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INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY

INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY. What is Epic Poetry?. Long narrative poem Written in an elevated style Celebrates the deed of a legendary hero or god. Literary Devices.

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INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY

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  1. INTRODUCTIONtoEPIC POETRY

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

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

  4. Literary Devices Cont. • 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”) • Kenning- two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. “sea-road” for ocean [30, line 239])

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

  6. Early Literary Influences & Historical Events

  7. Epic of Gilgamesh2500 BC • 11 Clay Tablets (story) • 12th Tells of his ruling the netherworld • Most important epic poem in human history • Various adventures of hero-king searching for immortality • An account of the flood • Characters • Gilgamesh (2/3 god & 1/3 human) • Enkidu (wild man)

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

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

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

  11. The Trojan War 1184 BC/ 800 BC (written) • Main topic of The Iliad by Homer 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 10th yr. & kills Hector the Trojan Prince • Wooden horse • City captured & Helen returned to Menelaus

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

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

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

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

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

  17. Geneology of Geats, Danes, and Swedes

  18. Main Characters • Beowulf • Dragon • Grendel & Mother • Higlac • Hrothgar • Shild • Unferth • Welthow • Wiglaf

  19. Time and Place • Set in Denmark and Geatland • 6th Century • Herot- mead hall

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

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