1. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Literary Analysis: Epic Hero An epic hero is the larger-than-life character in an epic —a long narrative poem about important events in the history or folklore of a culture. The epic hero possesses traits that are highly valued by his or her society. The epic hero’s traits are developed by what he or she says in narration and dialogue and by his or her actions. Many epics begin in medias res (“in the middle of things”), meaning that major events occurred before events in the poem begin. The hero’s adventures are often recounted in a flashback, a nonlinear plot development technique in which a scene interrupts a narrative to relate earlier events. Analyze linear and nonlinear plot developments in Part 1. In what way do Odysseus’ actions reveal that he is an epic hero? from the Odyssey, Part I

2. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved. from the Odyssey, Part I Literary Analysis: Epic Hero 1. (a) Use a chart to identify three actions that the epic hero Odysseus performs. (b) For each action, list the trait that it reveals. (c) Then, explain which trait the ancient Greeks admired most. Action Odysseus Trait Resists temptations of Calypso and Circe Self-control

3. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc, or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Literary Analysis: Epic Hero cont. 2. Most of Part I is presented in form of a flashback. (a) To analyze this nonlinear plot development, list the events of Part I in chronological order, beginning with the end of the Trojan War. (b) Compare this nonlinear plot development to linear plot development. How would the effect of the epic have been different had it been written in strictly chronological order?