CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC

CHARACTERISTICCHARACTERISTICS S

OF AN OF AN EPICEPIC

Heavily borrowed from Mr. Raber at Marlington High Heavily borrowed from Mr. Raber at Marlington High SchoolSchool

Epic DefinitionEpic DefinitionAn An epicepic is a is a long narrative poemlong narrative poem that that

relates the relates the great deeds of a larger-great deeds of a larger-than-life herothan-life hero who who embodies theembodies the values of a particular societyvalues of a particular society..

-Sometimes called a heroic poem-Sometimes called a heroic poem

--Beowulf, Beowulf, the the IliadIliad, and the , and the OdysseyOdyssey are all epics are all epics

Epics often…Epics often… Concern eternal human problems Concern eternal human problems

such as the conflict between such as the conflict between GOOD GOOD and EVILand EVIL

Written or told on a Written or told on a grand scalegrand scale and and often in often in ceremonial styleceremonial style

Two Types of EpicsTwo Types of Epics1.1. Folk EpicFolk Epic-- oraloral compositions compositions

passed on from storyteller to passed on from storyteller to storyteller and has storyteller and has changedchanged over over time. Ex. time. Ex. --Beowulf, Beowulf, the the IliadIliad, and the , and the OdysseyOdyssey

2.2. Literary EpicLiterary Epic-- written written compositionscompositions that are that are unchangedunchanged over time. Ex. over time. Ex. --Aeneid Aeneid and and Paradise LostParadise Lost

BeowulfBeowulf In comparison to the standard of Homeric In comparison to the standard of Homeric

epics (15,000 lines) …epics (15,000 lines) …

BeowulfBeowulf is relatively is relatively short (3,200 lines)short (3,200 lines)

It was probably composed It was probably composed (first written (first written down) between 700-750 in Old English by down) between 700-750 in Old English by a monka monk in Scandinavia in Scandinavia

It is thought a It is thought a monk composedmonk composed it due to it due to the the Christian elements in the epicChristian elements in the epic

Epic Epic CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Epic CharacteristicEpic Characteristic #1#1

The hero is The hero is a great leader who is a great leader who is identified strongly with a identified strongly with a particular people or society.particular people or society.


The The setting is broad and setting is broad and often includes supernatural often includes supernatural realmsrealms, especially the land of , especially the land of the dead.the dead.


The hero The hero does great deeds in does great deeds in battle or undertakes an battle or undertakes an extraordinary journey or quest.extraordinary journey or quest.

Epic Characteristic Epic Characteristic #4#4

Sometimes Sometimes gods or other gods or other supernatural or fantastic beings supernatural or fantastic beings take part in the action.take part in the action.

Epic Characteristic Epic Characteristic #5#5

The story is The story is told in heightened told in heightened language.language.

EPIC EPIC CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS

EPIC CONVENTIONSEPIC CONVENTIONS-- Shared characteristics of epics that Shared characteristics of epics that

bards/scopsbards/scops drew upon to recall the drew upon to recall the storiesstories they were recounting and that they were recounting and that writers of epics drew upon writers of epics drew upon to to establish the epic quality of their establish the epic quality of their poemspoems..

EPIC CONVENTIONEPIC CONVENTION #1 #1 There is an There is an INVOCATIONINVOCATION or or formal formal

plea for aid/helpplea for aid/help.. This plea is usually to a This plea is usually to a deitydeity or or

some other spiritual power.some other spiritual power.

EPIC CONVENTIONEPIC CONVENTION #2#2

The action begins The action begins IN MEDIA RESIN MEDIA RES…… Literally meaning Literally meaning “ “in the middle of things”in the middle of things”

EPIC CONVENTIONEPIC CONVENTION #3#3

The epic begins The epic begins in media res in media res and and then then flashes backflashes back to events that to events that took place before the narrator’s took place before the narrator’s current time setting.current time setting.

