1. *What is an EPIC POEM?? A long, narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a hero who reflects the ideals and/or values of a nation or race Elements of Epic Poems  The main character or protagonist is heroically larger than life, often the source and subject of legend or a national hero.  The fate of his people depend on the hero.  There is a course of action in which the hero performs great and difficult deeds.

2. *Elements of Epic Poems The deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing his failings (weaknesses) as well as his virtues (strengths). The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than- human strength of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage. They cover great distances and/or time.

3. *Similes, Epithets, and Heroes, Oh My! The simile (a directly stated comparison using words like or as) helps the audience—then and now—picture how helpless and unwilling the men are. Homer uses extended similes so masterfully that such comparisons now bear his name. A Homeric simile is an elaborate comparison, developed over several lines, between something strange or unfamiliar to the audience and something more familiar to them.

4. *Examples of Homeric Similes None would attack—oh, it was strange, I tell you— but switching their long tails they faced our men like hounds, who look up when their master comes with tidbits for them—as he will— from table. Humbly those wolves and lions with mighty paws fawned on our men… -- lines 543-547 : 1.What’s familiar? What do you know? 2.What’s unfamiliar? What do you NOT know? 3. So what are the 2 objects being compared?

5. *Epi-whats? How would YOU be described??! Achilles is “swift-footed.” Odysseus is referred to as “master mariner” or “old contender” Epithets are brief, descriptive phrases that helped to characterize a person or thing. The ocean becomes the “wine-dark sea.”

6. *Why do we need epi-thingies?  Characterizes a person, place or thing  Gives story-teller a“breather”  Helps with rhyming and rhythm

7. In Review: Epic poems are long stories about a hero who must achieve his goal, which takes a long journey &/or a long time, and the fate of his people relies on him to succeed. The larger than life hero wants to reach his goal, but he comes across obstacles and monsters that stop him, so the gods help him and he succeeds, which puts him back where he started. It’s a vicious circle, I mean, cycle! Homeric similes are comparisons using like or as that take a few lines to figure out because you have to see what you know to figure out what you don’t.

8. In Review (Con’t) Epithets are short, descriptive phrases that characterize a person or thing. Heroes, who are the model citizens, are almost god- like in that they are braver, stronger, and smarter than the average human, but their faults are displayed throughout the epic, and they change as a result of the journey.