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Conventions of Epic Poetry An epic poem has

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Conventions of Epic Poetry An epic poem has a hero who embodies national, cultural, or religious ideals a hero upon whose actions depends the fate of his people – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Conventions of Epic Poetry An epic poem has


1
Conventions of Epic PoetryAn epic poem has
  • a hero who embodies national, cultural, or
    religious ideals
  • a hero upon whose actions depends the fate of
    his people
  • a course of action in which the hero performs
    great and difficult deeds
  • a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine
    or supernatural powers
  • a concern with eternal human problems
  • a dignified and elaborate poetic style

2
Important Primary Epics
  • Iliad (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
  • Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
  • Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
  • Exodus (Hebrew)
  • Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon)

3
What do these primary epics have in common?
  • Each began as part of a cultures oral tradition
  • ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural values
    transferred generation-to-generation by
    traveling poets/bards who sang songs about
    cultural heroes and values
  • POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to memorize
    and more stable as passed-on

4
The Iliad
  • written by Homer around (c.) 720 B.C.
  • Homer did not invent the story, but transcribed
    it into its longest-lasting form
  • All versions we read are translated from ancient
    Greek language Translations can vary greatly
  • Called Iliad because Ilium was the Greek name
    for Troy where the war took place. Iliad
    about Ilium

5
The Trojan War (c. 1250 B.C.)Causes
  • Nuclear weapons?
  • No!
  • Treaty violations?
  • No!
  • Imperial aggression?
  • No!
  • Trade dispute?
  • No!

A WOMAN!
6
Helen of TroyThe face that launched a thousand
ships
  • Legend says that the Trojan War began when
    Paris Prince of Troy and son to the Trojan King
    Priam stole the wife of Menelaus, King of
    Sparta.

7
Why would Paris do something that stupid?
  • Legend says that Paris a desirable man
    because of his attractiveness, wealth and power
    was approached by the goddess Eris. Eris asked
    Paris to give The Golden Apple, inscribed To
    the Fairest to Athena, Hera, or Aphrodite.

8
Why would Paris do something that stupid?
  • The three goddesses were arguing over who was
    the most beautiful and powerful.
  • Eris chose Paris to settle their dispute.
  • Eris, in Greek, means Chaos.

9
Tough Choice.
  • Hera, wife of Zeus

Aphrodite/goddess of love, beauty and sexuality,
daughter of Poseidon
Athena/goddess of wisdom, daughter of Zeus
Hera/Wife of Zeus
10
Which would you choose?
  • Paris, of course, selects Aphrodite.

11
  • Menelaus promptly launches a thousand ships in
    an effort to reclaim Helen and punish Paris.
  • As King of Sparta, Menelaus has many allies.

12
Troy (aka Ilium)
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Sparta
13
A less sexy reason for the real Trojan War?
Black Sea
Bosporus
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Aegean Sea
Dardanelles
14
Line-ups The Achaeans (aka Spartans, aka Greeks)
  • Menelaus, the King
  • Agamemnon, brother to Menelaus battlefield
    leader of the Achaeans
  • Ajax
  • Odysseus
  • Patroclus, cousin to Achilles

15
Line-ups The Achaeans (aka Spartans, aka Greeks)
  • ACHILLES
  • the central character the hero of The Iliad.
  • a phenomenal warrior leader of a special
    detachment fighting with Menelaus and the
    Spartans the Myrmydons.

16
Achilles mother, Thetis
  • Thetis was a Nereid, a minor goddess who gave
    birth to Achilles, a mortal.
  • Because of her connection with Olympus as a
    Nereid, Thetis was permitted access to the
    magical river, Styx, which separated the Earth
    from Hades.
  • Thetis dipped her newborn son into the Styx,
    ensuring his protection against all mortal
    weapons, except

17
Line-ups The Trojans
  • Priam, King of Troy
  • Hecuba, his wife
  • Hector, his son prince of Troy and the Trojans
    most valiant warrior
  • Paris, younger brother of Hector
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