Midterm Engl 251

Epic hero

a larger-than-life protagonist in a long, narrative poem (epic) who embodies the values of their culture and undertakes a perilous journey

Aristiea

Ecphrasis

paradigm

 example from the past used to justify or influence behavior in the present

meleager

a mythological greek hero whose story is used in the lliad as a paradigm about anger and withdrawal from battle

ring composition

narrative structure where the story ends in a way that mirrors or returns to the beginning

andromache

the wife of hector in the lliad, representing family, loyalty, and the human cost of war

supplication

a formal act of begging or pleading often involving gestures like kneeling or touching someone’s knees

kleos

greek concept of glory or fame earned through heroic deeds, especially in battle

heat of the moment

intense action or emotional scenes where characters make quick, impactful decisions

opening of an epic

often includes in medias res, invocation to the Muse, and introduction of the main conflict

epic similarities

shared features across epics

nekula