Hero UnitCan anyone be a hero?

Journal

Make a list of the different people you have known, heard about, or read about who can be considered heroes. Describe one specific example of each of the following types of heroes: A legendary or mythical person who performs great

deeds Someone who helps others on a daily basis A person who makes a personal sacrifice in order to

help others A courageous individual with a dangerous job A character in literature or a real person whose

determination led to great accomplishments

Oral Tradition

In the ORAL TRADITION, storytellers pass along stories by word of mouth, preserving shared cultural VALUES.

By giving memorable, moving examples of heroes and monsters, of deeds good and bad, the oral tradition helped a culture answer questions such as “What should I be like?” and “What should I do?”

Express THEMES- insights about life and human nature.

Oral Tradition

An important source of these themes is the CULTURAL EXPERIENCE of the storytellers—their core values and concerns.

Expresses UNIVERSAL THEMES, or truths about life that are meaningful to people of all times and places.

Archetypes

ARCHETYPES-characters, situations, images, and symbols that recur in the narratives of all cultures.

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS- WISE AND VIRTUOUS RULER-whose reign brings

in a golden age, or time of peace and prosperity DREAMER OR TRANSGESSOR- a character who

imagines new possibilities and defies danger to bring an important gift to society

HERO- an unpromising youth who triumphs over stronger forces through cleverness or virtue and blossoms into a wise, strong, and courageous leader.

Archetypes

ARCHETYPAL PATTERNS- The struggle between the PROTAGONIST and

ANTAGONIST, a person or force that opposes the protagonist.

A series of tests that a character must pass A quest or task that a character must complete Characters, events, or objects that come in threes A fair and just end that rewards good or punishes

evil.

*** The use of archetypal patterns likely made stories easier to remember and retell.

Forms and Characteristics of the

Oral TraditionDo not express an individual author’s POINT

OF VIEW---Instead, stories in these forms tend to express the shared VALUES, or model behaviors, attitudes, cherished by the society from which they originated.

Narrative Forms in the Oral Tradition

MYTHS Explains the actions of gods and their

interactions with humans May explain the causes of natural phenomena

or the origins of cultural traditions

FOLK TALES Deal with heroic acts, adventures, magic, or

romance; often concern the relationship between mortals and gods

Focus on human or animal heroes

Narrative Forms in the Oral Tradition

LEGENDS Are folk tales about larger-than-life heroes and

events from the past Often are based on historical fact, with factual

details becoming exaggerated and fictionalized over time

FAIRY TALES Are simple folk tales, usually told to entertain

small children Include magic or supernatural elements

Narrative Forms in the Oral Tradition

EPICS Are long narrative poems that use elevated language

and extended, elaborate comparisons of unlike subjects called epic similes

Combine features of myths and legends Describe the adventures of larger-than-life epic heroes,

who are important to the history of their cultures Often tell of the heroes’ journeys or quests, on which

the heroes are helped or hindered by gods and other supernatural creatures

Often begin with the poet’s mention of the subject and a plea to a divine being for inspiration and guidance in the telling of the tale

Analyzing Theme

A literary work develops a THEME, or central message or insight, which may be UNIVERSAL or CULTURALLY SPECIFIC.

The theme is usually implied, or indirectly expressed, by the arrangements of story elements.

Development of Theme

Story Element Development of Theme

Characters: One brother is selfish. The other is generous.

This contrast between characters encourages you to focus on ideas of selfishness and generosity.

Conflict: The selfish brother is robbed, but none of his friends will help him because he is mean-spirited.

Selfishness is connected to a bad outcome—it deprives a person of the help of others. This connection refines the theme.

Plot: The kind brother lends the selfish brother the money he needs.

The contrast between selfishness and generosity is reinforced.

Character’s Insight: The selfish brother thanks the kind brother and begs his forgiveness.

This insight further develops the idea that it is better to be generous than selfish.

Theme and Cultural Experience

Pandora’s Box: When Zeus created Pandora, he bestowed many wonderful gifts on her, including a box that he told her never to open. However, among her other gifts was curiosity, which caused Pandora to open the box. When she did, all the previously unknown evils and horrors of the world escaped.

Universal Themes: Unbridled curiosity can lead to trouble. We must follow the rules or deal with the

consequences.

Theme and Cultural Experience

Culturally Specific Themes: It is risky for mortals to ignore the gods. The gods know what is best for mortals.

