For almost five millennia, epics have recounted deeds of warrior-kings. Many of those heroes established bonds with others, within and outside their empires. Many have also found themselves in individual combat with heroes representing their enemies. The epic warrior-kings of past millennia long ago became the stuff of literature, read mostly by students in literature classes in high schools or universities. In the 20th century, modern versions appeared in the form of space epics set centuries in the future, for example, Star Trek. In television programs and movies, the warrior-kings have been replaced by commanders of spaceships which travel solar systems and beyond in search of sentient beings and civilizations, beings with whom they could establish peaceful relations designed to enable both to prosper. In Star Trek, Captain James T. Kirk is forced into single combat with the commander of the Gorn spaceship by beings experimenting with concepts of human/Gorn physical, intellectual, and moral strength. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of a more advanced Enterprise is drawn into an effort at mutual cooperation by Dathon, Captain, the Tamarian Starship. What happens to Kirk and Picard are variations on themes part of heroic epic traditions for millennia. Heroes to be discussed will be selected from among the following:
Gilgamesh/Enkidu
Achilles/Patrocles vs Hector
David vs Goliath
Rama vs Ravana
Beowulf/Wyglaf vs Grendel/The Dragon
Sundiata vs Soumaoro
However, the primary focus will be on James T. Kirk/Gorn Commander and Jean-Luc Picard/Dathon at El-Adrel and their forebears, Gilgamesh/Enkidu at Uruk and Darmok/Jalad at Tanagra.
About the presenterSidney Krome
Sidney Krome earned his Ph. D. in Comparative Literature in 1970. From 1970 until 2001, he served as a fulltime faculty member at Coppin State College until 2001, moving from Assistant to Associate to Full Professor. He served as Deaprtment Chair and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Krome is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Humanities at Coppin. He has written book reviews, OP-ED pieces, and a number of published and unpublished poems; of The Nancy Tapes, published by AmErica House in 2000; and of Odysseus to Athena. Sonnets from the Greek, published by PublishAmerica in 2003. The Survivor: An Oratorio of Celebration, his play about slavery, was produced at Coppin in March 2000. Dr. Krome has written two works about the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: The LIFE of a STAR, commemorating the 25th anniversary, published by Charles Press in 1989 and re-issued in 2013, and The Far-Off Night, an autobiographical novel of grief.