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Gilgamesh. Literary Terms. Epics. Epic: long, narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero who is engaged in a dangerous journey, or quest, that is important to the history of a nation or people Two Types of Epics
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Gilgamesh Literary Terms
Epics • Epic: long, narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero who is engaged in a dangerous journey, or quest, that is important to the history of a nation or people • Two Types of Epics • 1. Folk- epic that was written down long after it was recited or sung as entertainment and passed down by oral tradition • Examples: Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon) • Gilgamesh (Sumerian) • 2. Literary- written by individual authors • Examples: Iliad and Odyssey (Homer) • Aeneid (Virgil) • (Literary Epics were once Folk epics before someone decided to write the stories down)
Elements of an Epic • 4 Elements of an Epic • 1. Epic Hero: strong, brave, loyal, virtuous • -has flaws • -important to society • -semi divine (half-God) • 2. Epic Conflict: epic hero’s struggle against an obstacle or series of obstacles • 3. Heroic Quest: epic hero’s perilous journey in search of something of value to his people • 4. Divine Intervention: epic hero receives help from a god or some other supernatural force
Elements of an Epic • For example in The Odyssey: • 1. Odysseus (EPIC HERO) • 2. Saves men from Lotus Eaters and Cyclops (EPIC CONFLICT) • 3. Travels to get back home and reclaim Ithaca (HEROIC QUEST) • 4. Receives help from Athena, Zeus, and Apollo (DIVINE INTERVENTION)
Epic Conventions • Epic conventions (literary or formal characteristics) • 1. Opens by stating subject or purpose, followed by an invocation, appeal or prayer for help • 2. Plot begins in media res (in the middle of things) • 3. Serious tone with long, formal speeches by characters • 4. Includes epic similes, elaborate extended comparisons using like or as • 5. Includes epithets, descriptive words or phrases
Epic Conventions • Archetype: basic plot, character, symbol, or idea that recurs in the literature of many cultures. One archetype is the hero’s quest. • Characterization: means by which characters are created and developed • Direct characterization: author reveals characters’ personalities through direct statements, actions, speech, and thoughts