Epic Theatre was experimental- it employed various unconventional devices. ... Epic theatre however detaches itself from this theory, instead manipulating the situation so that the "human being is the object, the inquiry." ... They must decide individually their views of her- a hero or thief? ... Epic theatre plays are assembled as a "montage" of independent incidents which display a process occurring. ... The distinct oppositions between epic theatre and Dramatic theatre conform to the first two scenes of Bertolt Brechts play The Caucasian Chalk Circle. ...

• Word Count: 851
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Many parallels can be drawn between the ancient "Epic of Gilgamesh" and the modern film "Fight Club." While thousands of years separate the stories, both the epic and the film describe an anti-hero who is awakened into a journey by another hero, and the anti-hero learns valuable lessons from the second hero. ... Both The Epic of Gilgamesh and Fight Club explore themes such as civilized versus uncivilized and the threat of mortality. ... " While keeping the anti-hero parallel between Gilgamesh and the narrator in mind, each story introduces a second hero that awakens the anti-hero into a ...

• Word Count: 609
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The concept of hero conveys to mind various images to different people. ... In the epic story of the Odyssey, Odysseus the main character was subjected to various life threatening situations such as when he and his men were captured by the Cyclops and held captive in his cave. ... In the epic of Gilgamesh, the Bull of Heaven was sent to earth for killing Humbababa, to cause famine and kill the people of Uruk. ... On the same note, the epic story of The Ramayana of Valmiki, Rama showed acts of selfless-service by protecting his counterpart in life Sita during the attack of the crow and saving h...

• Word Count: 797
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Though, as a rule, epics generally occur in the nearly forgotten past, there are many, many examples of modern-day epics in our world's society today. Just as in the past, some are factual, and some are fictional; some blur the line, but all have the most essential part of an epic, an archetypal hero. ... She certainly is worthy of the title archetypal hero, though perhaps archetypal heroine is more appropriate. ... In historical times, epics weren't epics unless they were written as long narrative poems; nowadays, however, considering the majority of poets these days don't cons...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the domain of epic verse, heroes of god-like may, go off and fulfill awesome things, while managing gods and mortal creatures alike. ... His extraordinary spirit has appeared all through the whole epic. ... Odysseus was at the time a screw-up, much the same as Gilgamesh was before all else of his epic. ... The two heroes are thought about as articulations of looks for this significance of life through learning. At last, both of our extraordinary heroes, Gilgamesh and Odysseus were liable to the same difficulties we confront today. ...

• Word Count: 1055
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad are both ancient works of literature centered around one major character that simultaneously plays the role of hero and anti-hero. ... The Epic of Gilgamesh begins by describing Gilgamesh as a man who travelled the world but found no man to be his match, as a man so blessed by the Gods he lorded over all men he led, their property and their wives (Epic of Gilgamesh Chapter 1). ... The last three chapters of the Epic of Gilgamesh sees a continuous recurrence of the concepts of fate and destiny. ... This can be seen in two distinct examples throughout the epic...

• Word Count: 986
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

I believe this epic can be considered as a "heroic-elegiac poem-. An epic is defined as a "long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society."" Although this is found in Beowulf, the elements of an epic hero poem and an elegiac poem combined, more completely describe this piece of Anglo-Saxon literature. As an epic hero, Beowulf has "superior physical strength- and "reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society,"" that being Anglo-Saxon's mythical culture. ... Combining the elements of an epic hero...

• Word Count: 343
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Homer's The Odyssey, Odysseus portrays the perfect Homeric hero in possessing all the defining traits of an admirable hero and leader. ... The epic's protagonist, Odysseus, is immediately introduced as the hero whose sharp intellect and wit helped win the Trojan war. The Odyssey continues to exemplify his heroic traits in the epic of his homecoming. ... By his unnecessary taunts, Odysseus flaws his heroic character through excessive pride, whose consequences are manifested throughout the epic. ... His respect for the gods and xenia, overall loyalty to his wife and kingdom, as w...

• Word Count: 885
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A modern-day hero can be described as someone who isn't looking for the camera or applause. In today's society physical feats are not required to obtain the status of being a hero anymore. ... All through the poem Beowulf embodies the perfect's characteristics and archetypal hero, such as loyalty to his men and his kingdom, and Beowulf's bravery and strength throughout the epic. ... An important quality that every hero in the Anglo-Saxon culture must possess is loyalty. ... Throughout the poem, Beowulf is constantly displaying characteristics of an epic hero. ...

• Word Count: 1028
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Beowulf is an epic, though is often overlooked as not being a true epic according to some scholars. This epic, however, is an undeniable example of the hybrid of Christian and Pagan imagery. ... Hrothgar is the king figure who calls on a hero, Beowulf, to defeat the evil, Grendel and the dragon, that threatens to destroy the paradise created, much like a biblical story. ... Beowulf, in a like manner, is also seen as a traditional epic hero. ... Beowulf's continued success as a great epic of the Middle Ages is due to the classic tale that it tells. ...

• Word Count: 425
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Many of history's epics revolve around the classic struggle and journey of one man's destiny. ... Without the archetype a hero is simply a man struggling as means to an end. ... When regarding the archetype of hero in an epic tale, key elements arise from the subconscious to the conscious regarding the behavior and storyline of the hero. ... For example most heroes' face an event that causes them to leave their family on an uncanny adventure, where the hero usually finds help along the way from the supernatural. ... The pretense that a hero typically follows a profile doesn'...

