Epic poem
Senior English cp/1
“An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a
larger-than-life hero. The epic hero is usually a man of high social status and is often
important in the history of his people. Epic plots typically involve supernatural events,
long time periods, distant journeys, and life and death struggles between good and
evil. In an epic, the hero represents good, and the forces that threaten the people
represent evil. The defeat of these forces often determines the fate of a nation or group”
(Glencoe Literature 42).
The Anglo-Saxon culture, one mixed with paganism and Christianity, demanded courage,
physical strength, loyalty to a tribal king, wisdom in guiding others and supreme selfconfidence in their heroes. Heroes also like to boast.
Epic poems, in their construction, are filled with kennings, alliteration, personification,
similes and metaphors and are written in poetic format.
Assignment:
You are to write an epic poem. It is to look like a book with an illustrative cover. This is
not the continuation of Beowulf’s tale or the lost lines of the Beowulf epic. You are to
create your own epic hero, with his own past and his own evil to combat. This must be a
hero from the past (pick 4th, 5th, 6th century etc.)
You must include all characteristics of an epic hero along with:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
3 examples of alliteration
1 examples of kennings
1 example of pagan thought
1 example of Christian thought
1 examples of personification or simile or metaphor
2 examples of good versus evil (meaning two distinct battles)
Minimum of 75 lines (you can get 23 per line, double space, Times
New Roman, 12 font by starting at the top)
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT: I WILL NOT READ YOUR EPIC WITHOUT
THIS******
The first page of your epic will be a list of all of the above characteristics (write out
the actual line from your epic plus the line number),examples of the seven
characteristics of an epic hero (you may paraphrase these), and the two distinct
battles (paraphrase). This way you and I will both know that all elements have been
included, and I don’t have to search for them throughout, nor will I have to mark up your
epic.
Remember, this is an epic POEM and must look like one. Capitalize the first word in
each line and number every 5th line. You do not write across the whole page. Either
write the poem flush left and go into the middle, or tab twice and have the poem be in the
center of the page. (look in the book)
Grading:
1. Decorative cover with title:
2. 7 characteristics of an epic hero/examples
3. 3 examples of alliteration
4. 1 examples of kennings
5.1 examples of Christian thought
7. 1 examples of Pagan thought
8. 1 examples of personification/metaphor/simile
9. 2 examples of good vs. evil
10. 75 lines and numbered by 5
12. overall epic flow and correct number of lines
10pts
28pts (4 points each)
9 pts (3 points each)
3 pts
3 pts
3 pts
3pts
10pts (5 points each)
20pts
11pts
Typed, double space, Times New Roman, 12
100 pts
Due: Tuesday, October 14
7 characteristics of an epic hero:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Great physical strength
Loyalty to a tribal king
Wisdom in guiding others
Important in the history of his people
Supreme self-confidence
boasting
Man of high social status