ENG 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Demigod, Odysseus
9 Aug 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Hero is demi-god, special in some way, outsider. Sets out on journey, quest, leaving familiar world to perform tasks, vanquish monsters. E(cid:374)ters i(cid:374)to a ki(cid:374)d of death, u(cid:374)der(cid:449)orld, (cid:449)here defeats (cid:858)drago(cid:374)(cid:859) Re-emerges victorious, having greater understanding of self and world and having bettered humankind. Life(cid:859)s e(cid:374)di(cid:374)g differs with different heroes. Herakles dies at die(cid:374)ira(cid:859)s ha(cid:374)d yet goes up to oly(cid:373)pus. Perseus defeats dragon, gets the princess and kingdom. Two kinds of deeds physical (battles monsters) and spiritual (undertakes supernormal experience, comes back with message) Journey from the known world to the unknown. Trials test the hero, must have courage and knowledge to overcome. Revelations transform and teach the hero, transcending illuminations, enlightenment odysseus given opportunity for life of pleasure and immortality, but chooses to be human, human spirit. Hero sacrifices self for others or justice- eg. prometheus fire allows us to differentiate from animals, so important sacrifice.
