Warm Up
• In today’s world what does Epic mean?
Define, using an example.
Epic
• An epic is long narrative poem that recounts,
in formal language, the exploits of a largerthan-life hero.
• Epics can be viewed as way to tell history.
• They existed when most people were
illiterate.
• Epics can be found in most cultures around
the world.
Epic Examples
•
•
•
•
•
Epic of Gilgamesh: Sumerian (presently Iraq).
El Cid: Spanish.
The Song of Roland: French.
The Oddyssey & Iliad: Greek.
TODAY’s Epic Heroes: Superman, Luke
Skywalker….any others?
Epic Form
• Poetic lines w/regular meter and rhythm.
• Main characters have heroic or superhuman
qualities.
• Gods or godlike beings intervene in the
events.
• Actions of a huge scale, involving fates of
entire peoples.
• Stories begin at a critical point.
Epic Literary Devices
Greek Epics use…
Epithet: word or brief phrase to characterize a
person, place or thing.
Example: The goddess Athena is “gray-haired”.
The sea is “wine-dark”.
Beowulf uses…
kennings: standardized comparisons.
Example: A king is “ring-giver”. The sea is a “whaleroad”.
THEY BOTH MOLD IDEAS INTO PEOTIC FORMS.
Epic Hero
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Man, sorry ladies!
High social status
Skill as warrior, quick wit, nobility of character
Fate affects the destiny of his people
Almost always defeats the enemy
Rarely modest, often boasting
Courage, Loyalty, Endurance/Strength
Responding and Thinking Critically, p21
Choose one questions, 75 words
minimum
• In your opinion, what
are today’s epics? How
do modern audiences
differ from ancient ones
in their responses to
epics?
• Identify three
characteristics that we
might expect today’s
epic heroes to exhibit.
• Which characteristics of
the traditional epic hero
might be difficult for
readers today to
accept?
• How are epithets and
kennings simlimar and
different.