THE EPIC POERTY.pptx

THE EPIC POERTY.pptx

1. EPIC POETRY TAMSA PANDYA RESERCH SCHOLAR

2. Definition “An epic is a long narrative poem that tells the story of heroic deeds, normally accomplished by more-than-human characters”

3. What is EPIC poetry? Epic is a  P oetic genre   where the poems are of considerable length (massive!) and involve a narrative involving the supernatural (extraordinary). They are Heroic tales of adventure . Epic poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature and some even predate writing and are traditionally told orally. The word 'epic' originates from the Greek word  Epos ,  meaning word , or song .

4. THE ORIGINS OF EPIC POETRY The earliest known example of epic poetry is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' ,  a Mesopotamian poem thought to be over 4000 years old, with historians believing it was written in 2100 (BCE). It tells the story of the Sumerian king Gilgamesh and his quest for immortality, meeting all kinds of obstacles on the way. Its author is unknown and is written in a language known as Akkadian . It was discovered written on clay tablets in modern-day Iraq .

5. COUNT….. Perhaps the most famous epic poems are those that are credited to Homer , a major influence on western literature . These are the epic poems 'The Iliad'   and ' The   Odyssey' . ‘ ' The   Iliad'   tells the story of the Trojan war in its tenth year. 'The   Odyssey'   tells the story of the hero Odysseus and his journey back from Troy after the events of 'The Iliad', and in some sense its sequel.

6. Narrative in Epic Poetry. Heroic tales of swords, gods and monsters ... there are many familiar tropes to the epic poem narrative. One motivating factor for these heroes is that of fame and glory , epic heroes wish to be remembered for eternity. As a result, they defy the gods and fight monsters , leaving home for lengthy periods hoping to return and be adored. The lives of these heroes are often short but their aim is to be remembered for their outstanding acts of bravery by later generations.

7. Differences between Epic and Lyric Poetry Form and Length Narration and character 1 2

8. Narration and character Traditionally epic poem third-person narration Typically following the hero through a series of adventures In the lyric form, the poems are normally told in the first person narration It don't follow a series of events but consist of the narrator speaking of an emotional experience about one thing. Epic poems, though originating in different parts of the world during different periods, usually include a familiar  poetic form . Sometimes this can be  rhyme  or  meter Many lyrical poems are written in  free verse , though some may follow traditional poetic forms it is not necessary for the genre.  Epic poetry is normally composed at great length , with poems nearly equaling the size of today's novels.  Lyrical poems tend to be much shorter, not often no longer than a page. Form and Length

9. Examples of Epic Poetry (1) 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' (c. 2100–1200 BC) (2) 'The Iliad' (c. 8th century BC ) (3) 'The Odyssey' (c. 8th century BCE) (4) 'Beowulf' (8th century)

10. Characteristics of Epic Poetry

11. Style Epic poetry is a narrative written using a formal style , but what does that mean? When people speak of poetry in a formal style, they usually mean poems that follow standard rules concerning rhyme and rhythm. Epic poems would usually use strict meters such as Dactylic  Hexameter   or Alliterative verse to structure their stories. The  poets  often used rhythm and repetition to help memories the often lengthy stories in the poems.

12. Narration As mentioned previously, epic poems would more often than not feature third-person narration, that narrator would also be omniscient. This allowed the narrator the follow the hero on vast journeys and make the reader aware of what dangers may lie ahead of them. “The fire-dragon had destroyed with flames the stronghold of the people, the land bordering the sea, the fortress of the nation. For that the war-king, the prince of the Weders, planned terrible vengeance.“ - Example of third-person narration in Beowulf . In this quote from 'Beowulf' ,  the reader can see that the fire-dragon is planning vengeance on the hero, who is unaware of the danger heading towards them.

13. Muses and gods A muse in Greek mythology is a goddess of the arts, like music, dance or poetry . Often at the start of epic poetry, the narrator would call upon a muse to help retell the story. Muses were not the only gods who intervened with the heroes journey, in 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' the goddess Ishtar proposes to the hero Gilgamesh, in 'The   Iliad' ,  Zeus, Aphrodite and Apollo all involve themselves in the trojan war.

14. Journeys & supernatural Epic poetry follows a hero through a journey; on that journey the hero encounters obstacles that are often supernatural. Heroes such as Odysseus had to find a way past a cyclops (a giant one-eyed monster) and sirens (mysterious sea demons). Beowulf had to fight a dragon and Gilgamesh had to fight a hideous beast known as Humbaba. It is a defining feature of epic poetry that the hero will come across something supernatural on their travels.

15. Epic Poetry - Key Takeaways Epic is a poem of considerable length and involves a narrative The oldest example of epic poetry is 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' ,  over 4000 years old The poems were told orally and repetition was used to help  poets  memories the stories. Almost all epic poetry tell stories of a hero on a journey, where they face obstacles like gods and monsters testing their strength.

16. Little more about Epic Poetry Epic poetry's influence on the world today is far-reaching. Words like 'epic' are used to describe something that is large or extraordinary. Many of today's films are based on superheroes, who, like the heroes in epic poetry, possess great strength or smarts. The Greek epics of Homer in particular are considered to be a huge influence on western literature. The world of fiction may be a very different place if there was no epic poetry.

17. Frequently Asked Questions about Epic Poetry What does epic mean in poetry? What are the examples of EPIC poetry? what are the five characteristics of EPIC poetry? What is the origins of EPIC poetry? Elaborate the genre Epic poetry. Write in detailed note on Epic poetry.

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