• Word Count: 852
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

These exterior influences and pressures, combined with Milton's amazing ability and the mirror his writings seem to hold up to society, are the key to understanding Milton's confusing ambiguity in making Satan the epic hero in "Paradise Lost". The critical readings and commentaries on "Paradise Lost" seem to be overwhelmed by the epic poem itself. ... He writes in his "Second Defence" that the epic poet is not able to focus on anything more than a particular event. He says, Moreover, just as an epic poet, if he is scrupulous and disinclined to break the rules, undertakes to ext...

• Word Count: 1188
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Beowulf Embodies Heroic Ideals critical (question1, p6 In Beowulf the classic epic, Beowulf, the hero of the epic, and other major characters reflect heroic ideals and beliefs of courage, generosity, unquestioning loyalty and devotion. ... Essentially, as portrayed by the heroes of Beowulf, the "good" people should, like Beowulf, live by the heroic values of valor and courage, loyalty and devotion and together with generosity attain immortality through their glorious examples....

• Word Count: 518
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The readers of these two stories must appreciate the epics of both. Within the poem The Odyssey, Odysseus is construed as the hero that eventually returns to his wife, Penelope. ... Us readers are adapted to these fairytales with heroes without the mystery of whether they are the protagonist or antagonist. ... The attraction to the author's portrayals and interpretations of Penelope and Odysseus show a sense of irony while both stories have the epic subject matter that the reader must appreciate. ...

• Word Count: 709
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Homer's epic poem the 'Odyssey' tells of a similar story; the poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after the fall of Troy. ... In conclusion, the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou, is obviously based on the epic poem the 'Odyssey' by Homer, where two main heroes and their men go on an adventure in order to get home; with the main hero needs to get home in time before his wife remarries....

• Word Count: 967
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The works must be dramatized and evoke feelings of pity and fear from the audience, for the main character or tragic hero as he or she moves toward a destructive end, eventually leading the audience to "explode" at the ultimate downfall of the hero. ... He goes through a series of unfortunate events that ultimately prove that he is, in fact, the tragic hero in the play. ... Although he made many attempts to change it, it went well beyond his reach, arousing pity and fear from the audience as they await his epic downfall as the tragic hero. ... Marjorie Barstow, however, believes th...

• Word Count: 1098
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Hogan March 7, 2002 Essay Question #4: In reading The Iliad by Homer, we were introduced to the many conflicting character traits of one of the epic's major heroic characters, Akhilleus. Although The Iliad portrays Akhilleus as a great warrior and a noble hero, his irrational and horrific actions can at times tarnish the image of this great character. Akhilleus possesses all the marks of a great hero, and throughout the story proves to us that he is, if not the mightiest, one of the mightiest military warriors amongst both the Achaean and Trojan armies. ...

• Word Count: 725
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Churchill: The Unexpected Hero, Paul Addison describes Winston Churchill's path to historical greatness. He traces Churchill's personal development and political career and explores how a "politician who had a one time or another offended every party and faction became the embodiment of national unity, an uncrowned king whose charisma threatened to eclipse the monarchy. " (4) Addison develops the theme of "the epic struggle between Churchill and his critics " (1) over the years, declaring that "Churchill won two great victories in the Second World War. ... He persistently and effe...

• Word Count: 1199
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The series has built to a climax and just as the noble, Herculean hero is about to crush the virulent evil-doer, otherwise known as the bad guy, the screen cuts from the epic struggle of good versus evil to an advertisement for the newest N-Sync' CD. ...

• Word Count: 667
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Gibson gets to express a great deal of tragic rage in "The Patriot," an ambitious, two-hour-and-forty-minute Revolutionary War epic about Benjamin Martin, a character loosely based on a number of actual men who fought guerilla-style in the American Revolution. ... In this way, Martin is never a clearly defined hero, and the title "The Patriot" becomes somewhat questionable. ...

• Word Count: 655
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the company of his grandparents the 5-year-old hero is seen as the story opens leaving his mother's funeral, the readers are informed that the characters father had died the previous year, in the mountains of Tennessee namely in Cherokees hills where their remote cabin lies. ... One of the most appealing aspects of the book in my opinion is on its strong appeal to express its underlying moral certainly mainly through its epic use of changing tones. ...

• Word Count: 938
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The blameless young heroes, Harmodios and Aristogeiton, or the Alkmeonidai with the Spartans? Were the young heroes blameless or just erotically miffed? ... As a playwright (and a showman), Aristophanes was as willing as Shakespeare to take advantage of the situations presented to him in the context of great epic stories and shape them to meet his own dramatic ends. ...

• Word Count: 1075
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Poets like Homer and playwrights like Aeschylus started incorporating these barbarians into their heroic tales and historic dramas as a way to create foreign opposition for their heroes and the one unifying aspect of their tales is how they describe these strangers from strange lands. ... Homer's Odyssey is one of the Greek epic poems that show extreme differences in foreigners. ...

• Word Count: 1036
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Arête is a term of excellence or honor that was given to special warriors or heroes when they achieved a heroic feat or performed a type of duty that requires great skill and bravery that only a few gifted people possess. ... In the Iliad Achilles is one of the major characters that express arête and his need for honor and virtue throughout the entire epic. ...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

One such myth, Atrahasis, illustrates the potent Mesopotamian beliefs of creation, the untold power of the many irritated, exalted gods to whom they owe eternal servitude, the inevitableness of death, and the possibility that among the noisy, bothersome humans, a hero may exist to save the world from its own self-destruction. ... Religion was especially impacted by the development of literature, as epic poems and myths, such as Atrahasis began to be contrived, which sought to provide their readers with explanations of the unexplainable, establish moral guidelines to be meticulously followed...

• Word Count: 1127
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate