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The Literary Overview

The The Byronic (Romantic) hero The epic hero is a man who typically embodies This heroic is often attirbuted to the the great est characteristics of a certain culture. famous Romantic poet Lord . The first He is not an ordinary man, but a man with out- version of Byron’s hero appears in the opening standing quality and greatness about him. His stanzas of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, canto 1, traits may include... written in 1812 when the author was 21. At this stage, the is rather crudely • bravery depicted as a young man, prematurely sated by • knowledge or wisdom sin, who wanders about in an attempt to escape • strength society and his own memories. The Byronic • descended/blessed by the gods hero’s attributes may include... • meets a challenge/quest • moody & introspective Famous examples would include... • loner, rejected by society • King Arthur • distaste for tradition & social norms • Harry Potter • being an exile, an outcast, or an • Superman • lack of respect for rank and privilege • Beowulf • troubled past • El Cid • cynical, demanding, arrogant • Odysseus • self-destructive • Robin Hood Famous examples would include... • Lucifer in Paradise Lost The • Childe Harold (Byron) The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is • (Byron) not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding • (Byron) quality and greatness about him. His traits may • Faust (Goethe) include... The Anti-hero • noble birth • (tragic flaw-sin) An anti-hero is a who lacks the • hubris (overarching pride) traditional heroic attributes and qualities. • (reversal of fortune) Instead, this character is riddled with • doomed by fate weaknesses and confusion. His lack of courage, • tragic downfall honesty, or social grace reflects “modern man’s ambivalence toward traditional and social Famous examples would virtues.” include... • Macbeth Famous examples would include... • Hamlet • Scooby Doo • • Inspector Clouseau • Joe Keller in All My • Chance Gardner in Being There Sons • Yossarian in Catch 22 • Othello • Don Quixote by Cervantes