Epic Poetry
Mr. Brennan
World Literature
Do-Now
The Epic
What does the term “epic” imply?
How is the word often used?
The epic is considered on of the
oldest literary genres in literature.
What elements do you believe
comprise the epic literary genre?
The Epic
Learning
Objective
SWBAT explain the conventions of an epic work and identify
the presence of these conventions in the epic poem, Beowulf.
1. Mini-Lesson: Epic Conventions
2. Class Reading: Beowulf
Homework
Reminders
TBD
•
Beowulf is an epic poem and
the first known work written in
English Lang.(Old English)
•
Author is anonymous
•
Beowulf was
written
in England, (c. 750) but is set
in Scandinavia.
•
The version we have today
came from a manuscript dated c.
1000 A.D.
•
What do you learn about the story in the trailer?
•
Does this remind you of any other movies or books?
The Epic
•
The Epic traditionally refers to a
genre of poetry known as epic
poetry, a lengthy narrative poem in
elevated style concerning heroic
deeds and significant events to a
culture or nation.
•
The genre has since been
broadened to include various art
forms (i.e. film) with
of grandeur and heroism
themes
The Epic
•
The Epic traditionally refers to a
genre known as epic poetry a lengthy
narrative poem in
elevated style
concerning:
•
heroic figure on whose actions
depends fate of a tribe, nation, or the
human race
•
significant events to a culture or
nation, often containing information
about the culture that created them
(religion, gender roles, values, morals,
fears, perception of the world)
Conventions
A widely used and accepted technique in literature, film, drama, etc.
Horror movie conventions:
•
Setting takes place at night and/or in a place isolation.
•
There is often a final survivor who must fight off the killer alone.
•
The villain or killer has supernatural or superhuman powers.
•
There will be some sort of chase sequence
which the victim falls, loses a shoe, or drops his/her keys!)
•
Violence and gore are part of the action.
(in
Epic Conventions
•
The hero is figure of great importance, ideal man of culture
is often has superhuman or divine traits
is stronger/greater in all ways than the common man
participates in a cyclical heroic journey (monomyth)
•
The setting is grand in scope
often covers great distances, other worlds and times
•
The action consists of deeds of bravery or superhuman courage
•
The theme (or cause) is usually stated in the opening
and addresses the notion of Good vs. Evil
Epic Conventions
•
Shows divine intervention on human affairs.
•
The supernatural often becomes part of the action
•
Style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial
•
Narrative begins in medias res, starts "in the middle of things," usually
with the hero at his lowest point, often uses flashbacks
•
Repetition and stock phrases, as poet repeats passages of several
lines in order to make the poem easier to memorize
Epic Conventions
•
Epic Catalogues are given consisting of long, detailed listing of
objects, places or genealogies to place the
finite action of the epic within a broader
•
Epithets (Greek epithetos, "attributed, added”) are descriptors
that accompany or occur in place of a name and has
entered common usage. (e.g. Alexander the Great)
•
Patronymics refers to calling a son by his father's name
(e.g. Achilles in "The Iliad" is addressed as "Son of Peleus”)
This is one way the poet pays homage to the ancestors
Epic in Film: Star Wars
•
Legendary hero > Luke Skywalker
•
Grand setting > the galaxy
•
Stock phrase > ‘Beware of the dark side’
•
Story begins in the middle > Episode ??
•
Action > big battles, acts of bravery
•
Elevated style of writing > Yoda!
•
Supernatural > the Force
•
Theme > Good vs. Evil
Identify a book/movie that
you believe is an epic.
Homework:
Identifying Epic Conventions
•
Step 1:
Choose a book/movie that you believe is an epic
(Braveheart, Gladiator, 300, Troy, Lord of the Rings)
•
Step 2:
Using the Star Wars example as a model,
what conventions of the epic do you find presented
in the movie/book that you chose?
•
Step 3:
Create a 4-slide PowerPoint presentation in which you
identify three conventions of the epic presented in your
selected movie (title slide + one slide per convention) For
each convention, name the convention and explain how it is
presented and include an appropriate graphic