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Ancient Greece Ancient Greece BackgroundBackground
Government and PoliticsGovernment and Politics
Greek City StatesGreek City States– Called a “polis”Called a “polis”– Athens and Sparta Athens and Sparta
the most powerfulthe most powerful– Lead to much Lead to much
violence and violence and warringwarring
The Good LifeThe Good Life
Philosophy, Education, Philosophy, Education, and Literature and Literature extremely importantextremely important
Philosophy derives Philosophy derives from Greek word from Greek word meaning “love of meaning “love of wisdom”wisdom”
Stressed learning Stressed learning about the world at about the world at large – great advances large – great advances in science, medicine, in science, medicine, art, philosophyart, philosophy
AcropolisAcropolis
ErechtheumErechtheum
SculptureSculpture
LiteratureLiterature
HomerHomer- One of the greatest Greek poets- One of the greatest Greek poets
-Wrote -Wrote The IlliadThe Illiad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey
-Celebrated the heroes of the Trojan War-Celebrated the heroes of the Trojan War
-Set the standard for the epic pattern-Set the standard for the epic pattern
-Created archetypes that hundreds of great -Created archetypes that hundreds of great writers – including Vergil, Dante, writers – including Vergil, Dante, Shakespeare, James Joyce – alluded to when Shakespeare, James Joyce – alluded to when in the need of a metaphorin the need of a metaphor
-One of our biggest sources of information on -One of our biggest sources of information on Greek ideals and mythologyGreek ideals and mythology
The EpicThe Epic
A long, narrative poem built around A long, narrative poem built around
a hero and his adventuresa hero and his adventures
Setting in a far away, vast and often Setting in a far away, vast and often unnatural landunnatural land
A hero struggles and is put up to a test of A hero struggles and is put up to a test of endurance to prove his endurance to prove his aretearete
Usually gods or supernatural beings take Usually gods or supernatural beings take part in the actionpart in the action
Follows a very specific story patternFollows a very specific story pattern
Epic StyleEpic Style
Tone is over the top and elevated and Tone is over the top and elevated and highly formal in languagehighly formal in language
Traditionally told in the oral tradition, which Traditionally told in the oral tradition, which means they were memorized and sung means they were memorized and sung along to musical accompaniment, usually a along to musical accompaniment, usually a harpharp
Used repetition again to stay in rhythm and Used repetition again to stay in rhythm and aid memoryaid memory
Repetition pleased audiences, like a song Repetition pleased audiences, like a song choruschorus
Epic StyleEpic Style
In Medias Res (in the middle of things)In Medias Res (in the middle of things)– Many major events have already taken place and Many major events have already taken place and
are later revealed in flashbacksare later revealed in flashbacks– Audiences were already familiar with the story, Audiences were already familiar with the story,
only needed to develop themeonly needed to develop theme The Invocation of the MuseThe Invocation of the Muse
– Muses are nine goddesses who were believed to Muses are nine goddesses who were believed to preside over the arts and sciencespreside over the arts and sciences
– Homer calls on the Muse to inspire him with the Homer calls on the Muse to inspire him with the material he needs to write the storymaterial he needs to write the story
Purpose of the EpicPurpose of the Epic
Conveyed information about the culture Conveyed information about the culture that created them, including their that created them, including their history, weapons, rules, fears, beliefshistory, weapons, rules, fears, beliefs
Used as text books: contained history, Used as text books: contained history, moral rules, values, and idealsmoral rules, values, and ideals
Epic hero represents the ideal man: by Epic hero represents the ideal man: by looking at his traits, we can see what looking at his traits, we can see what the people found important and what the people found important and what they valuedthey valued
The Epic Hero
The Epic Hero Embodies Specific Traits– Has superior or superhuman abilities (strength,
cunning, intelligence)– Is significant or glorified in culture – noble birth– Reflects the ideals of a particular society– Is charged with a quest– Receives help from others or new powers– Has a weakness or a flaw that gets him into
trouble (usually hubris – pride)– Ethical – does what is right for his people
The Legacy of the Epic
Epic Hero Cycle has been used in hundreds of tales and in nearly every culture
Archetype – universally understood symbol or character that has been copied over and over again so that audiences know what to expect
Archetype Examples
The Villain
The HeroThe Hero
The Wise Old ManThe Wise Old Man
The Damsel in DistressThe Damsel in Distress
Other ArchetypesOther Archetypes
The UnderdogThe Underdog The Trickster/FoolThe Trickster/Fool The WitchThe Witch The TemptressThe Temptress The Mother FigureThe Mother Figure The Father FigureThe Father Figure
Epic Example – The Lion King
Unusual Birth or Born of Noble Birth
Simba was born a prince
Charged with a Quest
Simba is told by Mufasa to avenge his death and save his kingdom.
