The tale of the hero has endured as one of the most popular narrative forms since the 3rd millennium BC. From the first recording of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh to the 21st c. cinematic spectacle of Marvel's Avengers, audiences have been transfixed by the travails of the protagonist who attains heroic status. In studying seminal heroes drawn from near eastern and ancient Greek epic, classical tragedy and history, this course will examine why the hero generates such fascination and how the hero reflects back the most fundamental concerns of human existence.
Course Attributes: FYS; BU Hum; AS HUM; AS LCD
