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EPIC POETRY

EPIC POETRY. by Dr. Bookie Reynolds Pellissippi State Technical Community College. EPIC POETRY. An epic is a long narrative poem, written in a dignified, formal style, in sufficient detail to give a picture of a race or nation and its civilization.

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EPIC POETRY

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  1. EPIC POETRY by Dr. Bookie Reynolds Pellissippi State Technical Community College

  2. EPIC POETRY • An epic is a long narrative poem, written in a dignified, formal style, in sufficient detail to give a picture of a race or nation and its civilization. • The action of an epic is centered around a hero of more than human proportions.

  3. EPIC POETRY • A folk epic is an epic poem of uncertain authorship, e.g. Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the Old English Beowulf, the Sumerian Gilgamesh. • A literary or art epic is an epic poem written by a known author for a specific purpose, e.g.Virgil’s Æneid, Dante’s DivineComedy, Milton’s Paradise Lost.

  4. EPIC POETRY Characteristics of epics--both folk and literary • The hero is of imposing stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical and legendary significance. • The setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the world, or the universe. • The actions consist of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage.

  5. EPIC POETRY Characteristics of epics--both folk and literary • Supernatural forces—gods, angels, and demons—interest themselves in the action and intervene from time to time. • A style of sustained elevation and grand simplicity is used. • The epic poet recounts the deeds of the heroes with objectivity.

  6. EPIC POETRY Additionally, epics employ some or all of the standard conventions. • · Statement of theme • · Invocation to Muse • · In medias res • · Epic Question • · Catalogs of warriors, ships, armies, etc. • · Extended formal speeches • · Stock epithets • · Epic similes (extended similes) · Hand-to-hand combat between heroes · Descriptions of armor, weaponry · Sacrifices, rituals to gods · Bragging, boasting · Feasting · Funeral rites, lamenting · Digressive episodes

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