THE EPIC POEM

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THE EPIC POEM

• A guide to the oldest genre

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What is an Epic poem?

• An EPIC is a long, narrative poem written in an
  elevated style, presenting characters of high
  position in adventures that center around a
  central heroic figure.

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.long

• The Iliad
• The Aeneid
• The Faerie Queene
• The Odyssey
• The Divine Comedy
• Sonnet 130

• 13,000 lines
• 14,000 lines
• 30,000 lines
• 13,000 lines
• 20,000 lines
• 14 lines

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narrative

• It tells a story
• Has a plot
• Has characters
• Is NOT a poem about a flower

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poem

• It is poetry! Not prose!

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written in an elevated style

• Sing in me, muse, of warfare and a man at war.
  From the sea-coast of Troy in the early days, he
  came to Italy by destiny
• The Aeneid
• When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from
  the darkness of the movie house, I had two things
  on my mind Paul Newman and a ride home.
• The Outsiders

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characters of high position

• High Position
• Kings
• Heroes
• Princes
• Well-born men

• Not High Position
• Farmers
• Fisherman
• Peasants
• Low-born or poor people

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a central, heroic figure

• An Epic hero
• Of IMPOSING STATURE
• Great historical or legendary significance to his
  culture
• Performs deeds of great valor
• Has superhuman courage
• (NOT superpowers)

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Other features of the EPIC

• Setting is vast spreads over many lands
• Poet remains objective, isnt in the story
• Invocation of the Muse(s)
• Uses Epic Similes and Epithets

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Invocation of the Muse

• Muses were 9 goddesses that presided over art and
  science
• They help to inspire creation
• Calliope- muse of epic
• Clio- history
• Erato- lyrics and love poetry
• Melpomene- tragedy
• Thalia- comedy

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Epic Similes

• An elaborate comparison
• More ornate than a regular simile
• Much longer, more extended
• Also called the Homeric simile or a conceit

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Epithets

• Adjectives or noun clauses that are used to point
  out a characteristic of a person or thing by
  re-naming it.
• Ms. Golden, lover of grammar
• The rooster, the trumpet of the dawn
• Helen, launcher of ships
• Noreen, speaker of many words
• Now. Make your own for yourself!