Download The Role of an Epic Hero ppt File

Unit 1:
Origins and Traditions
The heroic myths and epics of a society
teach its members the proper
behavior, attitudes, and values of
that culture.
These myths are of particular interest
and value to us not only because
they are exciting adventure stories,
but in these myths we see ourselves
drawn larger and greater than we
are, yet with our weaknesses as well
as our strengths.
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Heroes are the role models of human behavior for a society and
earn lasting fame - the only kind of immortality possible for
human beings. This is done by performing great deeds for the
betterment of their society thus inspiring others to do the same.
Heroes undergo difficult tests or trials where they are forced by
circumstances to make critical choices where they must balance
one set of values against competing values. They emerge as heroes
in part for their accomplishments and in part because they emerge
more sensitive and thoughtful human beings.
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(Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and Gilgamesh came from cultures where
individuals may earn fame in a variety of ways that permit them to
express their individuality.)
In contrast, Rama must always remain and follow dharma, the particular
form of proper and righteous behavior that the Hindu culture expects of a
person in his political, social, and economic position. David is also bound
by his monotheistic beliefs in a world that was predominantly polytheistic.
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The external characteristics of a hero can be but should not be
intimidating: an immortal parent, unusual birth, aristocratic social
position and divine sponsorship.
Since no hero is perfect, their human weaknesses can be as often
as instructive as their heroic qualities. Their imperfections allow
ordinary people to identify with them, for everyone have similar
psychological needs and conflicts.
Hero myths examine the relationship between the individual's
desires and his or her responsibility to society. The hero who
chooses to risk death acquires honor and lasting fame; the hero
who chooses safety is denied both and, sometimes, heroes acquire
greater heroic stature by winning an inner conflict or battle
against their desires.
In matriarchal societies, the political, economic, social, and religious foundation was
the agricultural year. This fostered a cyclical view of life emphasizing the
progression of all living matter from birth to maturity to death and rebirth.
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The Great Goddess or Mother Goddess personified mother earth and was the
supreme deity. She was the source of all life and all food.
The Queen personifies the Great Goddess and therefore she had great political,
economic, social, and religious power. Other women were considered daughters of
the Great Goddess, thus all women in a matriarchal society were highly valued and
many held important positions
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The sacred kings came into being as the male's role in procreation came
unknown. The Queen took a husband for a year. It was a great honor and
men competed to be chosen. (Trials and contests of skill and strength
were held to help choose the sacred king.) Each spring the sacred king
would be sacrificed as part of a religious ceremony. The priestess of the
Mother Goddess would eat his flesh in order to acquire his powers of
fertility and the fields sprinkled with his blood to extend the fertility to
the soil. Then the Queen would take a new sacred king for the following
year.
As time went by the king began to acquire more power and gradually
began to lengthen his reign by means of a substifute king who was the
sacrificed while the "real sacred king" was in seclusion. This lengthened
his reign to eight years.
By 24AA B.C.E., aggressive tribes worshipping a supreme male god who
was a father figure or a successful warrior had begun to invade many
matriarchal societies. Gradually, kings gained enough power to change
the old social system to one in which kings ruled by heredity and animals
were sacrificed to win the favor of the gods.