HELASW—Epic Hero Cycle Test (Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Odyssey)

This is a Knowt to help you study for your Epic Hero Test in HELASW!

Call to Adventure in Beowulf

Beowulf hears of the monster, Grendel and is asked to fight him by King Hrothgar ← herald

Leaving the Ordinary World in Beowulf

Beowulf leaves Geatland

Facing Departure Threshold Guardians in Beowulf

Beowulf meets the Danish Coast Guard

Extraordinary conception/childhood in Beowulf

Beowulf was orphaned and later adopted by Hrothgar

Attempted murder, wound, escape in Beowulf

Beowulf lost his father, Ecgtheow

Crosssing threshold to special world in Beowulf

Beowulf enters Denmark

Wise, Helpful Guide/ Mentor Meeting in Beowulf

Beowulf meets with Hrothgar

Acquisition of Hero Partners in Beowulf

14 warriors join Beowulf on his quest

Enchanted forest/helpful animals in Beowulf

The Magic Marsh Den (where he fights Grendel’s Mother, her lair)

Mystic (Spiritual) Insight in Beowulf *

The knowledge that Beowulf gains in which states that swords aren’t enough for the fight

Supernatural aid in Beowulf

Beowulf has the strength of 30 men in one arm

Losing the guide/ death of a mentor in Beowulf

Beowulf loses his father

Descent into the Underworld in Beowulf

Beowulf dives into the mere (the lake or pool where Grendel and his mother reside)

Belly of the Beast in Beowulf

Beowulf fights Grendel in Heorot (Grendel has “home-court advantage)

Apotheosis (new awareness) in Beowulf

Beowulf learns that he is not immortal and that he can die

Boon/Boost in Beowulf

Beowulf is lauded as a hero, he receives a banner, chain mail, gold standards and armor.

Rescue in Beowulf

Beowulf rescues the Danes from Grendel and his mother ← a tribe living in Denmark led by King Hrothgar

Flight and/or hunt in Beowulf

Beowulf seeks out Grendel’s mom

Monster combat/Dragon battle in Beowulf

Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel’s mom and the Dragon

Special weapon in Beowulf

Beowulf’s magic sword which was gifted to him by Unferth

Resurgence of Evil in Beowulf

Once Grendel is defeated, Evil resurges when Grendel’s mom comes back to defeat Beowulf

Dismemberment in Beowulf

Grendel loses his arm and later his head after he is murdered. Grendel’s mother also loses her head during the fight

Entombment in Beowulf

Beowulf enters Grendel’s mother’s cave

Rout of Pretenders in Beowulf

Beowulf silences Unferth

Night sea journey

Beowulf had a long night sea journey from Geatland to Denmark

Rescue from afar in Beowulf *

Beowulf comes from afar to rescue Hrothgar’s kingdom

Reward - “Seizing the sword” in Beowulf

Beowulf takes the reigns as king

Summons to return in Beowulf

His leadership is needed in the Geatland

Return in Beowulf *Special skill gained after visiting Sacred Grove

Beowulf returns with a new understanding of what a good king should be

Acceptance of opposite or “shadow”

Beowulf accepts that he is not immortal

Freedom to live in Beowulf

Beowulf was free to live as an honorable king

Master of two worlds in Beowulf

Beowulf was a warrior hero in Denmark and an honorable knight in Geatland

Law giving in Beowulf

Beowulf serves as king

Extraordinary death on hilltop in Beowulf

Beowulf was buried in a Ceremonial Burial Mound

Heralds and the Call to Adventure in Gilgamesh*

Gilgamesh challenges Enkidu to adventure out to slay Humbaba

Initial Refusal of the Call in Gilgamesh

Enkidu tries to warn Gilgamesh of Humbaba’s powers

Leaving the Ordinary World in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh leaves Uruk

Facing Departure Threshold Guardians in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh encounters stone guardians on his quest to find the Plant of Immortality

Extraordinary conception/ childhood in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is born 1/3 man, 2/3 god

Crossing threshold to special world in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh enters the Cedar Forest

Acquisition of Hero Partners in Gilgamesh

Enkidu joins Gilgamesh as a Hero Partner

Enchanted forest/helpful animals in Gilgamesh

The Cedar Forest

Supernatural Aid in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is aided by the wind of Shamash to defeat Humbaba

Meeting the goddess in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh meets with his goddess mom, Ninsun, and later with Ishtar and Ur-sishbi

Descent into the Underworld in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh goes to seek the Plant of Immortality but must said the River of Death

Belly of the Beast in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh enters Humbaba’s world

Women as a temptress in Gilgamesh

The goddess Ishtar makes advances at Gilgamesh (inappropriate moves)

Hell’s gate in Gilgamesh

Enkidu “stands” at Hell’s gate in his dream

Dark Road of Trials/ Supreme Ordeal in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh fails to stay awake for six days, seven nights (supreme ordeal), travels the long, harsh journey back to Uruk

Supreme Ordeal

A dangerous physical test or a deep inner crisis that the Hero must face in order to survive or for the world in which the Hero lives to continue to exist.

