Perseus
-Journey or EpicAs you view the story of Perseus take notes. You may want to write down the basic plot, characters,
events, objects, etc…Be thinking about what we have been studying. Select information which applies to
what we have learned.
Simple Journey v. Epic
Below are the characteristics of the Simple Quest and the Epic. Which is the story of Perseus?
Remember: all epics are quests but not all quests are epics.
Quester
Place to Go
Stated Reason to
Go
*Mentors
Troubles and
Difficulties Along
the Way
Generally young, old people
either already know themselves
or never will.
This will be a physical place. It is
about taking the quester out of
what is normal and comfortable
so that they can grow.
This is generally a physical goal.
Get to the top of Mount Everest
for example. Though this will be
what begins the quest, it need
not be important or even
discussed by the end.
These can be either true or
false. They will guide the
quester on his/her journey. If
the mentor helps the quester
toward the real reason for
going s/he is a true mentor, if
not, s/he may be false though
they may not seem evil.
These can be many and of
many forms.
Society will be in pretty bad shape. We
see the hero before s/he has done
anything of consequence. Society needs
saving.
The Status Quo
Hero is called to go off and undertake a
challenge. He may refuse, if he does bad
things will happen until he accepts.
The Call to
Adventure
One of the hero’s greatest challenges will
be figuring out who to trust and who he
should not (think of Harry Potter).
Mentors who tell heroes what to do tend
to be false, mentors who guide heroes
tend to be true.
Mentors True/False
Gifts can in the form of objects or advice.
Are generally used to accomplish the
minor challenges.
Gifts from a
mentor
Challenges which prove to the hero that
s/he has “the right stuff.” Can be
accomplished with help of friends or
mentors.
Minor Challenges
This is physical isolation, though social
isolation might come along with it.
Hero Isolated
This is a physical challenge, though as in
the case of Gilgamesh is can be highly
symbolic. The Hero must achieve this
alone.
Real Reason to Go
This will be an internal change
within the hero. The way in
which the hero sees the world
will change.
supreme ordeal
(physical climax)
To be an Epic the World must change.
status quo changed
Often the hero is flawed in some way at
the beginning of the quest. This will be an
internal change in the way the hero
interacts with the world.
hero shows
wisdom
(spiritual climax)