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That’s Epic, Dude!

That’s Epic, Dude!. An Introduction to The Odyssey and Homer. What do we mean when we say, “epic”?. An epic is a specific type of literary genre, defined as: A long, narrative poem in which everything is on a heroic and exalted scale: character, actions, language, and style.

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That’s Epic, Dude!

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  1. That’s Epic, Dude! An Introduction to The Odyssey and Homer

  2. What do we mean when we say, “epic”? An epic is a specific type of literary genre, defined as: A long, narrative poem in which everything is on a heroic and exalted scale: character, actions, language, and style. It comes from the Greek word “Epos” meaning “a tale.” Our next text, The Odyssey, is an epic poem.

  3. Characteristics of an Epic Poem • Plot is simple, dealing with a central incident from traditional or legendary material. • Theme involves universal human problems. • Setting is remote in time and place, but of significance to the nation’s history. • The “hero” towers above other characters; he exemplifies cultural traits. Supernatural actions and characters are introduced. • Warfare is an accepted part of life and great battles are featured. • The style is objective, lofty, and elaborate.

  4. Stylistic Devices • Invocation to the muse • Tale begins in medias res – a point short of the climax and later fills in previous events with a “flashback” • Pace is leisurely, with long speeches and lengthy descriptions. There is a great deal of repetition. • Epic similes* are drawn out to great length • Characters are identified with stock or Homeric epithets* • An impasse may be resolved by direct intervention of gods (deus ex machina) or by an unexpected, artificial trick or coincidence

  5. Homeric or Epic Simile… …is a figurative comparison which sustains parallel likenesses to include a number of similarities. The comparison is often an ironic contrast which emphasizes the emotions of a situation as when he draws images from the peaceful life – farming, fishing, etc.—to characterize the dangerous nature of a military or perilous event. Let’s take a look…

  6. Let’s take a look at a Homeric Simile… The armies grouping now—as seasoned goatherds split their wide-ranging flocks into packs with ease when herds have mixed together down the pasture: so the captains formed their tight platoons, detaching right and left, moving up for action-- (The Iliad Bk. 2) • What two unlike things are being compared? • Where are all of these comparisons? • What is the irony or contrast of this comparison? How does it emphasize danger?

  7. Two more vocabulary words… Epithet – Epi (upon) and tihenai (to place) Definition: A compound adjective that repeatedly reminds the reader of the dominant trait of a character or thing. • “rosy-fingered Dawn” • “bright-eyedAthene” • “grey-eyed goddess” • “the great tactician”

  8. What would her epithet be?

  9. What would his epithet be?

  10. What would your epithet be??

  11. Bard • A poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition.

  12. Homer

  13. Ionian Greek • The Emperor Hadrian asked the Oracle at Delphi who Homer really was, and Pythia proclaimed that he was Ithacan, the son of Epikaste and Telemachus, from the Odyssey. • Possibly blind • Made a living as a bard

  14. Who was Homer?The Homeric Question: • Did Homer exist? • Was Homer a man or a woman? • Did he write The Odyssey down, dictate it to a scribe, or merely recite it orally to contemporary audiences? • How could Homer memorize such a long poem? • Did Homer compose both The Iliad and The Odyssey or were there two separate poets?

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