INTRODUCTION
to
EPIC POETRY
An epic poem
has…
 a hero who embodies national,
cultural, or
religious ideals
 a hero upon whose actions depends
the fate
of his people
 a course of action in which the hero
performs great and difficult deeds
An epic poem
has…
 a recognition of -- or intercession
by -- divine
powers
or supernatural
 a concern with eternal human
problems
 a dignified and elaborate poetic
style
Important
“Primary” Epics
Iliad* (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
Exodus (Hebrew)
Beowulf * (Anglo-Saxon)
What do these
primary epics have
in common?
 Each began as part of a culture’s oral
tradition
 ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural
values transferred generation-togeneration by
traveling
poets/bards who sang songs about
cultural heroes and values
 POETRY because rhyme/meter is
easier to
memorize and more
stable as passed-on
What is Epic
Poetry?
Long narrative poem
 Written in an elevated/formal
style
 Celebrates the deed of a legendary
hero or god

The Iliad
 “written” by Homer around
(c.) 720 B.C.
 Homer did not invent the
story, but transcribed it into
its longest-lasting form
 All versions we read are
translated from ancient
Greek language –
Translations can vary greatly
 Called Iliad because “Ilium”
was the Greek name for Troy
– where the war took place.
“Iliad” = “about Ilium”
The Trojan War (c. 1250
B.C.)
Causes
Nuclear weapons?
No!
Treaty violations?
No!
Imperial aggression?
No!
Trade dispute?
No!
A WOMAN!
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 obtains from war in 10th yr.
kills Hector the Trojan Prince
Wooden horse
City captured Helen returned to
Menelaus
Epic of Gilgamesh
2500 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)
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
More about this one later…
Literary Devices
 Alliteration-- repetition of of similar
sounds especially initial consonant or
stressed syllable (eg. Peter Piper picked
a pair of pickled peppers])
 Metaphor- comparison between two
similar things
 Simile- Comparison using “like or as”
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. “searoad” for ocean [30, line 239])
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.
Journal
Life is full of conflicts. For each
of the types of conflict write a
paragraph that gives details about
your personal experience.
Villians
Journal Entry: Make a chart like the
one below and fill it in with
examples from today’s villains.
Villainous Enemies Powers/
Deeds
Abilities
Plots
Heroes
Journal Entry: Make a chart like the
one below and fill it in with
examples from today’s heroes.
Heroic
Deeds
Enemies Powers/
Abilities
Virtues