Greek mythology has two main genres—the epic and the drama. An epic, such as Homers The Odyssey, is not about the suspense. Instead, it usually has a simple plot with more dramatic scenes. An epic also focuses on a character’s personal growth and uses descriptive language to convey their qualities through elaborate similes and epithets. In addition, epics are deeply rooted in culture. Passed down through oral tradition, epics evolve over many generations and can teach about the current culture. On the other hand, a Greek drama, such as Medea, is typically a play acted out. These plays were an essential part of Greek culture and you were expected to attend these plays. The drama itself features a chorus, which represents the audience’s thoughts and emotions as well as providing a …show more content…
A tragic hero should be likable enough to evoke pity and fear from the audience. Hamartia, a fatal flaw, should make the hero fall and have a moment of reversal where the hero realizes what they have done. The author of The Odyssey, Homer, has his own specifications on what an epic is. These epics by Homer, called Homeric Epics, include the hero going through both a physical and spiritual journey home. Odysseus goes about his wandering after Troy, and we see both his trials in making his way home and his spiritual journey, which is especially seen when he goes to Hades. The story is begun in medias res and starts with the invocation of the muse. Another characteristic of a Homeric epic are the digressions in the narration to fill in backstory and add detail. The Odyssey is organized is three parts—telemachia, adventure, and return. The book begins with Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, coming of age and Athena granting him the right to look for his father and seek revenge on the suitors. Next, the adventure recounts Odysseus’s story from when he left troy and begins to narrate his personal transformation. At last,