The Epic

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The Epic

• A Review

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Epic

• An extended narrative poem in elevated or
  dignified language, celebrating the feats of a
  legendary or traditional hero.
• Epic Hero
• A person with heroic qualities (courage, cunning,
  compassion, ) whose flaws (pride, prejudice,
  pessimism, ) bring about his own downfall(s).

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The Journey
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The Journey

• The Hero can go on many types of journeys.
• They could be a quest
• for identity
• for vengeance
• for love
• for the holy grail
• for knowledge
• to save his people
• as penance for something he thinks he did wrong
  (or did do) wrong a tragic quest
• It can also be an epic journey which occurs over
  a long period of time, usually years/decades of a
  heros life,which is what Homers The Odyssey is
  about.

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What is Life?

• Life is a rollercoaster?
• Life is a box of chocolates?
• Life is a race?

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Life is a Journey.

• The Journey of a Hero is often a metaphor for
  life.
• All the trials that the Hero endures are common
  to what most people endure in life
• leaving home
• facing fears
• losing a loved one
• having people/things get in the way of our goals
• overcoming bad times/events in life
• et cetera

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How has your own life been a journey so far?
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Archetypes

• patterns that commonly appear in storiesno
  matter what culture they come from.
• Archetypes can be applied to
• the plot of a story
• the characters of a story
• the symbols of a story

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Character Archetypes

• patterns depicted in characters of stories

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Character Archetypes

• The Hero protagonist whose life is depicted
  through a series of well-defined adventures.
  Usually he has an unusual birth, has to leave his
  kingdom to go on some sort of journey, and
  returns to his home a changed person. He is very
  brave, strong, has honor, and risks his life for
  the good of all.
• Young man from the Provinces The Hero returns
  home to find that he is a stranger who can see
  new problems and new solutions.
• Mentor The mentor is an older, wiser teacher to
  the Hero. He is sometimes viewed as a father
  figure. He gives the Hero gifts, food, magic,
  information, help, etc.
• Mentor-pupil relationship The Mentor teaches the
  pupil skills in order to survive his journey.

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Character Archetypes

• Hunting Group of Companions Loyal companions to
  the Hero who are willing to face hardships with
  him on his journey.
• The Shadow A worthy opponent with whom the Hero
  must fight in the end. The Shadow must be
  destroyed.
• The Creature of Nightmare A monster (literally
  or figuratively) that threatens the life of the
  Hero and his companions.
• Damsel in Distress A woman who needs to be
  rescued by the Hero. She is often used to trap
  the Hero.
• The Temptress A woman whose beauty attracts the
  Hero and brings about his downfall.

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Situational Archetypes

• patterns in plots of stories

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Situational Archetypes

• The Journey The journey sends the Hero in
  search of some truth that will help him save his
  kingdom.
• Stages of a Heros journey
• Stage1 The Ordinary World The hero, uneasy,
  uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced
  sympathetically so the audience can identify with
  the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown
  against a background of environment, heredity,
  and personal history. Some kind of polarity in
  the heros life is pulling in different
  directions and causing stress.
• Stage 2 Call to AdventureSomething shakes up
  the situation, either from external pressures or
  from something rising up from deep within, so the
  hero must face the beginnings of change.
• Stage 3 Refusal of the CallThe hero feels the
  fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from
  the adventure, however briefly. Alternately,
  another character may express the uncertainly and
  danger ahead.
• Stage 4 Meeting with the MentorThe hero comes
  across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who
  gives him or her training, equipment, or advice
  that will help on the journey. Or the hero
  reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.
• Stage 5 Crossing the ThresholdThe hero commits
  to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new
  region or condition with unfamiliar rules and
  values.
• Stage 6 Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in
  the Special World

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Situational Archetypes Continued

• -- Stage 7 Approach
• The hero and newfound allies prepare for the
  major challenge in the Special World
• -- Stage 8 The Ordeal
• Near the middle of the story, the hero enters
  a central space in the Special World and
  confronts death or faces his or her greatest
  fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new
  life.
• -- Stage 9 The Reward
• The hero takes possession of the treasure won
  by facing death. There may be celebration, but
  there is also danger of losing the treasure
  again.
• -- Stage 10 The Road Back
• About three-fourths of the way through the
  story, the hero is driven to complete the
  adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure
  the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene
  signals the urgency and danger of the mission.
• -- Stage 11 The Resurrection
• At the climax, the hero is severely tested
  once more on the threshold of home. He or she is
  purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of
  death and rebirth, but on a higher and more
  complete level. By the heros action, the
  polarities that were in conflict at the beginning
  are finally resolved.
• -- Stage 12 Return with the Elixer
• The hero returns home or continues the
  journey, bearing some element of the treasure to
  transform the world.

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Situational Archetypes

• The Task The nearly super human feats the Hero
  must perform in order to help himself or his
  kingdom.
• The Fall The descent from a higher to lower
  state of being, usually as a punishment for
  transgression.
• Death and Rebirth The most common situational
  archetype. Basically the Hero dies somehow
  (figuratively or literally) and is reborn.
• Battle between Good and Evil When the Hero,
  usually a symbol of goodness, battles an evil
  character. Usually, good triumphs over evil
  showing mans eternal optimism.

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Symbolic Archetypes

• patterns in the symbols in stories

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Symbolic Archetypes

• Wisdom vs. Stupidity Some characters have
  wisdom instinctively while others, who are
  usually in charge and make tons of mistakes, do
  not. These people often accompany the Hero on
  his journey to give him advice.
• Supernatural Intervention When a spiritual being
  intervenes on behalf of the Hero.
• The Underworld A place of death where the Hero
  faces his fear of death or a great challenge
  during his journey.
• Haven vs. Wilderness A haven is a place of
  safety which is typically contrasted to the
  wilderness, a place of danger. The Hero is often
  sheltered from the wilderness during his journey.

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Symbolic Archetypes

• The Crossroads A place or time of decision when
  a realization is made and a change occurs in the
  Hero
• The Whirlpool Symbolizes the destructive power
  of nature
• Fog Symbolizes uncertainty
• Colors
• Red blood, sacrifice, passion
• Green growth, hope, fertility
• Blue highly positive, security, tranquility,
  spiritual purity
• Black darkness, chaos, mystery, death, evil
• White light, purity, innocence, timelessness
• Yellow wisdom, enlightenment
• Purple royalty