A long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or A long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or

heroes heroes who embody the values of the culture of who embody the values of the culture of which they are a partwhich they are a part. . The oldest epics were transmitted orally. The oldest epics were transmitted orally.

Epic Poem:Epic Poem:

What is an Epic?What is an Epic? Epics are long, Epics are long,

narrative poems that narrative poems that tell the adventures of tell the adventures of heroes who in some heroes who in some way embody the way embody the values of their values of their civilization.civilization.

What types of epics are the Iliad What types of epics are the Iliad and the Odyssey?and the Odyssey?

Iliad – War EpicIliad – War Epic Odyssey – JourneyOdyssey – Journey

Modern Day EpicsModern Day Epics Star Wars Star Wars

Forrest GumpForrest Gump HobbitHobbit Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings Wizard of OzWizard of Oz

How were heroes characterized How were heroes characterized in Homer’s day?in Homer’s day?

Special Aristocrats Special Aristocrats or Demigodsor Demigods

Placed somewhere Placed somewhere between Gods and between Gods and ordinary humans.ordinary humans.

Some Epic Poets & EpicsSome Epic Poets & Epics Anonymous - Anonymous - GilgameshGilgamesh (between 2750 and 2500 BCE). (between 2750 and 2500 BCE). Homer (850 BC ,1194–1184 BC-time of Trozan War) – Homer (850 BC ,1194–1184 BC-time of Trozan War) –

The IliadThe Iliad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey sometimes referred to as the "Father of Epic Poetry." sometimes referred to as the "Father of Epic Poetry."

MahabharataMahabharata (around 400 BCE) (around 400 BCE) Virgil (70 BCE –19 BCE) - Virgil (70 BCE –19 BCE) - AeniedAenied (29–19 BC) (29–19 BC) Dante (1265) - Dante (1265) - The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy (3books: (3books: Inferno, Inferno,

Purgatorio, Purgatorio, and and ParadisoParadiso) ) John Milton (1608-1674) - John Milton (1608-1674) - Paradise Lost Paradise Lost (1667)(1667) Michael Madhusudan Dutta- Michael Madhusudan Dutta- Meghnath Bodh KabboMeghnath Bodh Kabbo

Epic: Definition & CharacteristicsEpic: Definition & Characteristics a long a long narrativenarrative poem poem centered around centered around a national hero a national hero or a heroic or or a heroic or quasi-quasi-

divine figure divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race.tribe, a nation, or the human race.

on a on a greatgreat and and seriousserious subject, subject, The The stylestyle of writing – of writing –elevatedelevated, , ceremonialceremonial. . The The settingsetting is is vastvast in scope. in scope.

It covers It covers great geographical great geographical distancesdistances Even the Even the underworldunderworld, other worlds, other times., other worlds, other times.

Supernatural forces ("Supernatural forces ("machinerymachinery” ) intervene in the ” ) intervene in the action. action.

Other Minor CharacteristicsOther Minor Characteristics Opens by Opens by stating the theme stating the theme of the epic. of the epic. Writer invokes a Muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus. Writer invokes a Muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus.  Narrative opens Narrative opens in media res in media res (("in the middle of things“) usually "in the middle of things“) usually

with the hero at his lowest point.  Earlier portions of the story with the hero at his lowest point.  Earlier portions of the story appear later as flashbacks. appear later as flashbacks.

Catalogs Catalogs and and genealogies genealogies are given. These long lists of objects, are given. These long lists of objects, places, and people place the finite action of the epic within a places, and people place the finite action of the epic within a broader, universal context. broader, universal context.

Main characters give Main characters give extended formal speechesextended formal speeches. . Use of the Use of the epic simile epic simile or or Homeric simile Homeric simile - a more involved, - a more involved,

ornate comparison, extended in great detail. ornate comparison, extended in great detail. Heavy use of Heavy use of repetitionrepetition and and stock phrasesstock phrases

repeats passages and repeats passages and uses uses Homeric epithetsHomeric epithets, short, recurrent phrases used to , short, recurrent phrases used to

describe people, places, or things.  describe people, places, or things.  Both made the poem easier to memorize. Both made the poem easier to memorize.

9 main characteristics (in brief):9 main characteristics (in brief): It opens It opens in in medias resmedias res.. The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or

the universe.the universe. Begins with an invocation to a Begins with an invocation to a musemuse.. It starts with a statement of the theme.It starts with a statement of the theme. Includes the use of Includes the use of epithetsepithets.. Contains long lists.Contains long lists. Features long and formal speeches.Features long and formal speeches. Shows divine intervention on human affairs.Shows divine intervention on human affairs. "Star" heroes that embody the values of the civilization"Star" heroes that embody the values of the civilization

Epic HeroEpic Hero The central hero of an epic, the epic hero has larger-The central hero of an epic, the epic hero has larger-

than-life powers. than-life powers. Achilles fulfills this role in Achilles fulfills this role in The IliadThe Iliad; Odysseus in ; Odysseus in

The Odyssey.The Odyssey. Epic heroes are not perfect. Epic heroes are not perfect. Achilles is stubbornly proud over a long period of Achilles is stubbornly proud over a long period of

time; Odysseus has lapses in judgment.time; Odysseus has lapses in judgment. Nevertheless, epic heroes always seem to have an Nevertheless, epic heroes always seem to have an

abundance of courage, a fighting spirit that endears abundance of courage, a fighting spirit that endears them both to the reader (listener) and the gods.them both to the reader (listener) and the gods.

BackgroundBackground The Trojan War c. 1200 BC, 10-year Greek The Trojan War c. 1200 BC, 10-year Greek

attack and siege of the city of Troy in attack and siege of the city of Troy in northwestern Asia Minornorthwestern Asia Minor

The cThe composition of the Homeric epics, omposition of the Homeric epics, The The IliadIliad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey, was probably , was probably sometime around 750 BCsometime around 750 BC

A A shortshort plot summary: plot summary: The IliadThe Iliad is about the is about the

Trojan War and Trojan War and The The OdysseyOdyssey is about how a is about how a hero of the war, Odysseus, hero of the war, Odysseus, takes ten years to get back takes ten years to get back home after the war has home after the war has ended and about the ended and about the adventures he has along adventures he has along the way.the way.