Literary Terms for Section a - Presentation
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Transcript of Literary Terms for Section a - Presentation
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The Epic Poem
The epic or heroic poem is a long narrativepoem on a serious subject, centred around the
actions of an heroic figure on whose actions
depend the fate of a nation or race. The traditional epic poems were shaped from
the legends of the Greek heroic age, when the
ykenaean Greeks or Akhaeans were on the
move and engaged in military con!uest and
e"pansion during the Trojan #ar.
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Characteristics of Epic Poetry
The hero is a figure of great national or
international importance.
The setting is large in scale, sometimes world$
wide, or at least of the known world.
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Characteristics of Epic Poetry
The poet begins by stating his theme, then invokes
the uses to help him with his undertaking.
The narration usually begins in the middle point of
the action and at a crucial point& the events thathappened before the narrative opening are introduced
later on.
There are catalogues of some of the main characters,
introduced to the reader in formal detail.
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Narrative Features of Epic Poems
'pic poems were initially performed as oral
traditions, by wandering professional bards,
and this has an impact upon the narrative of
the poem.
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(igressions
Anecdotes
yths and stories
'pithets
)epetitions
)ecurrent lines and phrases
Narrative Features of Epic Poems
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Recurrent Lines and Phrases
There is the repetition at length by a speakerof another speaker*s, their own or thenarrator*s earlier words.
The repetition of epithets. Similar phrases used to introduce and+or
conclude speeches.
Single lines or a group of lines whichdescribe everyday life e.g. beginning ameal- or events e.g. (awn-.
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Construction of Characters
haracterisation is the way that the characters
are constructed, which then develops their
specific characteristics or nature.
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Six ain !ays of Constructing a
Character
The habitual behaviour of the character.
The physical description of the character.
The known judgements and reaction of
other characters to them.
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The character is shown in specific episodes.
The use of epithets or stock phrases to
describe the character.
Specific biographical details are provided
about the character.
Six ain !ays of Constructing a
Character
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Construction of the Epic "ero
The epic hero isthe central figureof the epic poem,
whose actionsinvolve heroicdeeds in battle or
a long andarduous journey.They are favouredor opposed by theimmortals.
/dysseus.
Agamemnon.
Akhilles.
0estor.
enelaus.
Aia".
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Construction of Relationships
Gender
1ower
1olitics
2amily or oikos
%mmortals and mortals
ortality
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The Plot
%t is the story line of the epic poem.
The plot is the system of actions, which are
carried out by the characters.
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Structure of an Epic Poem
The structure of an epic poem is the
organisation of the plot. %t is the order in
which the episodes that make up the plot arepresented to the audience.
The main type of structure for an epic poem is
non$linear.
2lashbacks are used to facilitate a non$linear
structure.
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Structure of an Epic Poem
2lashbacks are interpolated descriptions or
scenes representing events that happened
before the point at which the plot opens.
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Structure of an Epic Poem
The narrator of the poem changes on
occasions. 3omer uses himself, other epic
heroes, other bards and even /dysseus as the
narrator on occasions.
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Structure of an Epic Poem
(espite the comple" structure of The /dyssey,
there is a unity of action within the poem.
3ow does 3omer achieve this4
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The Physical Setting
The physical setting is the locale in which theaction takes place.
ost of the physical setting of The /dyssey is
in %thaka, but it also includes the sea, the5nderworld and various other lands during/dysseus* adventures.
Troy is also part of the physical setting whenstories of /dysseus* warrior !ualities arereferred to by other characters.
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The Physical Setting
The physical setting is created by6
%magery
(escriptive words and phrases
Similes
etaphors
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The Physical Setting
The action of the poem occurring in a
particular physical setting can have impact on
characterisation.
/dysseus* characterisation in the sea and in
the 5nderworld.
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The Social Setting
The social setting is the period in which the
action takes place.
%n The /dyssey, the social setting is the 3eroic
Age which is a conglomeration of the societies
of the ykenaean and (ark Ages.
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The Social Setting
The social setting can be the macro setting of
3eroic society
or
the social setting can be the micro setting of
particular societies, such as the values,customs and norms of the 1haeakia or %thaka
or the land of the 7yklopes or the Lotus eaters.
