The Epic
…The epic imparts
solemnity to history…
-Victor Hugo
What is it?
• One of the earliest forms of literature
• A long narrative poem
• Recounts the adventures of a legendary
hero
–In pursuit of a goal of national importance
–Hero’s accomplishments
• Reflect values of his culture
• Usually figure prominently in the history or
mythology of his people
Elements of the Epic
Epic hero
Central character in the epic
Larger than life (typically of noble/semi-divine
birth)
Puts his skill, courage, and virtue against
opposing (evil) forces
Quest
Long dangerous journey or mission taken by the
hero
Opportunity to prove his heroism and win honor
and renown
Valorous Deeds
Actions demonstrate hero’s
courage/strength/virtue
Make up most of the action
Devine Intervention
Receives help from a god or supernatural
force
Great Events
Important events from history or
mythology of a nation/culture provide the
backdrop
Types of Epics
Folk Epics
Literary Epics
Folk Epics
• Stories that were once recited for
entertainment and passed down orally
from one generation to the next
–Written down long after they were
composed
–Examples include
• Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon)
• Gilgamesh (Sumerian)
Literary Epics
• Written by individual authors drawing on
the style and conventions of the folk epic
–Examples include
• Iliad and Odyssey (Homer)
• Aeneid (Virgil)
• Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri)
• Paradise Lost (John Milton)
Epic Convention
• Opens by stating the subject or purpose
– Followed by invocation of a muse or supernatural force
to help tell the story
• Plot begins in medias res
– In the middle
• Most are serious in tone and lofty in style
– Include
• long speeches by characters
• long lists of battles, weapons, gifts
• long descriptions and history of characters
– Both suggest impressive formality