EPIC POETRY

What is an epic poem? An epic poem is a long narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet. Epics are the oldest form of literature in the Western world.

Epic poetry in the Ancient world Epic poems were particularly common in the ancient world because they were ideal for expressing stories orally. They existed for many years or even centuries as part of the oral literary tradition before they were written down.

Epic poetry in the Ancient world The most important examples of epic poems in the ancient world are: Gilgamesh. (Mesopotamia) The Iliad and the Odyssey (Ancient Greece) The Aeneid (Ancient Rome)

The Epic of Gilgamesh It is one of the first recorded examples of an epic poem. It was written on clay tablets in cuneiform by a priest who lived in Mesopotamia sometime between 1300 BC and 1000 BC. He was probably inspired by Babylonian and Sumerian tales about a real-life king who ruled sometime between 2700 and 2500 BC.

The Iliad and the Odyssey These two epic poems were written by the Greek poet Homer in the 8th century BC. Homer is thought to have been blind.

The Iliad The Iliad is about the Trojan War, the siege of the city of Troy (also called Ilium) by the Greeks, and the quarrel between king Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles.

The Odyssey The Odyssey is in part a sequel to the Iliad. It tells the story of Odysseus (Ulysses) and his difficult journey back home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. This journey lasted 10 years and he had to go though many difficulties.

Epic Poems in the Middle Ages Some famous examples of epic poems in medieval times are: Beowulf: written in Old English sometime between the 8th and the 11th centuries. El Cantar del Mío Cid, written in Spanish in the 13th century.

Characterictics of Epic Poetry

Characteristic of Epic Poetry The legendary hero of an epic poem is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, and represents a culture’s heroic ideal. The setting of the poem is ample in scale, and may be worldwide, or even larger. The action involves superhuman strength and deeds in battle. In these great actions, the gods and other supernatural beings take an interest or an active part.

Characteristic of Epic Poetry An epic poem is a ceremonial performance (to be recited in public) and is narrated in a ceremonial or epic style which is distanced from ordinary speech on purpose and proportioned to the grandeur and formality of the heroic subject matter and the epic architecture. The narrator is usually an omniscient narrator; which means that he is not part of the story and knows everything about it, and he uses third-person narration.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid The Aeneid is an epic poem written in Latin by the Roman poet Virgil between 29 and 19 BC. It tells the story of Prince Aeneas of Troy. The story starts with the fall of Troy and tells about Prince Aeneas and the survivors of Troy. It is believed to be written as a propaganda tale to justify Rome conquering other places.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid Aeneas’ father was a member of the Trojan royal house and his mother was Aphrodite, the goddess of love. When Troy was conquered in the Trojan War, Aeneas led his warriors out of the burning city, carrying his blind father on his shoulders. Aeneas and his companions then roamed the Mediterranean area in ships for seven years in search of a new homeland.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid Aeneas and his companions settled briefly in Thrace, Crete, and Sicily.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid His ships were wrecked off the African coast, near Carthage. Dido, the Carthaginian queen, fell deeply in love with Aeneas and begged him to stay. When he left, Dido killed herself in grief.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid Then, they travelled to Latium, on the banks of the Tiber, in Italy. King Latinus made them welcome. Aeneas aided the ruler in his struggles against his enemies.

A Roman Epic Poem: The Aeneid Later, Aeneas married Lavinia, daughter of Latinus. He inherited the kingdom after Latinus died, reigning happily and successfully over his united Trojans and Latins. He was killed in a battle with the Etruscans. With this poem, Virgil wanted to show that the Roman Emperors had legendary and divine ancestors.