Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 176 views

    Epic Poetry

    Uploaded by

    api-296672794
    This document provides an introduction to epic poetry by discussing its key characteristics and literary devices. It summarizes some influential early epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It also describes the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, noting it is the earliest surviving epic written in English and depicts the adventures of the Geatish hero Beowulf in 6th century Scandinavia and Denmark. The document emphasizes how epic poems from antiquity still influence modern literature and culture by passing down heroic stories and archetypes that continue to resonate today.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Epic Poetry

    Uploaded by

    api-296672794
    176 views20 pages
    This document provides an introduction to epic poetry by discussing its key characteristics and literary devices. It summarizes some influential early epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It also describes the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, noting it is the earliest surviving epic written in English and depicts the adventures of the Geatish hero Beowulf in 6th century Scandinavia and Denmark. The document emphasizes how epic poems from antiquity still influence modern literature and culture by passing down heroic stories and archetypes that continue to resonate today.

    Original Title

    epic poetry

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document provides an introduction to epic poetry by discussing its key characteristics and literary devices. It summarizes some influential early epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It also describes the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, noting it is the earliest surviving epic written in English and depicts the adventures of the Geatish hero Beowulf in 6th century Scandinavia and Denmark. The document emphasizes how epic poems from antiquity still influence modern literature and culture by passing down heroic stories and archetypes that continue to resonate today.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    176 views20 pages

    Epic Poetry

    Uploaded by

    api-296672794
    This document provides an introduction to epic poetry by discussing its key characteristics and literary devices. It summarizes some influential early epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It also describes the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, noting it is the earliest surviving epic written in English and depicts the adventures of the Geatish hero Beowulf in 6th century Scandinavia and Denmark. The document emphasizes how epic poems from antiquity still influence modern literature and culture by passing down heroic stories and archetypes that continue to resonate today.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 20

    INTRODUCTION

    to
    EPIC POETRY

    What is Epic
    Poetry?
    Long narrative poem
    Written in an elevated
    style
    Celebrates the deed of a
    legendary hero or god

    Literary Devices
    Alliteration repetition of

    similar sounds especially


    initial consonant or stressed
    syllable (eg. Shilds strong
    son [23, line 19])
    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. sea-road 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.

    Early Literary
    Influences &
    Historical
    Events

    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)

    Summary of
    Gilgamesh
    Meets Enkidu (BFF)
    1st trip to Land of Cedaes to kill
    Humbaba
    Later slays the Bull of Heaven
    Angers gods=suffering

    Seeks Utnapishtim & finds


    heartache
    Returns to Uruk and writes his
    story

    Bible
    4000 BC- 77

    AD

    Judeo-Christian God
    Contains the Old & New
    Testaments
    Missionaries & Crusades
    Holy Grail
    Referenced in a lot of
    literature

    Homer
    800 BC
    Did he exist?
    Creator of the Epic Poems
    The Iliad and The Odyssey
    Most likely a minstrel
    Traveling singer/storyteller

    Poems were oral for


    centuries before written
    down

    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 withdraws from the war
    and then rejoins in 10th yr. & kills
    Hector the Trojan Prince
    Wooden horse
    City captured & Helen returned
    to Menelaus

    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

    Naturalis
    Historia,

    1st Encyclopedia

    77
    AD
    Written by Gaius Plinius

    Cecilius Secundus (a.k.a.


    Pliny the Elder)
    37 Book
    1st has preface & tables of
    contents
    List of authorities

    Published 1st 10 himself


    Very little revision if any

    The Adventures
    of Beowulf
    650 AD

    1st Epic Poem written in

    English, Old English


    Author Unknown
    Adventure of a great
    Scandinavian warrior
    1 manuscript survived the
    monastery destruction by
    Henry VIII

    Historic
    Background
    Geats & Danes
    Accurately reflects the time
    period (6th century)
    Angles, Saxons, & Jutes
    Germanic Code

    Comitatus (group) -of loyalty


    Sworn loyalty to king = gifts

    Feudal System

    Historic
    Background Cont.
    Women were thought of as
    holy
    Belief in fate

    Biblical references relate to


    Old Testament
    Author most likely Christian
    Scops- composers &
    storytellers

    Geneology of
    Geats, Danes,
    and Swedes

    Main Characters

    Beowulf
    Dragon
    Grendel & Mother
    Higlac
    Hrothgar
    Shild
    Unferth
    Welthow
    Wiglaf

    Time and Place


    Set in Denmark and
    Geatland
    6th Century
    Herot- mead
    hall

    Why is Epic
    Poetry Important
    today?
    Stories are still being passed

    down from generation to


    generation.
    We see these same plots, heroes,
    struggles, archetypes, and events
    happening in life today.
    References to these epic poems
    are in our books and movies
    today.

    You might also like