Term 2 - Lec 9 (The Greek Hero)

Question 1

What does the greek hero considered to do?

________ humans

Answer 1

Transcend the human

Question 2

What are typical features of the Greek hero? (12)

Answer 2

• divine parent + human parent
  (therefore divided)
• unusual birth story
• threatened at birth by a hostile force
• early display of special powers
• education in exile and/or isolation, often by supernatural beings
• quest (often with an impossible task)
• slay monster/powerful opponent
• divine assistance + opposition
• return home, spiritually transformed
• unhappy domestic arrangements when trying to settle back
  (horrible tragedy that ensues –> suffers terribly)
• strange/ironic death (not glorious)
• undying fame via song/cult (only form of immortality that humans can have)

Question 3

What are the three main stages of a Greek hero’s life?

Answer 3

SEPARATION (from home + family)
INITIATION (through some ordeal that transforms hero to a higher status)
RETURN

Question 4

How is the Greek hero a divided person?

Answer 4

• greater than other mortals (a role model, especially for the warrior in battle or athlete)
• but divided because human and divine
• -> frequently isolated/alone
• -> often beastial/aggressive
• -> difficult for hero to know/accept limits (i.e. mortality)
• -> hubristic
• -> faces divine punishment (resulting in loss of things closest to him that represent his mortal side)

Question 5

How is the hero isolated/alone?

Answer 5

Isolated and/or alone due to:

• divine enemies
• normal mortals not understanding their desire to achieve impossible quests at risk of death
• having to reject/kill women so they don’t tame/kill him instead

Question 6

How is the hero both a benefactor and a destroyer?

Answer 6

BENEFACTOR
- protects civilization, tames nature, champion of culture (therefore redeemer; uplifts humanity)
DESTROYER
- often not in control of his own violence
- therefore can be destructive, violent force of nature + threat to culture

Question 7

Which life-stories of gods reflects the pattern of the hero as benefactor/destroyer?

What is the major difference between gods and heroes with this story pattern?

Answer 7

• i.e. Zeus, Apollo, Ares
• major difference = DON’T HAVE TO FACE DEATH!
• therefore, their stories aren’t tragic since gods don’t experience tragedy
  (entering mortal realm = entering tragic realm)

Question 8

Due to their “divided nature”, which creature do heroes resemble?

Answer 8

Centaurs