Shifting Points of View

As stories were passed down through the oral tradition, story details changed as the point of view of the authors changed.

Example: Snow White

Because the Queen is jealous of her stepdaughter, the beautiful Snow White, she plots to kill her.

German Version: “Little Snow White”-retold by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, based on original Old World tales.

Point of View: Reflects the cruel, chaotic, and violent medieval view of the world.

Details: The Queen asks a huntsman to take Snow White into the woods, kill her, and bring back her liver and lungs, which are to be served for dinner. In the end, the Queen dances herself to death at Snow White’s wedding in a pair of burning hot iron shoes.

Example: Snow White

English Version: “Snow Drop”—retold by Edgar Taylor in 1823.

Point of View: Reflects a softer, kinder view of the world.

Details: The Queen asks a huntsman to take Snow Drop away but does not request proof of the girl’s death. Snow Drop dies from eating a poisoned apple, but revives when the chunk of apple falls from her mouth. In the end, the Queen dies after choking with anger at Snow Drop’s wedding.

Clues to Theme

Setting The setting—the time and place of the story—

may help to develop the theme in a number of ways. As you read, ask yourself: How does setting shape the characters’ choices?

What problems arise there? What does the setting suggest about life? For

example, is life in the setting a struggle? Is it stagnant? Is it superficial?

Clues to Theme

Characters: To determine theme, consider the qualities,

interactions, and fates of characters. Ask yourself: What are the characters like, as revealed by what

they say, do, or think? How do the characters interact? What does the main character learn from, or how

is he or she changed by events?

Clues to Theme

Cultural Context and Point of View: The cultural context of a story, or the traditions,

beliefs, and historical experiences of characters, can help shape its theme. Cultural context also helps shape the author’s point of view, or attitudes and beliefs. Ask yourself: Which clues indicate the author’s or characters’

cultural background? What values, customs, and beliefs do characters

embrace or encounter? Which details suggest the author’s point of view

on a topic? What is this point of view?

Clues to Theme

Conflict and Plot: A plot is powered by a conflict, or struggle

between opposing forces. To determine theme, consider the ideas emphasized by the plot. Ask yourself What conflict do the characters face? How is the conflict resolved? What insights do characters have, or what

lessons does the resolution teach?

Clues to Theme

Statements and Observations: Sometimes, a work includes a statement by a

character or by the narrator that suggests or illuminates the theme. As you read, ask yourself: Which statements, if any, sum up and express a

judgment about story events? Which statements, if any, express an insight

about people or life based on story events?

Clues to Theme

Archetypal Elements: Archetypes are character, types, plot patterns,

images, and symbols that recur in the narratives of all cultures. Because they often have strong, constant meanings, they can serve as clues to theme. As you read, ask yourself: Which character types and plot patterns, if any, have I

encountered in other literature? Which of these are archetypes?

What view of or lesson about life does each archetype suggest? (For example, the appearance of an archetypal hero suggests a theme of good triumphing over evil.)

Myths

MYTHS are stories that are part of the oral tradition: Before being written down, they were told and retold from one generation to the next. Myths reflect the cultures of the people who originated and shared them. Some myths explain a natural phenomenon or a

specific custom by describing its origins, or how it came to be. These myths reveal the beliefs of ancient cultures.

Myths include characters with exceptional characteristics such as strength, bravery, or wisdom. These traits emphasize qualities that the culture admired or feared.

Myths

Some myths tell of a quest, or search, for knowledge or a valued object. These myths reveal what was important to the culture.

Other myths tell of a transgression, or the violation of a rule. By example, these myths teach the values of the culture.

Analyzing Cultural Context

The cultural context of any literary work refers to the set of values, beliefs, customs, traditions, and shared experiences that define a society. To understand a myth, analyze cultural context, or determine ways in which the myth reflects the perspectives of those who told it.

Journal

Generate a list of at least five real or fictional heroes. Choose one hero, and describe what makes that person heroic.

Journal

Does a person have to have extraordinary abilities to be a hero? Think of at least three qualities you think a hero must have, and write a job description for the position of “hero.”

Journal

Every culture has people in its history or stories that are considered especially strong or wise. What can we learn about a culture by learning about its heroes?

Journal

Some fictional characters remind us of people we know. Compare a fictional hero to a hero you know. How are the heroes alike? How are they different?