EPIC

Epic One of the earliest forms of literature Long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal of national importance. The hero’s accomplishments reflect the values of his culture and usually figure prominently in the history or mythology of his people.

Epic Conventions The first factor that distinguishes the epic from other forms of poetry is scale Epic poems tend to be too long to be read or performed in a single sitting

2 nd distinguishing factor is style Epic poems are written in a high or lofty style This technique is meant to convey the importance of the events

3 rd distinguishing feature Epic poems always deal with people and events that are considered to be historically real by the poet and their audience Could be events from history or mythology Example – The Iliad takes place during the Trojan War, a war in which the Greeks invaded and conquered the city of Troy

4 th distinguishing feature Opens by stating the subject or purpose, followed by an invocation of a muse (a spirit though to inspire an artist) or supernatural force who would help to tell the story

5 th distinguishing feature Plot begins in media res – Latin for “in the middle of things” In other words, the reader joins the story in the middle of the action

Epic Hero Central character of an epic

Epic Hero Cycle 1. Birth - unusual circumstances surround birth / childhood Born to royalty, in danger at birth, or some other circumstances that sets him apart from other

Call to Adventure The hero is called by some external event or person The hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly

Helpers During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive aid from a protective figure. This supernatural helper can take a variety of forms, such as a wizard, an old man, or a fairy godmother. The helper commonly gives the hero a protective amulet or weapon for the journey

Tests The hero travels and must undergo a series of tests in order to prove himself Successfully completing each task proves that the hero is above the common man

Climax / Final Test Hero starts to lose – descends into a kind of hell This hell may be physical, mental, or spiritual, and it represents the moment the hero learns the most about himself

Climax / Final Test The hero might succumb to the hell they find themselves in

Climax / Final Test Or they may choose to overcome the test and remain “good”

Return Hero returns to the “everyday world” The object, knowledge, or blessing the hero was rewarded with after the final test is put to use

Types of Epics Folk Epic – stories about heroes that were recited as entertainment and passed down from one generation to the next. Written down long after they were first composed

Literary Epics Written by individual authors, drawing on the style and conventions of the folk epic