First and foremost, an epic is a story with a main character who is a hero that goes on a long journey. He or she has factors that are with or against them like mentors, allies, sidekicks, enemies. All epics are similar yet different in many ways. Also all journeys in epics should satisfy the elements of a monomyth. “How do the two epics The Odyssey and Star Wars satisfy the the elements of a monomyth you ask?” I will compare and contrast the hero Odysseus’s journey and the hero Luke Skywalker to build a point that the two epics satisfy the elements of a monomyth. The two epics have the same composition but the details of the two provide variation in the hero's journey. Star Wars and The Odyssey both demonstrate the element “Call to Adventure”(the hero receives an offer to go on a journey/adventure) of a monomyth by having the hero receive a call to the journey that he will soon go on. Even so, the monomyths also contrast in the call. In Star Wars the first hero (Luke) receives a message along with Obi-wan from …show more content…
In Star Wars, Luke’s reward is receiving a medal from princess Leia and the rebellion. Furthermore, one big achievement for Luke in this stage is mastering the Lightsaber. This is considered a to complete the mentioned stage of this monomyth. On the contrary, Odysseus reward doesn’t precisely satisfy this stage because he does not acquire anything. He granted to go back where he previously left . I don’t consider this something that he achieves because he left home and in every monomyth the hero must return home. Therefore I believe that Luke’s reward satisfies the elements of a monomyth more so than in Star Wars because he achieves something that he has not had before. Odysseus is allowed to go home, unlike Luke but considering other monomyths it’s really not a
As seen throughout The Odyssey, a hero is perceived as a person who achieves great success never before seen and whose legacy lives beyond their years. Since The Odyssey was written around the eighth century BCE, the people that we view as heros in present day tend to embody different traits than the heroes of that time. Even though the word, “hero” does not have one specific definition, a hero is generally categorized as someone who is idolized for their bravery and does anything necessary to defend their people. Although Odysseus embodies the Homeric ideals of heroism in that he accomplishes triumphs that others have not, his successes are the product of divine intervention and his actions were primarily selfish; therefore, he is not a true
Rainsford is fighting to survive a thrilling hunt in The Most Dangerous Game. Odysseus is caught in a long journey fighting for his life and home in The Odyssey. The two men are extremely similar in their dangerous adventure. Parallels are seen in their skills, journey, and enemies. But even with these parallels, The Odyssey is deeper and has a more emotional ending than The Most Dangerous Game.
In contrast, Luke is a better leader than Odysseus, because Odysseus is arrogant. Especially when Odysseus was at the cyclopes’ land. After him and his teammates blind Polyphemus. Odysseus reveals his name and his home. This put him and his shipmates in danger. When R2-D2 shows the message from Princess Leia to Luke Skywalker, that her kingdom and her people are in danger, he right away wanted to save her. This shows good heroic skills.
“O muse! Sing in me, and through me tell the story...Of that man skilled in all the ways of contending...A wanderer, harried for years on end…” (Homer). These are the opening words of The Odyssey. This is also in the opening scene of O Brother Where Art Thou?. O Brother is a reception of the revered story of Odysseus’ journey with a bit of a twist. The works have similarities that only a person well informed of the Odyssey could see. The Odyssey and O Brother highlight the trials of the main character’s journeys. While the Odyssey was written in the eighth century, O Brother is set during the 1930s in the deep south. Each of the trials that the characters face is supposed to make them quit their journey, but they proceed with greater determination.
For a character to be an epic hero, he must possess four characteristics. These four characteristics include the following: (1) he must be high born, (2) the hero must have human weaknesses, (3) he must be brave,and 4) he must be clever. In The Odyssey, Homer’s character Odysseus was an epic hero because he possessed all four of the characteristics.
First, what is the monomyth or the hero’s journey? Well The University of California at Berkeley defines the “Hero’s Journey” as “The tale every culture tells. The journey's path is described variously, but in general it includes the call to adventure, a supernatural aide or mentor, initiation by trials and adventures, victory, and return.” There are seventeen stages of the journey, and not all of them are used in every myth. Some myths may only use a handful and some my use ten of them, but they are used in some way or another and are repeated throughout different religions, which raises some questions in my mind which I will discuss later. For the sake of length I will be discussing the divisions of the stages rather than each individual stage itself. The divisions are separated as follows, Departure, Initiation, and Return.
