Notes
Mark Gibson
What Influenced Epic Poets?
Religion influences the first epic poets
Epic poems usually have a mythological or
romantic theme based on the values taught to
the poet during their early life
Epic poems were written from the need for an
explanation of certain holes in a civilization’s
religious beliefs or from the need for a role
model for the people of a civilization to follow
(Epic Poetry | The Humanities Index )
What Epic Poems Influenced?
The religion as well as experiences of a poet
influence the writing styles and substance
of writing of that poet.
Romantic encounters as well as war
influence the type of writing poets use.
Traumatic experiences also influence the
content of epic poems.
(Lombardi, Esther)
Characteristics of Epic Poems
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Opens in medias res
Vast settings
Invocation of a muse
Use of epithets
Long lists or narratives
Long and formal speeches
Divine intervention on human affairs
Main characters embody values and flaws of
civilization
(Epic - Definition and Conventions )
(Epic Poetry | The Humanities Index )
Definition of Epic Poem
A lengthy, narrative poem usually concerning
a serious subject with heroic deeds and
events significant to a culture or nation.
(Epic Poetry)
Examples of Epic Poem
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian)
The Iliad and the Odyssey – Homer (Greek)
Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon)
The Divine Comedy – Dante Aligheri (Italian)
The Aeneid - Virgil
(Epic Poetry | The Humanities Index )
Common themes of epic poems
Epic poems often have a romantic or mythological
theme with gods often playing a major role in the
story.
Epic poems often have a hero embark on a
journey in which he or she must defeat a
monster, which often is the embodiment of
human flaws.
The hero also often must defeat one of his own
flaws to give the reader a role model to help him
or her overcome their own internal flaws.
(Epic - Definition and Conventions)
Where did most epic poems originate?
The oldest epic poems originated in ancient
Asia as well as Rome and Greece.
Some of the newer, yet still primary, epic
poems originated in England and Italy
during the Medieval period.
(Epic Poetry | The Humanities Index )
How do epic poets hook and hold readers?
Epic poets hook and hold readers by telling
exciting stories of heroic deeds and almost
inhuman feats.
Epic poems are so intriguing that people
base religions on some of the major
aspects of certain epic poems.
(Definition and Conventions.)
How do epic poets persuade readers?
Epic poets persuade readers by using
lengthy descriptions and long lists as well
as vivid descriptions to really drive their
point across to the reader.
(Definition and Conventions.)
What is the relationship between
truth and fiction in epic poems?
Most of the events in epic poems are based
on true events or recorded history but
altered a little or exaggerated to provide
entertainment.
(Gibson, Mark)
What truths are communicated best
through epic poems?
The truth best communicated through epic
poems is the presence of flaws and values
within people. Many heroes of epic poems
are the embodiment of human values but
also have many of the flaws of humanity
within them which are illustrated within the
story.
(Definition and Conventions.)