Flashcards on Epic Poetry and The Odyssey

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Epic

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A long narrative poem about the deeds and adventures of national or legendary heroes.

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Epic Hero

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Central hero of an epic poem, often larger-than-life and important to a nation or gods.

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Epic Conventions

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Include formal language, stock epithets, and long speeches by main characters.

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In medias res

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A narrative that begins in the middle of the story.

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Storyline of The Odyssey

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Follows the epic hero Odysseus on his journey.

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Archetype

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A character, image, or situation that appears in literature across cultures and times.

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Epic Simile

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A long and elaborate comparison using words like, as, just as, so.

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Guile

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Crafty, cunning, clever, wily behavior.

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Oral Tradition

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Passing stories, songs, and poems from one generation to another by word of mouth.

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Language of Epics

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Formal, elevated, and often recited to music.