CLA204H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Guard Dog, Deianira, Culture Hero
Document Summary
Heroes in myth are not distinguished by birth: sometimes partially divine. Hero of metis: rely on their mental abilities (kind of like tricksters) Hero often has an ambiguous character, in-between nature and culture. Often represented as defending or advancing culture. A culture hero: these kinds of heroes allow culture to flourish. But heroes transgress boundaries for culture and therefore cause problems for their community. Hero has an ambiguous relationship with his community. Panhellenic : there known for all of greece. Hero is viewed to have a duty for his community. He also has the potential to harm. Hercules is known for eating, drinking and womanizing too. They can use their powers for evil instead of good much. Or they can be the targets for divine manipulations. Heroes must court of the favour of the gods. All the greek heroes remains a mortal. There are lots of stories, but no epic story that tells the beginning to end of his story.
