An Epic Poem

An epic is a long narrative poem sometimes developed orally uses elevated language to describe heroic deeds and legendary events

a celebration of a legendary hero, a larger-than-life character the theme of good versus evil, often in the form of the hero battling forces that threaten the world’s order

Epic Hero – central character, larger than life, of noble birth, fights evil forces Quest – a long dangerous journey or mission (Hero). Usually taken to win honor & undying renown Valorous Deeds – actions that demonstrate the Hero’s courage, Strength, or virtue

Divine Intervention – Hero receives help from a god or another supernatural force Great Events – Important events from the history or mythology of the culture the story is from

Folk Epics – stories about heroes Sung as entertainment Passed down Orally Example: Beowulf Literary Epics – Written by individual authors Example: Iliad / Odyssey

Opens by stating the subject or purpose Muse (supernatural force) will help tell the story Plot begins “in the middle of things” You will begin reading in the middle of the action not the beginning Tone = Serious

Purpose: to attain a degree of immortality Remember, there is a strong belief in Wyrd, human destiny controlled by fate; ultimate and inescapable fate is death However, a person who won fame by performing heroic deeds might achieve a degree of immortality through the recitation of these deeds in poetry

Composed in Northumbira in Old English Scops recited for 300 years before it was written down First great work of national literature Only one original manuscript survives – in British Museum of London – discovered in the 18 th century

3200 lines Three parts: Beowulf vs. Grendel; Beowulf vs. Grendel’s mother; and Beowulf vs. the Dragon Distinctive features: two part line with caesura; 4 beats per line; alliteration; kennings Anonymous author – Christian references and references to Greek and Roman mythology Concept of the hero Conflict between good and evil

Beowulf is a Geat (southern Sweden) Starts from homeland to try to free Danish King Hrothgar’s great banquet hall, Heorot, of a monster, Grendel, that has been ravaging it for 12 years. The one verifiable historical event in the poem, Hygelac’s death took place about 520. So, nearly 500 years bewteen that first event and the poem’s first written form.