Epic poetry

1. Epic Poetry
English 9-9H
2011

2. What is Epic Poetry?
A long narrative poem on a great
and serious subject, relayed in an
elevated style, and centered on a
heroic or quasi-divine figure on
whose actions depends the fate of
a tribe, a nation, or the human
race.

3. Origins of the Epic

4. Characteristics of Epic
Usually contains several books or
volumes
Many epic poems started from “oral
tradition” or spoken poems that were
memorized and recited ceremonially
In the case of the Odyssey, some
scholars believe that there were
“episodes” that were eventually
collaborated into one story

5. Characteristics of Epic cont.
Original text often has rhyme/poetic
devices
Often in rhyming couplets (aa, bb, cc)
Alliteration
Digressions (into other stories/myths)
Epithets – descriptive word or phrase
to accompany or replace a person’s
name “Brave Odysseus” or “wine-dark sea”
Repetition or reoccurring lines/phrases

6. Characteristics of Epic cont.
Contains a hero with specific
characteristics
Known as an Epic Hero
More on him later
The Setting is vast in
scope
Sometimes both in time
and space

7. Characteristics of Epic cont.
Starts “in media res” or “in the
middle”
Story begins in the middle and flashes
back so that the reader can understand
the current situation
Narrator invokes a Muse
One of the 9 daughters of Zeus that
give divine inspiration

8. Characteristics of Epic cont.
An epic also contains:
–Battles
–Romance
–A great journey
–Lists/Catalogs
•people, items, genealogies, etc.
–Supernatural influence/intervention
•Called “machinery”
–A descent into the underworld/Rebirth
–Epic Simile (or extended simile)
–Extended formal speeches

9. The Epic Hero
The hero is a figure of great national or
even cosmic importance, usually the
ideal man of his culture. He often has
superhuman or divine traits.
He has an imposing physical
stature and is greater in
all ways than the common
man.

10. The Hero’s Journey
According to Joseph Campbell’s
The Hero with a Thousand
Faces, there are three major
stages to the Hero’s Journey:
•Separation
•Initiation
•Return

12. Separation
•Call to Adventure
–Hero becomes aware beyond normal
existence (usually via a message)
•Refusal of the Call
–Hero denies abilities or desire to leave
•Crossing the first threshold
–Hero is tested and is pulled into the new
realm, often against his will

13. Initiation
•The ‘Road of Trials’
–A series of tests to prepare the hero
•Meeting with the Goddess
–An offering is made given the hero’s success
•Woman as Temptress
–Hero is found occupied/distracted by selfish pleasures
•Atonement with the Father
–Hero comes to terms with parent or protector
•Apotheosis
–Hero is transformed into full potential (or divine state)
•The Ultimate Boone
–A favor, blessing or benefit is bestowed to complete journey

14. Return
•The Refusal of the return
–Hero hesitates to return for various reasons
•The Magical Flight or Rescue from Without
–Hero makes an extraordinary journey back, either
reluctantly by force or by choice (with help)
•Crossing the Return Threshold
–Hero has a supernatural force help him cross
back over
•Master of Two Worlds
–Hero becomes a bridge or master between the
seemingly separate worlds
•Freedom to Live
–Hero has ability to move freely between realms

15. Modern Examples of Hero’s Journey

16. Homer
•Stories originated
from a series of poets
who each orally
composes an entirely
different version of
the story
•Homer is traditionally
a blind author of The
Iliad & The Odyssey
•A wandering bard,
holder of myths and
history

17. The Odyssey
•Comprised of 12,110 lines of dactylic
hexameter in the original language (Greek)
•Is considered the sequel to the Iliad, an epic
poem about the sacking of Troy
–Helen of “Troy” runs away with Paris, prince of Troy,
abandoning her husband Menelaus of Sparta
•Follows Odysseus’ 10 year journey back
from Troy to his island of Ithaca
•Encounters numerous obstacles as a result
of angering Poseidon, God of the Sea

18. References
•http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/beowulf/epic.html
•http://www.authorstream.com/presentation/Urban-49805-Epic-Definition-
long-poem-hero-media-res-invocation-muse-battles-romance-the-as-
Education-ppt-powerpoint/
•http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/Eng9/homer.html#PowerPoint_
•http://www.mythichero.com/what_is_mythology.htm
•http://vabuescher.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/
maleheromap.jpg.w560h727.jpg
•http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/300_l.jpg
•http://joefelso.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/homer.jpg
•http://handsomebwonderful.org/simpsons/images/simpson_family/Homer/h
omer2.jpeg