EPIC CONVENTION EPIC CONVENTION #4#4

Epic SimilesEpic Similes-- elaborately extended elaborately extended comparisons relating heroic events comparisons relating heroic events to simple, everyday eventsto simple, everyday events

EPIC CONVENTIONEPIC CONVENTION #5#5 Kennings Kennings

Stock Epithets or KENNINGSStock Epithets or KENNINGSDescriptive adjectives or phrases used Descriptive adjectives or phrases used

repeatedly with or in place of a noun repeatedly with or in place of a noun or proper name:or proper name:– Whale road: the seaWhale road: the sea– Strong-hearted wakeful sleeper: Strong-hearted wakeful sleeper:

BeowulfBeowulf

HERO HERO CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

Epic Hero Epic Hero Characteristics #1Characteristics #1

The epic hero is a The epic hero is a “LARGER THAN “LARGER THAN LIFE PERSON”LIFE PERSON” who embodies the who embodies the highest ideals of his culturehighest ideals of his culture

Beowulf as the epic Beowulf as the epic herohero

In Beowulf, the epic hero Beowulf is In Beowulf, the epic hero Beowulf is considered considered “larger-than-life”“larger-than-life”

He embodies He embodies LOYALTY, COURAGE, LOYALTY, COURAGE, SENSE OF JUSTICE, DIGNITY, SENSE OF JUSTICE, DIGNITY, PERSISTENCEPERSISTENCE, and many other traits , and many other traits of the Anglo-Saxon cultureof the Anglo-Saxon culture


The epic hero usually undertakes a The epic hero usually undertakes a QUEST/ JOURNEYQUEST/ JOURNEY to achieve to achieve

something of great value to something of great value to themselves or societythemselves or society


Epic heroes Epic heroes “LIVE ON AFTER “LIVE ON AFTER DEATH”…DEATH”…

meaning they are forever remembered meaning they are forever remembered by those who live after them…by those who live after them…

achieving a type of achieving a type of IMMORTALITYIMMORTALITY


Not a Not a “Superman” with magical “Superman” with magical powerspowers

But a But a “REGULAR”“REGULAR” human whose human whose aspirations and accomplishments set aspirations and accomplishments set him/her aparthim/her apart


Overcomes great obstacles/opponents Overcomes great obstacles/opponents but but maintains HUMANITYmaintains HUMANITY


Epic hero Epic hero experiences typical experiences typical HUMAN EMOTIONS/ FEELINGSHUMAN EMOTIONS/ FEELINGS, yet , yet is able to master and control these is able to master and control these human traits to a greater degree than human traits to a greater degree than a typical persona typical person

Epic Hero Epic Hero CharacteristicsCharacteristics

#7#7 It is often necessary for the epic hero It is often necessary for the epic hero

to to connect/make contact with connect/make contact with “LESSER” humans“LESSER” humans in order to in order to succeedsucceed


The epic hero is an The epic hero is an ARCHETYPALARCHETYPAL character.character.

ArchetypeArchetype An An archetype is a patternarchetype is a pattern that appears in that appears in

literature across cultures and is repeated literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages. through the ages.

An archetype can be An archetype can be a character, a plot, a character, a plot, an image, or a settingan image, or a setting..

In Beowulf, the hero archetype is the In Beowulf, the hero archetype is the dragon slayerdragon slayer. A hero who faces death in . A hero who faces death in order to save a threatened community or order to save a threatened community or person.person.

WRAP UP/REVIEWWRAP UP/REVIEW

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review Define the epicDefine the epicLong narrative relating the deeds Long narrative relating the deeds

of larger-than-life heroof larger-than-life hero

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review

What are two types of What are two types of epics?epics?Folk: spokenFolk: spokenLiterary: writtenLiterary: written

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review Do you know the 5 epic Do you know the 5 epic

conventions?conventions?−InvocationInvocation−In media resIn media res−Flash backFlash back−Epic simileEpic simile−KenningsKennings

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review

Do you know a kenning when Do you know a kenning when you see one?you see one?– Describes or replaces a nameDescribes or replaces a name

Cheese-Wagon = School BusCheese-Wagon = School Bus

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review What are the characteristics of an epic What are the characteristics of an epic

hero?hero?– A larger than life personA larger than life person– Goes on a quest or journey (can involve a Goes on a quest or journey (can involve a

battle)battle)– Lives on after death (story, song, poems)Lives on after death (story, song, poems)– Regular human with great Regular human with great

accomplishmentsaccomplishments– Maintains humanity (expresses emotions)Maintains humanity (expresses emotions)– Has contact with lesser humansHas contact with lesser humans– Is an archetypeIs an archetype

Wrap Up/ReviewWrap Up/Review Archetype—what’s that?Archetype—what’s that?

Pattern in literaturePattern in literature

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EPIC