THE EPIC English 9CP
WHAT DOES “EPIC” MEAN? Epic A long, narrative poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated. The Odyssey is an epic poem
THE ODYSSEY AS AN EPIC POEM An epic poem is a narrative poem. Narrative poetry: a form of poetry that tells a story It often makes use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well The entire story is usually written in metered verse
QUALITIES OF EPIC POEMS
QUALITIES OF EPIC POEMS 7 WHAT the story is about “In medias res” Vast setting Battles and action Epic Similes Alliteration Kenning Light and Dark Imagery HOW the story is written
“IN MEDIAS RES” “In medias res” In the middle of things The plot will open in the MIDDLE of the action. The narrator will go back and explain previous events.
VAST SETTING The setting is vast, and covers great nations of the world
BATTLES AND ACTION There are battle scenes, warriors, armies and ships.
He was like a lion in battle, roaring at the enemy EPIC SIMILES Simile When two things are compared using like or as Her hair was as soft as silk The cafeteria was as loud as a baseball stadium Epic Simile Long, extended similes used to add exaggerated imagery He was like a lion in battle, roaring at the enemy
ALLITERATION Repetition of the beginning consonant sound of words in a sentence The green giant grew large and growled down Miss Bishop bet her Biology class that they would score high on the test.
KENNING A two-word metaphorical name for something The sea = whale’s home
LIGHT AND DARK IMAGERY Descriptions of events, people and places that make reference to light or darkness. Dark The darkness of mankind’s heart during war Light The rays of hope shined brightly on the kingdom
QUALITIES OF AN EPIC HERO
QUALITIES OF EPIC HEROES 8 Larger than life Has a flaw Born into nobility and status Attributes valued by society Brave and wise Supernatural powers Fights and overcomes evil Saves a group of people
ELEMENTS OF AN EPIC JOURNEY
ELEMENTS OF AN EPIC JOURNEY 6 Call to adventure Supernatural aid Descent to “hell-like place” Internal/External Struggle Transformation Temptation
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ODYSSEY
AN INTRODUCTION… The Ancient Greeks were polytheists Polytheism: The belief in multiple gods Monotheism: The belief in one god Poly = many Mono = one
A little bit of background
LOCALE The greatest deities (gods) lived atop Mt. Olympus
THE GODS The gods communicated with mortals Chose fate of heroes Often assisted and/or hindered (hurt) the heroes
What do we know? THE TROJAN WAR https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=_36-H0-Vsps https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=YbiR6IMf5KQ
WHO IS HOMER?
HOMER, THE BLIND POET Birth date: 800 B.C. Homer was illiterate Could not read or write His words were recited aloud to crowds Then, later copied down and compiled into what is now the Odyssey Some believe that Homer’s work was “improved” by additional authors during history Others believe that Homer never lived at all