EPIC HERO.docx

Elizza Kaimachiande
Mr. Hutcheson
Honors English 10
10/23/16
First They Killed My Father: an epic hero story
As stated by reference.com, an epic hero is defined as a character in an epic poem who is noble and brave and is affected by great events or admired for his achievements. In other words, an epic hero is someone who, against all odds, succeeds and overcomes in some way. A good example would be characters we read in fictional stories and comic books. And yet, we fail to see that a regular person can be an epic hero given certain circumstances. We can, in fact, be like the people we read in fanatical stories and comic books. A good example of an epic would be the novel First They Killed My Father. Loung, the main character of the novel, is an epic hero because of her personality and more specifically because of the novel itself.
To begin with, the novel has an adventure threshold. An adventure threshold is a place where the main character crosses over into the new, unfamiliar world. Specifically, in this story, the main character, Loung, crosses the adventure threshold during the 4th day of the seven day walk. The fourth day is the day her family reaches the Khmer Rouge checkpoint town of Kom Baul. This is the adventure checkpoint because shortly after they reach Kom Baul, Loung, the main character, begins to hear about people being killed frequently. This signifies a change in environment. Because the novel includes this specific part that is seen in all epic hero stories, the novel must be an epic and Loung must be an epic hero.
Secondly, the novel describes a moment of atonement within the story. Atonement is usually making up for wrongs or making amends. Specifically, in this story, During the chapter of the execution, Loung makes amends within herself and relations with the Khmer Rouge. In this chapter, she realizes killing will not bring any of her loved ones back. It will only make her a shell of herself. Because Loung makes up for her bad thoughts and has atonement within herself, this novel must be an epic thus she must be an epic hero.
Thirdly, there is a supreme ordeal or main challenge/conflict within the novel. Specifically, in this story, the main character Loung experiences the death of her Father, Mother, Sister, and baby sister. Though, the deaths of Ma, Pa, and her little sister Geak made a lasting imprint on her. In a way, their deaths were both an internal wound and a seminal event in Loung's life. In the chapter in which Pa is taken, (in Loung's POV), it states "My mind swirls with pain and anger. The pain grows larger in my stomach." In the chapter in which Loung finds out her mother and sister are dead, it states, "the pain in my heart hurts so much it becomes physical and attacks my shoulders…" Because Loung experiences a supreme ordeal and internal wound, this novel must be an epic thus she must be an epic hero.
Lastly, there is a call to adventure during the exposition of the novel. In this story, the main character Loung and her family were rather forced by the Khmer Rouge to drop everything to leave the city. In the chapter Takeover, the soldiers state: "the U.S will bomb the city! Leave now! You will be able to return in 3 days!" Though these words were lies, it did help Loung begin her adventure. Because Loung and her family were called to leave the city, their home, in the beginning of the story, this novel mist be an epic thus Loung must be an epic hero.
In conclusion, the novel First They Killed My Father must be an epic and the main character, Loung must be an epic hero. Loung experienced and went through things only experienced in heroic tales. She experienced a call to adventure. She, with her family, were rushed out of the city, her home. She experienced and crossed the adventure threshold. She went from living a nice middle class life to living impoverished. She receives, emotionally and eternally, a wound from the death of her parents. Given these points, First They Killed My Father must be an epic and the main character, Loung must be an epic hero.








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