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Stylistic Features of Epic Poems
%magery
(escriptive words and
phrases Similes
etaphors
%rony
'pithets
Symbolism
Suspense
lima" 1athos
ontrast
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#magery
%magery is used to signify descriptive passages
that create mental pictures for the audience.
%t can be used to describe a setting, a characteror an action.
%magery is often created by figurative
language, especially similes and metaphors.
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$escriptive !ords and Phrases
(escriptive words and phrases are often used
to create imagery or enhance characterisation
through their impact and association in the
mind of the audience.
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Similes
%n a simile a comparison between two
essentially different items is e"pressly
indicated by a term such as like or as.
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etaphors
%n a metaphor, a word which in ordinary use
signifies one kind of thing, !uality or action is
applied to another, without e"press indication
of a relation between them.
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#rony
%rony is a mode of speech in which the implied
attitudes or evaluation are opposed to those literally
e"pressed.
1raise or approval that implies dispraise or
disapproval is more fre!uent than the converse form.
/ften the audience is aware of the irony of a situation
while the characters are not.
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Epithets
'pithets or stock phrases are a device of oraltraditions, designed to give the bard a stagedpause to assist in composition and to assistwith the poetic metre.
Those associated with characterisation help todevelop that character by reinforcing particularaspects of their character.
The adjectives also add colour to theircharacter.
The epithets used in conjunction with commonnouns are included more for the re!uirementsof metre.
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Sym%olism
Symbolism is applied to a word or a phrasesignifying an object which itself hassignificance, that is, the object referred to has
meaning beyond itself. The olive tree is a symbol of rebirth
throughout The /dyssey.
Throughout The /dyssey the physical andsocial problems in %thaka are symbolic of theabsence of /dysseus from his homeland.
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Suspense
Suspense is an an"ious uncertainty about what
is going to happen, especially to those
characters with whom the audience has
established bonds of sympathy.
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Pathos
1athos is attributed to a scene or passage
designed to evoke tenderness, pity, sympathy
or sorrow from the audience.
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Contrast
ontrast allows the poet to highlight features
of one setting or character with those of
another.
This is used to enhance both imagery and
characterisation.
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Themes
Themes are the abstract concepts which are
embodied in the plot and the structure of the
epic poem.
Themes should raise issues with a
contemporary audience.
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Themes
Love
Loyalty
Gender
Se"ual (esire
3onour 3eroism
(eath
'ndurance
unning
1ower
2riendship 3ospitality
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Themes
/rder
2amily
Servitude 1atriarchy
8iolence
Suffering
Adolescence
Temptation
)espect 3uman nature
)eturning veterans
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ultiple Readings
The way that different societies interpret the
issues of the themes are referred to as multiple
readings.
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ultiple Readings
ultiple readings often !uestions 9gaps and
silences* in te"ts.
This can be read as6
9#hose voice or viewpoint is not addressed4*
or 9#ho is not given e!ual value in the power
structures of this society4*
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Example& 'thene
Athene, although a goddess, has many
masculine symbols associated with her shield,
helmet and aegis-.
A multiple reading of The /dyssey may
e"plore why in Greek society, to be accepted
as powerful enough to move and advise within
male society, a goddess must be invested withmasculine symbols to legitimise this role.
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ultiple Readings
The reading would then e"amine other female
characters who lack these masculine symbols,
e"plore the characteristics of these females, ande"amine why these females instead are
constructed either as passive 1enelope or
0aussika- or dangerous 7alypso, 7lytemnestraor 3elen-.
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ultiple Readings
A character like 7irke sits in the middle6 she is a
female with a phallic symbol, thus her
intermediary status constructs her as able to
facilitate passages between the male and female
world, as well as between the 5nderworld and
the physical 9real* world.
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ultiple Readings
5ltimately then, by e"amining the construction
of these female characters, we can formulate
theories about power and patriarchal structures
in Greek society.
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ultiple Readings
3omer may not necessarily have overtly
recognised these, but in constructing his
characters like this, he has allowed us symbolic
access to deconstruct them in our framework.