Apotheosis (new awareness) in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh learns of the truth of mortality (death)

Boon/boost in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh finds the Plant of Immortality

Flight and/ or Hunt in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh hunts for the Plant of Immortality

Monster combat/Dragon battle in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh fights Humbaba

Resurgence of Evil in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh loses Enkidu and goes back to face a new Evil

Facing Re-Entry Threshold Guardians in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh suffers through 10 Leagues of Darkness

Dismemberment in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh cuts off Humbaba’s head

Parent/ Sibling battle in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh wrestles with Enkidu who then becomes his brother in his arms

Night sea journey in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh has a long journey across the River of Death

Reward - “Seizing the sword” in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh becomes a good king

Elixir attainment in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh uses the knowledge of his mortality to leave a legacy

Atonement (often with the father) in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh must meet and defeat Humbaba, a figurative father of evil figure

Unmasking in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is revealed as a good king

Acceptance of opposite or “shadow” in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh accepts his mortality

Freedom to live in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh has wisdom and power to be a good king

City founding in Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh founded the City of Uruk

Heralds and the Call to Adventure in Odyssey

Odysseus was called away to battle at Troy

Initial Refusal of the Call in Odyssey

Initially Odysseus acts crazy because he did not want to leave his family

Leaving the Ordinary World in Odyssey

Odysseus must leave the ordinary world, his home with Penelope (his wife) and Telemachus (his son) in Ithaca, to go to war

Attempted murder, wound, escape in Odyssey

The cyclops Polyphemus and Sirius attempt to lure them into destruction

Crossing threshold to special world in Odysseus

Odysseus must cross the open waters to return home after angering Poseidon who incites a sea storm

Wise, Helpful Guide/ Mentor in Odyssey

Odysseus is helped by the goddess Athena who guides him on his journey

Acquisition of Hero Partners in Odyssey

Odysseus is accompanied by a group of his warriors (fourteen)

Enchanted forest/ helpful animals in Odyssey

Calypso’s island is enchanted

Supernatural aid in Odyssey

Aphrodite intervenes to save Paris from Menelaus, Athena gives advice or aid when instructing to wash clothes (and consequently save Ulysses). Athena’s assistance for Odysseus serves as supernatural aid

Meeting the goddess in Odyssey

Athena desires to bring Odysseus home

Descent into the Underworld in the Odyssey

Odysseus is sent to the underworld to find information on how to get home. He nearly dies

Woman as temptress in the Odyssey

Odysseus was held by Calypso who was in love with him. On the journey back, he must face sirens who tempt his men. Fortunately he had been warned and prepared by Circe on how to defeat the sirens.

Hell’s Gate in Odyssey

Circe instructs Odysseus to travel to the Land of the Dead

Dark Road of Trials/ Supreme Ordeal in Odyssey

Odysseus competes in an athletic competition which shows his superiority. He is later captured on an island of cannibals. He escapes being eaten but many of his crew are turned to pigs

Boon/boost in Odyssey

Odysseus has the strength to draw his bow, strength that other men lack

Labyrinth in Odyssey

The two week journey becomes a year long adventure as Odysseus has to navigate the maze of setbacks

Rescue in Odyssey

Odyssey must get home to rescue his wife from the Suitors and his son from death

Flight and/ or Hunt in Odyssey

Telemachus hunts for his father (Odyssey)

Monster combat/ Dragon battle

Odysseus must outwit the cyclops monster Polyphemus. He gets him drunk and then gouges out Polyphemus’ only eye with a burning stick. He also has to defeat the Circones, the Lotus Eaters, the Lastrygonians, Sirens, Scylla, Charybis, and Helios’ cattle.

Special weapon

Only Odysseus can use his bow

Resurgence of Evil in Odyssey

Just when Odyssey is about to make it home, his men unwittingly open a bag of malicious winds that throw them off course from Aeolus

Facing Re-Entry Threshold Guardians in Odyssey

Odysseus must engage the Suitors upon his return

Sacrifice and betrayal in Odyssey

Members of Ithaca betray Odysseus when they suit Penelope (put her with a different king, *suitors), insisting that Odysseus is dead (also resurrection motif)

Dismemberment in Odyssey

Polyphemus loses his only eye

Entombment in Odyssey

Odysseus and his men are entombed or trapped in the Cyclop cave of Polyphemus

Rout of pretenders in Odyssey

Odysseus returns to find suitors seeking Penelope’s hand. He must rout these pretenders and show that he is the rightful spouse of Penelope

Night sea journey in the Odyssey

Disguised as Telemachus, Athena prepares a crew for a long journey

Reward - “Seizing the sword” in Odyssey

The King of Phaeacia give Odysseus passage home where he is restored as King of Ithaca

Summons to return in Odyssey

Odysseus is summoned to return to his wife and child after the war

Return in Odyssey

Penelope tests Odysseus to make sure it is him by saying she has moved their bed, which Odysseus replies would be impossible (the right answer since one of the legs of the bed is a tree stump.)

Resurrection/Rebirth in Odyssey

Odysseus was thought to be dead but came back after a long journey. *Coming back from the DEAD

Atonement (often with the father) in Odyssey*

Odysseus patiently waits to see if Penelope has been faithful (even though he has not). He is then reunited with his bride

Unmasking in Odyssey

Odysseus entered the palace disguised as a beggar, and then suddenly revealed that her is the King of Ithaca

Restitution/Rescue in Odyssey

Penelope is rescued from the suitors when Odyssey returns