INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY What is Epic Poetry

INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY

What is Epic Poetry? W Long narrative poem W Written in an elevated style W Celebrates the deed of a legendary hero or god

Literary Devices W Alliteration– repetition of similar sounds especially initial consonant or stressed syllable (eg. “Shild’s strong son” [23, line 19]) W Metaphor- comparison between two similar things W Simile- Comparison using “like” or “as”

Literary Devices Cont. W Epithet- brief phrase characterizes a person place or thing (eg. “the Lord of all Life”, “the Rule of glory, ” “the Lord of heaven and earth”) W Kenning- two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. “sea-road” for ocean [30, line 239])

Literary Elements W Internal Conflict- Struggle that takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings and desires W External Conflict- When a character struggles against some outside force… Person, nature, society, or fate.

Early Literary Influences & Historical Events

Epic of Gilgamesh 2500 BC W 11 Clay Tablets (story) 12 th Tells of his ruling the netherworld W Most important epic poem in human history W Various adventures of hero-king searching for immortality W An account of the flood W Characters Gilgamesh (2/3 god & 1/3 human) Enkidu (wild man)

Summary of Gilgamesh W Meets Enkidu (BFF) W 1 st trip to Land of Cedaes to kill Humbaba W Later slays the Bull of Heaven Angers gods=suffering W Seeks Utnapishtim & finds heartache W Returns to Uruk and writes his story

Bible 4000 BC- 77 AD W Judeo-Christian “God” W Contains the Old & New Testaments W Missionaries & Crusades W Holy Grail W Referenced in a lot of literature

Homer 800 BC W Did he exist? W Creator of the Epic Poems The Iliad and The Odyssey W Most likely a minstrel Traveling singer/storyteller W Poems were oral for centuries before written down

The Trojan War 1184 BC/ 800 BC (written) W Main topic of The Iliad by Homer W W W and latter The Aeneid by Virgil Achaeans vs. Trojans (10 yrs. ) Helen of Troy abducted by Paris Achilles withdraws from the war and then rejoins in 10 th yr. & kills Hector the Trojan Prince Wooden horse City captured & Helen returned to Menelaus

The Odyssey 800 BC W Tale of Odysseus W 10 yrs. in Trojan War W 10 yrs. to get home W Presumed dead wife Penelope fighting off suitors W Consists of 24 books

Naturalis Historia, 1 st Encyclopedia 77 AD W Written by Gaius Plinius Cecilius Secundus (a. k. a. Pliny the Elder) W 37 Book 1 st has preface & tables of contents List of authorities W Published 1 st 10 himself W Very little revision if any

The Adventures of Beowulf 650 AD W 1 st Epic Poem written in English, Old English W Author Unknown W Adventure of a great Scandinavian warrior W 1 manuscript survived the monastery destruction by Henry VIII

Historic Background W Geats & Danes W Accurately reflects the time period (6 th century) W Angles, Saxons, & Jutes W Germanic Code Comitatus (group) -of loyalty • Sworn loyalty to king = gifts Feudal System

Historic Background Cont. W Women were thought of as holy Belief in fate W Biblical references relate to Old Testament W Author most likely Christian W Scops- composers & storytellers

Geneology of Geats, Danes, and Swedes

Main Characters W Beowulf W Dragon W Grendel & Mother W Higlac W Hrothgar W Shild W Unferth W Welthow W Wiglaf

Time and Place W Set in Denmark and Geatland W 6 th Century W Herot- mead hall

Why is Epic Poetry Important today? W Stories are still being passed down from generation to generation. W We see these same plots, heroes, struggles, archetypes, and events happening in life today. W References to these epic poems are in our books and movies today.