Download Greek Terms

GREEK TERMS
MYTH
A story that explains an
unexplainable event; For
example: Long ago, people tried
to explain earthquakes by
saying that giant monsters were
stomping below the surface of
the earth.
RHAPSODE
Rhapsode is the Greek
word for a bard (a
traveling storyteller/
poet)
INVOKING THE MUSES
Asking the muses
for inspiration and
help with telling a
story
THE MUSES
• They are the daughters of Zeus and
Mnemosyne. They are known for the
music of their song, which brings joy to
any who hear it. There are nine Muses,
each with her own specialty: Clio (History),
Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene
(Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore
(Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato
(Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the
Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry).
HOMERIC/ EPIC SIMILE
An extended comparison using
“like” or “as” (usually mounts in
excitement as it goes on) and
compares something simple
and “every-day” to something of
epic proportions
EPITHET
A descriptive adjective or
phrase used to characterize
someone or something; for
example: “yellow-bellied
coward,” “Catherine the Great,”
“raider of cities, “loved of Zeus”
HYPERBOLE
A gross exaggeration
An epic poem’s
narrative opens in
media res (“in the
middle of things”).
•An epic poem’s
setting is vast in
scope.
7 traits of an epic
hero:
1.
An epic hero is superhuman. He is braver, stronger,
smarter, and cleverer than an ordinary person is.
2. The epic hero is on a quest for something of great value to
him or his people.
3. The epic hero fights monsters. The villains that try to keep
the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and
more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life.
4. The epic hero is often of mixed divine and human birth and
so possesses human weaknesses.
5. The divine world (the gods) interferes
with the human world (called
“machinery”)
6. The epic hero returns home
significantly transformed by his
journey.
7. In his journey, the epic hero covers great
geographical distances and even visits
the underworld, other worlds, and/ or
other times.
Values or Themes
The Greeks value:
CUNNING
over
STRENGTH
The Greeks value:
Their
Homeland
The Greeks value:
Respect for the gods
The Greeks Value:
the
importance
of
hospitality
The Greeks Value:
Youth and beauty
The Greeks Value:
rhetorical abilities
(the admiration for those who speak well)