Defining the Epic “In unsettled times like these, when world cultures, countries and religions are facing off in violent confrontations, we could benefit from the reminder that storytelling is common to all civilizations. Whether in the form of a sprawling epic or a pointed ballad, the story is our most ancient method of making sense out of experience and of preserving the past.” ~William Collins

What is an epic? A long narrative poem on a great and serious subject, related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. Examples: Gilgamesh, Beowolf, The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Folk Epic vs. Literary Epic Folk Epic: Passed down by word of mouth. No known author. Literary Epic: An epic that is patterned after the style of folk epics, but created by an author. Can you think of any examples???

Epic Conventions: The Hero Epic Hero The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of his culture. He often has superhuman or divine traits. He has an imposing physical stature and is greater in all ways than the common man.

Epic Conventions: Setting and Deeds The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even visiting the underworld, other worlds, other times. The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage (especially in battle).

Epic Conventions: Divine Intervention Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene at times. The intervention of the gods is called "machinery.” In The Epic of Gilgamesh, how did the gods interfere with human actions?

Additional Epic Conventions: Note: These are NOT present in EVERY epic. Opens by stating the theme of the epic. Writer invokes a Muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus. The poet prays to the muses to provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of a great hero.

Additional Conventions Cont. Narrative opens in media res. This means "in the middle of things," usually with the hero at his lowest point. Earlier portions of the story appear later as flashbacks. Use of the epic simile. A standard simile is a comparison using "like" or "as." An epic or Homeric simile is a more involved, ornate comparison, extended in great detail.

The “Father of the Epic” Very little DEFINITIVE information is known about him. Some scholars believe he may have been fictitious and his most famous works (The Iliad and The Odyssey) simply a culminating result of many centuries of storytelling