What is an Epic?
An epic in my opinion is basically a long story that is told in a poetic style. It usually will talk about an important event that seems heroic to a society. For me this is a very difficult form of literature to write and comprehend.
3 Examples from the Iliad
#1: Long texts consisting of dialogue that reveals the character
Lines 217-224:
"I came to see if I could check this temper of yours,
Sent from heaven by the white-armed goddess
Hera, who loves and watches over both of you men.
Now come on, drop this quarrel, don't draw your sword.
Tell him off instead. And I'll tell you,
Achilles, how things will be: You're going to get
Three times as many magnificent gifts
Because of his arrogance. Just listen to us and be patient."
I selected this quote because the only way the author shows the character is through the use of dialogue. Here we listen to Athena speak to Achilles.
#2: The use of Patronymics
Line 212:
"Daughter of Zeus!"
Epics often refer to characters by their relation to someone else.
#3: Introduction
Lines 1-4:
"Rage
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,"
The beginning of an epic usually puts you right in the action and doesn't provide an introduction.
The Image
The reason I selected the image at the top was because the very first thing that comes to my mind when I hear "epic poetry" is Ancient Greece and their strong religious beliefs. I can just picture generations handing down stories until they were finally written down. The columns are also a reminder to me of Ancient Greece.
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