Traditional Epic Notes

The Epic—is a long narrative poem about the deeds of a traditional hero. Examples—Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad, Virgil’s Aeneid, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Milton’s Paradise Lost, etc.

The Epic Style

  1. The author begins by stating the theme and uses someone who is all-knowing and wise to help him in his undertaking. This is called the INVOCATION TO THE MUSE: a request to a god or goddess for help in writing. MUSE? See glossary
  2. IN MEDIAS RES: The story starts “in the middle of the action” and at a critical point; the events that happened before the narrative’s opening are introduced later on (in the form of FLASHBACKS).
  3. The style is marked by REPETITION(of names, events, places, and characteristics) and a pronounced use of EPITHETS. These give the poems a feeling of great scope and comprehensiveness as well as serving as a review for the story.
  4. EPITHETS: a descriptive word or phrase attached to the name of a person or thing used in epic poems to lengthen lines or make them more musical. Ex. “Dawn with fingertips of rose,” or “Calypso, loveliest of the goddesses.”
  1. The style (usually called HIGH STYLE) is elevated, formal, and poetic. Fixed rhyme schemes/meter, epithets and epic similes help create this formal style.
  2. EPIC SIMILE: a comparison between two seemingly unlike things using like or as, but explained in more than one phrase or sentence. An epic simile is a fully developed simile that likens some thing or action in the epic to some (usually) natural action or image. Ex: landscapes, trees, the moon, the seasons, common men in everyday activities, insects or other creatures, etc.
  3. The Odyssey was written in DACTYLIC HEXAMETER (form of meter in the rhythmic scheme of a poem consisting of six (hexa) dactyl feet (one long syllable and two short, ie. Catherine). The term dactyl is derived from the Greek word for finger, as a finger has one long segment and two shorter ones.

The Setting

The setting of the epic is vast in scope, sometimes world-wide and beyond to heaven and hell.

The Hero

A figure of great national or international importance: Odysseus is noted for his great cleverness, whether for good (as in his defeat of his rivals) or evil (as in his part in the destruction of Troy). All epic heroes are great warriors. The hero may also suffer from a TRAGIC FLAW: his pride.

The Supernatural

DIVINE INTERVENTION: the gods intervene in the hero’s journey. The gods or other supernatural beings take an interest and an active part in the great deeds performed in the epic

Journey to the Underworld

Typically, the mythic hero journeys to the underworld to learn something important. The hero emerges from Hades a changed man. The hero ignores the limits set on mortals by death or its sphere of influence. This momentary defeat of death is generally illustrated by a descent into the underworld.

Point of View

Omniscient: Often, the point of view is in the third person (standing outside looking in through the window) with little comment or opinion. Usually, the author is objective (looks at both sides of an issue) in his presentation of the situation and characters.

Common Themes/Motifs:

  • Divine Intervention
  • The importance of leaving and returning home
  • Value: Praying to and appeasing the Gods
  • Value: Bravery exalted, cowardice shunned
  • Value: Standing up for beliefs regardless of the consequences