Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature

Series: Great Courses

4.1

(30)

Episodes

Rating

TVPG

Year

2014

Language

English

Publisher

The Great Courses

About

Heroes hold a special place in the imagination. Names such as Odysseus, Beowulf, and Queen Guinevere summon up mythic legends, while Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and Huckleberry Finn are some of the most recognizable figures in world literature. Study some of the most memorable and important characters ever created and gain fresh insight into what makes a hero and what makes a character successful.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1. Frodo Baggins - A Reluctant Hero

30m

What makes certain characters successful? Begin this study with a look at Frodo Baggins, the hobbit-hero from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. In considering what makes him a hero, and how he runs counter to many notions of the traditional hero, viewers will see how changing cultural values connect to heroism.

2. Odysseus - The Trickster Hero

30m

Go back to the beginning of world literature to explore what made Homer's traveling hero such a powerful figure. Odysseus's story set the model for countless road narratives, but his character, which is surprisingly sly and resourceful, is unique. Here, follow him on some of his many adventures.

3. Aeneas - The Straight Arrow

30m

Turn now to the Roman straight arrow. Aeneas's story takes him from the Trojan War to the courtship of Queen Dido and on to the founding of Rome. In writing this epic, Virgil helped shape the Roman Empire's sense of self. It also shows how old legends provide the inspiration for new tales.

4. Guinevere - A Heroine with Many Faces

30m

Trace Guinevere's adulterous affair with Lancelot and consider what effects it had on cultural values and Western history. As a powerful woman in the heart of King Arthur's court, Guinevere is an intriguing heroine: passionate, strong-willed, and complex in a way that still captures the imagination today.

5. The Wife of Bath - An Independent Woman

30m

Chaucer worked harder on the Wife of Bath than on any other character in The Canterbury Tales, leaving readers with not one but four separate perspectives on one of literature's most memorable female characters. Discover what Chaucer reveals about her, the time she lives in, and the surprising complexity of her character.

6. Cressida - A Love Betrayed

30m

Cressida is an archetypal femme fatale, embroiled in a love triangle between her true love, Troilus, and the bad boy, Diomedes. Through the lens of Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the Scottish poet Robert Henryson, discover what makes Cressida tick: Why does she send Troilus a 'Dear John' letter? What doesn't she understand about love?

7. Beowulf - A Hero with Hidden Depths

30m

Beowulf is not an easy poem to understand, but Beowulf is not an easy character to understand. Here, analyze how this classic male hero, a big, strong monster killer, may have a hidden vulnerability. Then, look at what insights Beowulf's story offers about life and death, the limits of self-reliance, and the path to achieving wisdom.

8. Thor - A Very Human God

30m

Thor may seem like another classic male hero, the god of thunder in Norse mythology and a superhero today, yet the Icelandic poems and stories from the 13th century undercut the image of Thor as a straightforward hero. These amusing tales will give viewers a new window into a character they thought they knew.

9. Robin Hood - The Outlaw Hero

30m

Who was Robin Hood? He's an anomaly in this course because his story cannot be traced to a single work or figure. Perhaps because of these gaps in the story, he seems to be a bundle of contradictions. Delve into the politics, religion, and society of Robin Hood's origins to understand his character and lasting appeal.

10. Don Quixote - The First of the Wannabes

30m

Turn next to Don Quixote, a wannabe knight-errant whose infamous exploits mark a pivotal moment in the history of literature. Explore his fantastic adventures and meet Sancho Panza, who is perhaps literature's first antihero. See why this novel is so innovative and how it has influenced writers in the centuries since its publication.

Extended Details

SeriesGreat Courses

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Thomas A. ShippeyActor