The Greek and Roman Epics CLASS NOTES, UNIT TWO

An Epic: It’s a Poem! Epic:A long, narrative poem that deals with a hero’s adventures and deeds. Epic Hero:A person, like Gilgamesh or Achilles, reflect the ideals, values, and beliefs of the culture.

We will read two epics. From ancient Greece:The Iliad From ancient Rome:The Aeneid

Conventions of an Epic Characteristics common in epic poems: ◦Events are set in a distant and glorious past ◦Events are huge, majestic in scale: heroic battles and dangerous adventures ◦Heroes are larger than life, exaggerated people who perform great deeds ◦Often ½ devine ◦Achilles (Iliad) and Aeneas (Aeneid) have goddess mothers ◦Supernatural elements ◦Gods, goddesses ◦Magical creatures ◦Monsters

Literary Style ◦Epic style comes from both oral tradition and writers ◦Two Devices (techniques) are part of an epic poem ◦Epithet: Descriptive words and phrases that characterize and name persons and things. ◦“brilliant Achilles” or “God-like Achilles” ◦“The swift runner” or “the proud runner” ◦Epic Simile: A comparison using like or as that extends over several lines. ◦Increase the dramatic effect of a passage: “In fire, the Troy of Neptune going down, As in high mountains when the countrymen Have notched an ancient ash, then make their axes Reign with might and main, chopping away To fell the tree…”

The Importance of Honor Honor! Super important to Greek and Roman culture. ◦Greeks converge on Troy to fight for the honor of a betrayed king. ◦Achilles fights to avenge his friends death and bring honor to him ◦Aeneas ensures safety to the Trojan refugees through a sense of honor and duty ◦Honor creates a good reputation ◦Honor signals a good sense of right and wrong

Fate Fate and Destiny is a major theme in Greek and Roman Epics ◦Every person, hero or not, was given a distinct fate at birth ◦Wise to accept your fate, foolish to avoid or fight it ◦To avoid was a sign of pride or “hubris” and might lead to terrible consequences ◦Achilles avoids his fate, many are slain ◦When Achilles accepts his fate, he succeeds in his quest

The Hero has limitations The Epic Hero is extraordinary, but not perfect ◦Human failing ◦They have emotions. ◦Fear, Sadness, Sulkiness, Weakness, Lapses in Judgment