EPIC POETRY

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EPIC POETRY

• by
• Dr. Bookie Reynolds
• Pellissippi State Technical Community College

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EPIC POETRY

• An epic is a long narrative poem, written in a
  dignified, formal style, in sufficient detail to
  give a picture of a race or nation and its
  civilization.
• The action of an epic is centered around a hero
  of more than human proportions.

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EPIC POETRY

• A folk epic is an epic poem of uncertain
  authorship, e.g. Homers Iliad and Odyssey, the
  Old English Beowulf, the Sumerian Gilgamesh.
• A literary or art epic is an epic poem written by
  a known author for a specific purpose,
  e.g.Virgils Æneid, Dantes Divine Comedy,
  Miltons Paradise Lost.

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EPIC POETRY
Characteristics of epics--both folk and literary

• The hero is of imposing stature, of national or
  international importance, and of great historical
  and legendary significance.
• The setting is vast in scope, covering great
  nations, the world, or the universe.
• The actions consist of deeds of great valor or
  requiring superhuman courage.

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EPIC POETRY
Characteristics of epics--both folk and literary

• Supernatural forcesgods, angels, and
  demonsinterest themselves in the action and
  intervene from time to time.
• A style of sustained elevation and grand
  simplicity is used.
• The epic poet recounts the deeds of the heroes
  with objectivity.

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EPIC POETRY
Additionally, epics employ some or all of the
standard conventions.

• Statement of theme
• Invocation to Muse
• In medias res
• Epic Question
• Catalogs of warriors, ships, armies, etc.
• Extended formal speeches
• Stock epithets
• Epic similes (extended similes)

• Hand-to-hand combat between heroes
• Descriptions of armor, weaponry
• Sacrifices, rituals to gods
• Bragging, boasting
• Feasting
• Funeral rites, lamenting
• Digressive episodes