****Only he knows the real truth and can battle Scar.
Travels to an Unknown World(Sometimes Symbolically)
Simba has to remain in Scar’s land and learns to fight the bad guys
Hero is Tested to Prove His Worthiness
Simba fights the hyenas, Nala, trains with Timon and Pumba
Magical or Helpful Companions
Reaches a Low Point – Hero is Nearly Defeated
A Resurrection
Simba overcomes and defeats Scar
Restitution – Hero regains rightful place or wins the prize
The StoryThe Story The Acheans (Homer’s word for the The Acheans (Homer’s word for the
Greeks), have been fighting a ten year Greeks), have been fighting a ten year war against Troy. On their way home, war against Troy. On their way home, Odysseus, the Greek hero, and his men Odysseus, the Greek hero, and his men anger the sea god Poseidon when they anger the sea god Poseidon when they blind his son, the giant Cyclops.blind his son, the giant Cyclops.
Poseidon does everything he can to Poseidon does everything he can to prevent Odysseus and his men from prevent Odysseus and his men from getting home. This takes him another ten getting home. This takes him another ten years.years.
The Story Cont. Meanwhile, while Odysseus was Meanwhile, while Odysseus was
gone, suitors are fighting to marry gone, suitors are fighting to marry his wife, Penelope, so that they may his wife, Penelope, so that they may become the king of Ithaca.become the king of Ithaca.
To avoid this, Penelope tells her To avoid this, Penelope tells her suitors that she will choose one as suitors that she will choose one as soon as she finishing weaving a soon as she finishing weaving a tapestry, but she undoes the work tapestry, but she undoes the work she does during the day every night.she does during the day every night.
SettingSetting
About 3,200 years agoAbout 3,200 years ago Written about 600 years after the Written about 600 years after the
actual Trojan War ended – is a actual Trojan War ended – is a mixture of fact, legend, and mythmixture of fact, legend, and myth
Outside Troy, a great walled city in Outside Troy, a great walled city in present day Turkeypresent day Turkey
Gods and Goddesses
Zeus (Jupiter) – King of the gods, god of the sky and of thunder
Aphrodite (Venus)
goddess of love, lust and beauty
Apollo (Apollo) Apollo (Apollo)
god of music, medicine, health and god of music, medicine, health and archeryarchery
Ares (Mars)Ares (Mars)
God of war, murder, and blood shedGod of war, murder, and blood shed
Athena (Minerva)Athena (Minerva) Goddess of wisdom, Goddess of wisdom,
warfare, strategy, warfare, strategy, handicrafts, reason – handicrafts, reason – wife to Zeuswife to Zeus
Demeter (Ceres)Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of Goddess of
fertility, fertility, agriculture, agriculture, grain, and grain, and harvestharvest
Dionysus (Bacchus)Dionysus (Bacchus)
God of wine, parties, and merrimentGod of wine, parties, and merriment
Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)
Goddess of the hunt and of all wild Goddess of the hunt and of all wild things, and the moonthings, and the moon
Hades (Pluto)Hades (Pluto)
God of the underworld and of wealthGod of the underworld and of wealth
Haphaestus (Vulcan)Haphaestus (Vulcan)
God of fire and the forge (makes God of fire and the forge (makes weapons and armor)weapons and armor)
Hera (Juno)Hera (Juno) Goddess of marriage, women, Goddess of marriage, women,
childbirthchildbirth
Hermes (Mercury)Hermes (Mercury)
God of flight, thieves, mischief, God of flight, thieves, mischief, commercecommerce
Hestia (Vesta)Hestia (Vesta)
Goddess of hearth and homeGoddess of hearth and home
Poseidon (Neptune)Poseidon (Neptune)
God of the sea and of earthquakesGod of the sea and of earthquakes
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