English 222-Midterm Justin Forbes
Short answer:
1. List the Epic Conventions.
-the concern with eternal human problems
-the intervention and recognition of divine or supernatural powers
-a dignified and elaborate poetic style
-usually begins in the middle – in medias res
-invokes a poetic muse
-catalogues – lists of things (ships, ancestry of a weapon)
-assembly in heaven for the gods to debate action
-gods often dispatch a divine messenger to descend and address hero
-arming of the hero -- usually divine assistance in acquisition of special weapons/armor
-the education of the hero – 2 stages:
1. undergraduate covers the arts of peace and the skills of war and
2. the application of this knowledge (often in descent of to the underworld)
-Women – either a pronounced or subtle presence in epics – setting off their conflicts, symbolizing
the goods most sought after, validating the heroic action itself. The world of epic women is the
source of both the most difficult problems and the highest values.
-a flawed hero
2. Discuss either Hektor or Achilles as a tragic hero.
A tragic hero is described as a hero whose own actions lead to his downfall. Although
Hektor is described as a great Trojan warrior, he made some fatal flaws one of which ultimately
led to his demise. Hektor’s refusal to run from Achilles even after realizing the gods were no
longer with him makes him the most tragic hero in The Iliad.
3. Explain the significance of the line: “There can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves
and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other.”
