Paper #2: Heroes of the Past and Present (due Friday, March 12th)

NOTE: The questions for next week are in the post BELOW this one...

“Heroes were heroes because they captured the Zeitgeist and embodied the fantasies of the people. The heroes of classical mythology were figures from the past. But what made them heroes, their mythism, if you like, always came from their importance to the present” (Morales 55).

INTRO: As we’ve discussed in class, The Iliad is a complex mix of traditions, characters, and voices—the very reason it became mythic. It’s a story that likes to be re-told, and despite the legendary setting and events, it still feels and sounds human. We can relate to the characters and their conflict, because it’s not really the war that matters; it’s who they love, what they’ve lost, and what they want to gain before having to slink off to Hades in defeat. As Sappho writes, “Some men say an army of horse...and some men say an army of ships if the most beautiful thing on the black earth. But I say it is what you love” (trsnl. Anne Carson).

PROMPT: For your second paper assignment, I want you to discuss which character you feel is the most ‘heroic’ or ‘mythic’ in the poem. This could be anyone, from the ‘big’ heroes such as Achilles and Hector, to the seemingly less important characters such as Helen, Andromache, or Briseis (in other words, it doesn’t have to be a man). Focus on ONE SCENE that you feel shows this character in their best, most heroic light—something that can be both literal and allegorical. By this, I mean a scene that reads powerfully in the poem itself, but could also be translated as relating to our own lives as readers in the 21st century. What hero most inspires you by their words and actions? Be sure to show us what they say or how the poet describes them as being heroic or mythic. And remember, a “hero” doesn’t have to be “good”...a hero can be an “anti-hero,” or someone who becomes mythic for refusing to conform to the ideals of their society, and offers us a new way of thinking about our own role in the human drama.

FOCUS: Be sure to analyze a single scene that you feel best shows the character in their heroic/mythic light. You can quote from another part of the book, of course, but only to highlight this specific scene. ALSO, use one or both of our critical books, Homer and Classical Mythology to help you discuss your scene. Quote from the book and use it to illustrate your ideas or some aspect of the hero’s character.

REQUIREMENTS:

* page limit optional—but enough to make your point

* Focus on a single character in a single scene (be sure to QUOTE)

* Use of one or both of the secondary texts in class

* DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 12th by 5pm