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INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION to to EPIC POETRY EPIC POETRY

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Page 1: 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

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONtoto

EPIC POETRYEPIC POETRY

Page 2: 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

What is Epic What is Epic Poetry?Poetry?

Long narrative poem Written in an elevated

style Celebrates the deed of a

legendary hero or god

Page 3: 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 DevicesLiterary Devices

Alliteration– repetition of similar sounds especially initial consonant or stressed syllable (eg. “Shild’s strong son” [23, line 19])

Metaphor- comparison between two similar things

Simile- Comparison using “like” or “as”

Page 4: 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 Literary Devices Cont.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])

Page 5: 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 Literary ElementsElements

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.

Page 6: 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

Early Literary Early Literary Influences & Influences & Historical Historical

EventsEvents

Page 7: 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

Epic of Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh25002500 BC 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)

Page 8: 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

Summary of Summary of GilgameshGilgamesh

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

Page 9: 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

BibleBible 4000 4000 BC- BC- 77 77 AD AD

Judeo-Christian “God” Contains the Old & New

Testaments Missionaries & Crusades Holy Grail Referenced in a lot of

literature

Page 10: 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

HomerHomer 800 800 BC 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

Page 11: 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

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War 1184 1184 BC/ BC/ 800800 BC BC

(written)(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

Page 12: 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

The OdysseyThe Odyssey 800 800 BC 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

Page 13: 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

Naturalis Naturalis Historia, Historia, 1st Encyclopedia1st Encyclopedia

77 77 AD 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

Page 14: 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

The Adventures The Adventures of Beowulfof Beowulf 650 650 AD 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

Page 15: 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

Historic Historic BackgroundBackground

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

Page 16: 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

Historic Historic Background Cont.Background Cont. Women were thought of as

holy Belief in fate

Biblical references relate to Old Testament

Author most likely Christian Scops- composers &

storytellers

Page 17: 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

Geneology of Geneology of Geats, Danes, Geats, Danes, and Swedesand Swedes

Page 18: 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

Main CharactersMain Characters

Beowulf Dragon Grendel & Mother Higlac Hrothgar Shild Unferth Welthow Wiglaf

Page 19: 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

Time and PlaceTime and Place

Set in Denmark and Geatland

6th Century Herot- mead

hall

Page 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

Why is Epic Why is Epic Poetry Important Poetry Important

today?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.