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
After years of being told various stories in your lifetime you’ll start to see a pattern. Stories will repeat or be similar to others, known as archetypes. Joseph Campbell is the creator of monomyth also known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. The Hero’s Adventures by Campbell focuses on the monomyth or hero’s journey. In the hero’s journey, the hero needs to be an antagonistic to its ego then reconcile the problems through the psychological transformation. Campbell describes the monomyth as an idea of a cycle that consists of departure, initiation, and return. The cycle will lead to the death of one’s old self because one will go through the psychological transformation and leave their old life to become a “richer
Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid represent their cultures very well, but they express different ideas on what one should strive for in life. There are also different forces that pushed both epics to be written. The Aeneid expresses the Roman idea of pietas which means to show extreme respect for one’s ancestors. We see this in Aeneas when he is pictured caring his father away from burning Troy. He has pietas because he cared so much for his father that in fleeing from Troy he took up his father over his shoulder to save his from certain death. This is not the only major idea in the Aeneid. There is also a very political focus. The Roman were very interested in politics which comes through in the Aeneid. The Odyssey has the Greek idea of arete trapped somewhere among the many themes. Arete is a strive for perfection in both mind and body. It is a much more personal and individual idea than the Roman pietas. In the most basic seance the Aeneid and the Romans have a much more political focus and duty to the state ( republic ) than the Greeks who honor tradition , family , and arete.
In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell argues that most of the world’s mythologies and stories that feature a protagonist, or “hero,” going on a journey share an eerily similar structure. Campbell dubs this structure the “monomyth,” which he describes as follows: “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man” (30). What is most important, however, is the purpose behind this journey. Campbell writes that the “modern hero-deed must be that of questing...
The monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, is an outline or pattern of events that a hero may follow in a story or movie. This so called pattern takes place in two locations: the ordinary world and the supernatural world. Joseph Campbell was the first person to notice this outline and actually research it. Osmosis Jones is just one example of a movie which follows the monomyth. This movie also serves as a great lesson of perseverance because even throughout the trials and tribulations, Jones never gives up and in the end is rewarded.
James Tiberius Kirk is a name that reigns throughout the entities of space; a fearless leader traveling throughout the galaxies on a mission of peace and conquest. Kirk battles countless species of aliens and encounters numerous walks of life in the Milky Way. While Captain Kirk is a very pragmatic leader, he is, at times, very boisterous and boastful; one could say that he is a modern day Narcissus. After reading this description, it occurs to me that James Tiberius Kirk is not a modern day Narcissus; however, it occurs to me that the prominent theme of a former Greek Hero who, with a few finely- tuned words could easily fit this description. His name you ask? Odysseus.
Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ journeys or nostos were both very similar and different. They parallel each other in some ways but they are also completely different at other times. Telemachus starts as a younger, less mature boy, and without the presence of his father during his childhood, he becomes a timid, shy and spineless boy who is greatly pampered by his mother. He has even more to achieve, being the son of a world-famous father, and this is a very difficult reputation to live up to. His journey, and after that the killing of the suitors who took advantage of him really show how his journeys and problems throughout the book mature him from being a shy, timid boy into a mature man. Odysseus’ journey also taught him about many things which he had never really experienced before, including suffering, poverty, and other things of that nature. Telemachus and Odysseus have parallel, but different journeys, which drastically change them throughout the epic and they are influenced by many different forces, both human and supernatural. Telemachus matures into a man while Odysseus becomes more wise, and both journey through Greece in search of one another.
An epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. The main characteristics of an epic as a literary genre is that it is a long poem that tells a story, it contains an epic hero, its hero searches for immortality (but doesn't find it physically, only through fame), gods or other supernatural beings are interested and involved, and it delivers an historical message. The Epic of Gilgamesh is classified as an epic because it fits all the characteristics of an epic as a literary genre.
According to most dictionaries, an epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. While this is true, the epic Beowulf contains more than those two requirements. This story contains five elements which make it an epic. There is an epic hero, action of an immense scale, an elevated writing style, long speeches meant to inspire or instruct, and also the descent into the underworld.