Writing Assignment: The Epic Hero
OBJECTIVE: Student will create a detailed epic hero and a villain or obstacle for him or her to overcome, then craft an original short story 4-5 pages in length that tells his or her tale. Your story must be typed, double spaced and in MLA format.
Students will complete the assignment in segments. All must be typed. Note the individual due dates for each component:
*NOTICE: KEEP ALL COMPONENTS AND DRAFTS ANNOTATED WITH YOUR TEACHER'S COMMENTS. YOU WILL TURN THESE ALL IN WHEN YOU TURN IN YOUR COMPLETED EPIC.
PART ONE: Character Outline - The Epic Hero Due: October 11-12
Physical Appearance - What does your hero look like? Provide a detailed description of him/her that includes height, weight, build, hair and eye color and any distinguishing characteristics (e.g. scars, handicaps).
Character Exposition – Where is your character from? What are the circumstances of his/her birth? Epic heroes usually have interesting origins, a birth that involves some supernatural elements. Is the hero watched over by a god or goddess or is he/she the child of a mortal and a god or goddess?
Motivation – What does the hero want/need? Why does he/she need it? Does the hero fight to protect a particular people or to achieve a particular goal?
A Flaw – Epic heroes are not infallible. Each has his/her own specific weakness. The hero’s weakness could be a physical characteristic or a personality trait (e.g. Gilgamesh freezes up when in the face of danger; Achilles is the victim of his own pride and anger).
PART TWO: Character Outline – The Antagonist Due: October 15-16
Appearance – What does your hero’s enemy look like? Remember that the antagonist does not need to be human. He/she/it can be a god or goddess or an imaginary creature. Whatever you choose, provide a detailed description following the guidelines for the Epic Hero portion of this assignment above.
Character Exposition – Why does the antagonist oppose the protagonist? What is his/her/its history? Where does the antagonist live?
PART THREE: Detailed Story Outline Due: October 19
The student will provide a typed, detailed outline of his/her story. Each part of the story must be explained in detail.
Your story must include the following elements:
· His/her story begins in medias res, “in the middle of things”
· The story must include at least one epic simile
· The hero’s and the antagonist’s origins must be explained
· The hero must undertake some kind of journey
· The hero must engage in one epic battle against his/her antagonist
· The hero may travel with others, but he/she must face his/her final task alone
· After the final task is successfully accomplished, the hero returns home and becomes a leader of his/her people
Your story may include the following elements:
· Kennings
· Alliteration
· Flashbacks
· Stock epithets
PART FOUR: Rough Draft Due: October 26
PART FIVE: Final Draft Due:
*TURN IN ALL ANNOTATED DRAFTS AND ASSIGNMENT COMPONENTS WITH YOUR FINAL DRAFT
Students will complete the assignment in segments. All must be typed. Note the individual due dates for each component:
*NOTICE: KEEP ALL COMPONENTS AND DRAFTS ANNOTATED WITH YOUR TEACHER'S COMMENTS. YOU WILL TURN THESE ALL IN WHEN YOU TURN IN YOUR COMPLETED EPIC.
PART ONE: Character Outline - The Epic Hero Due: October 11-12
Physical Appearance - What does your hero look like? Provide a detailed description of him/her that includes height, weight, build, hair and eye color and any distinguishing characteristics (e.g. scars, handicaps).
Character Exposition – Where is your character from? What are the circumstances of his/her birth? Epic heroes usually have interesting origins, a birth that involves some supernatural elements. Is the hero watched over by a god or goddess or is he/she the child of a mortal and a god or goddess?
Motivation – What does the hero want/need? Why does he/she need it? Does the hero fight to protect a particular people or to achieve a particular goal?
A Flaw – Epic heroes are not infallible. Each has his/her own specific weakness. The hero’s weakness could be a physical characteristic or a personality trait (e.g. Gilgamesh freezes up when in the face of danger; Achilles is the victim of his own pride and anger).
PART TWO: Character Outline – The Antagonist Due: October 15-16
Appearance – What does your hero’s enemy look like? Remember that the antagonist does not need to be human. He/she/it can be a god or goddess or an imaginary creature. Whatever you choose, provide a detailed description following the guidelines for the Epic Hero portion of this assignment above.
Character Exposition – Why does the antagonist oppose the protagonist? What is his/her/its history? Where does the antagonist live?
PART THREE: Detailed Story Outline Due: October 19
The student will provide a typed, detailed outline of his/her story. Each part of the story must be explained in detail.
Your story must include the following elements:
· His/her story begins in medias res, “in the middle of things”
· The story must include at least one epic simile
· The hero’s and the antagonist’s origins must be explained
· The hero must undertake some kind of journey
· The hero must engage in one epic battle against his/her antagonist
· The hero may travel with others, but he/she must face his/her final task alone
· After the final task is successfully accomplished, the hero returns home and becomes a leader of his/her people
Your story may include the following elements:
· Kennings
· Alliteration
· Flashbacks
· Stock epithets
PART FOUR: Rough Draft Due: October 26
PART FIVE: Final Draft Due:
*TURN IN ALL ANNOTATED DRAFTS AND ASSIGNMENT COMPONENTS WITH YOUR FINAL DRAFT