What are the elements of epic heroes? We're having an exam on Rape of the Lock for AP Literature tmrw. Since Rape of the Lock is a mock epic, I'm...

Epic heroes are usually composites of the ideals of a
country or a nation. They represent the national identity in a positive manner (that's
why they're heroes) and are seldom real people. Some of them are based on actual human
beings and their exploits. For example, El Cid was in reality a knight named Rodrigo
Diaz de Vivar whose tomb may be visited in the Burgos cathedral in Spain. Whether or not
he accomplished everything for which he is credited is not certain, but he was a heroic
man and therefore a heroic figure. Other heroes are just made up by authors based on the
accomplishments of men in the past. This may include such epics as the Odyssey (was
there really an Ulysses?) and the Iliad. A mock epic, like Rape of the Lock,  uses
the exaggerated language and actions of epic heroes for comic purposes. In this case,
Pope was satirizing the Greek heroes of the Iliad, and the lock of hair becomes parallel
or similar to the abduction of Helen of Troy, which is obviously
absurd.