CLA 400 - Hero: Myth and Meaning

The idea of the hero has been important in culture and art since the earliest epic. What is heroism? What defines the hero? How does a person become a hero and what do you do afterward? These are all questions that the great epic stories from the past and the world of the media today seek to address and answer. This course looks at ancient epics dealing with the hero and brings hero tales through time to today. We look at myth, legend and lived experience, with special attention to the world of the heroes as articulated through their representation in literature, art, music and film.

General Education Requirements: Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives’ , ‘and Western Cultural Tradition

Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing

Course Typically Offered: Fall Even Years

Credits: 3