it represents the moment the hero
  learns the most about himself.
• The hero usually matures greatly from this
  descent, and leaves with eternal scars. The
  scars are also either physical, mental, or
  spiritual.

Sarah
Yahoo.com/Images, Image of Sarah from Labyrinth
, www.movieforum.com/.../review.shtml
Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
Theseus
Yahoo.com/Images, Illustration of Theseus,
www.hellados.ru/img/pic Retrieved on June 3,
2005.
17
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

1. Supernatural HelpHero always has supernatural
   help
2. Worthiness of Hero Hero must prove worthy many
   times during adventure
3. The Unhealable Wound and MaturityHero matures as
   a result of journey
4. Atonement with Father

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Atonement with Father
Antigone and Ismene burying Polyneices

• Atonement is to offer payment for a wrongdoing.
  Heroes must avenge a father, or make up for evil
  done by their father or fatherland.

Yahoo.com/Images, Image of Sarah from Labyrinth
, http//faculty.pittstate.edu/knichols/flaming2
b.html Retrieved on June 3, 2005.
19
The Nine Characteristics of an Epic Hero

1. Supernatural HelpHero always has supernatural
   help
2. Worthiness of Hero Hero must prove worthy many
   times during adventure
3. The Unhealable Wound and MaturityHero matures as
   a result of journey
4. Atonement with Father
5. Reward for the Hero

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Apotheosis of the Hero
Charlie

• After the heros quest is complete, they are
  rewarded in some way. This is called the
  Apotheosis.
• Often the reward is spiritual, and is received in
  the afterlife. Some rewards however, are
  physical medals or trophies symbolizing their
  achievements.

Yahoo.com/Images, Image of Charlie from Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory , www.roalddahlfans.com
/movies/willmoviepic6.php Retrieved on June 3,
2005.
James
Yahoo.com/Images, Image of James and the Giant
Peach, www.moviesnapshot.com/1996Revie.
Retrieved on June 3, 2005.