Elements of the Epic

1. Elements of the Epic The poem and the hero

2. What is an Epic? • A long, narrative poem that • Contains an epic hero • Shows the values of the culture that created it • Uses elevated language • Tells of heroic events that are important to the culture in the epic • Follows the epic conventions

3. Examples of Epics • The Iliad, by Homer (Greek) • The Odyssey, by Homer (Greek) • The Aeneid, by Virgil (Roman) • Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian) • Ramayana (Hindu, India) • The Song of Roland (French) • The Lord of the Rings (Tolkein, British, Modern)

4. Stylistic Devices in Epics • All epics contain certain stylistic devices (ways of writing) that make them epics • These include • Poetic devices that regulate the use of language • Narrative devices that regulate the way the story is told

5. Poetic Devices in Epics • Figurative Language – language that is not meant to be taken literally. It has multiple meanings and helps to express tone and mood • Examples: • Metaphors and similes • Personification • Irony

6. Figurative Language • Homer’s Epics contain two special forms of figurative language • Epithets • Heroic or Homeric Similes

7. What is an epithet? • Epithet: • A term used to characterize a person or thing, such as “rosy-fingered” in rosy-fingered dawn or “Great” in Catherine the Great • A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person, such as The Great Emancipator for Abraham Lincoln.

8. Epithets in The Odyssey • Epithets are VERY common in The Odyssey • Used to help characterize a person– to show what he or she is like • Used as a substitute for the person’s name • Used to show different personality traits of one person • Help us keep different characters distinct in our minds

9. Epithets in The Odyssey Some common epithets you will notice are: • “Grey-eyed Athena”(grey is the color of the brain, represents wisdom) • “Clear-headed Telemachus” and “Clear-headed Odysseus” (shows they are intelligent) • “Earthshaker” for Poseidon • “Master mariner and soldier” for Odysseus

10. Heroic or Homeric Similes • Similes are comparisons using “like” or “as” • An EPIC or HOMERIC simile is a bit different • Still a comparison between two things • Uses ‘as’, ‘so’, ‘just so’, and occasionally ‘like’

11. Homeric Similes • Are much longer than ‘regular’ similes • Compare something ordinary or everyday to something extraordinary • Create verbal photographs in the reader or listener’s mind • Help the reader to understand or picture what is going on • Are VERY vivid and detailed

12. Homeric Simile vs. Simile • A “regular” simile is short, and easy to find: “Hermes is like a gull” • We can tell easily that Hermes, the messenger God, is being compared to a seagull • But what sort of seagull? What is the seagull doing?

13. Homeric/Heroic/Epic Simile • “A gull patrolling between the wave crests of the desolate sea will dip to catch a fish, and douse his wings; no higher above the whitecaps Hermes flew until the distant island lay ahead” • This is much more detailed, and creates a verbal picture in the reader’s head • These are harder to find and understand, but more vivid and rewarding

14. More Poetic Devices in Epics • Epics also use grand, or elevated language, not everyday language • This is because the events the epic is telling are so important they deserve to be told with the highest language possible

15. Narrative Devices in Epics Epics include the following elements used to tell the story: • Invocation of the Muse • Opening in medias res • Settings that are grand in scope • Involving the supernatural, especially a Deus Ex Machina ending

16. Invocation of the Muse • Muses are the goddesses of the arts • The nine daughters of Zeus, each one is responsible for one artistic area: dance, song, epic poetry, painting, etc. • Poets call on the Muse to help them tell the story correctly and well

17. Invocation in The Odyssey • “Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.”

18. Invocation in The Odyssey • The poet asks the muse to help him tell the story of the man skilled in fighting and arguing, the one who has been wandering around for years since he defeated the great city of Troy. • Who is it???  Odysseus

19. Opening in medias res • In medias res is Latin for "into the middle of things." • It usually describes a narrative that begins, not at the beginning of a story, but somewhere in the middle — usually at some crucial point in the action. • Poets, and readers go straight to the heart of the story instead of beginning at the beginning, or in chronological order.

20. Advantages of in medias res • Makes for a more exciting story, one that starts with a lot of action and conflict • Gives the opportunity to tell the beginning of the story in FLASHBACK (go back and tell how we got to this point) • Is more suspenseful

21. in medias res inThe Odyssey • The story opens in the 9th year since the end of the Trojan War, and 19 or 20 years since Odysseus has been home to Ithaca. • Odysseus is trapped on Ogygia, the island of the nymph Calypso • Telemachus is now 20 years old (he was an infant when Odysseus left for the Trojan War) • Odysseus’s home on Ithaca is now overrun by suitors, who want to marry Penelope, his wife.

22. in medias res inThe Odyssey • Readers follow Telemachus for four books, as he journeys to find news of his father and attempts to grow into manhood. • Readers follow Odysseus leaving Ogygia and shipwrecking on Scheria. • The 9 years since the end of the Trojan War to the present day are told by Odysseus in flashback form, as he tells his story to the people on Scheria. • Books 9 through 12 are the flashback books, then book 13 returns to the present (9 years after the Trojan War)

23. Settings that are grand in scope • The story takes place over many years and through many lands. • The story is “Too big” to be in just one place and time • In The Odyssey, the story covers 10 years, and 13 different places

24. Deus Ex Machina ending • “god from the machine” • A technique in Greek drama and many epics in which a god/deity intervenes at the end of the story to solve an otherwise unsolvable conflict • In Greek drama, the “god” would descend onto the stage by some “basket” or pulley/machine.

25. The Epic Hero • Is noble • Odysseus is King of Ithaca • Is of national or historical importance • Odysseus is the creator of the Trojan Horse trick, which won the Trojan War for the Greeks • Is a great warrior • Odysseus was given Achilles’ armor

26. The Epic Hero • Is between a man and a god (stronger than the average man, displays exceptional qualities of strength, bravery, etc.) • Odysseus is known for being handsome, an eloquent speaker, very clever, and very strong (he is especially good at archery)

27. The Epic Hero • Undergoes many difficulties, obstacles, and trials in order to save himself, but most importantly to save a society or nation • Odysseus needs to return to his homeland of Ithaca and reclaim it from the suitors, who have allowed it to disintegrate financially, morally, militarily

28. The Epic Hero • Usually has a flaw that must be overcome during his trials • Odysseus’s flaw is the number one offense to the Greek gods: • HUBRIS, or excessive pride • Watch for instances in which Odysseus is TOO arrogant and tempts fate. Remember: he IS great, but NOT greater than the gods.

29. Remember: • Epics fundamentally express what a culture believes • The traits of the epic hero will demonstrate what traits a culture valued • The epic will show the society which created the epic, and show those who are good and bad within it.

30. Greek Societal Values • Hospitality • Arete or excellence • Basileus or a proper leader

31. Hospitality • kindness in welcoming guests or strangers • The MOST fundamental social law or custom for the ancient Greeks. • Protected by Zeus, the patron of travelers. • Those who mistreated a guest in their home could expect swift punishment.

32. Hospitality for the Greeks • Feeding the guest • Entertaining the guest • Clothing the guest if needed • Providing a bath • Providing a comfortable place to sleep • Not asking the guest’s name until these had been done

33. Hospitality for the Greeks • Should be done for EVERY guest, no matter what they look like (beggars too) • GUESTS had responsibilities too. • Treat host, host’s property and estate with respect • Not “overstay” the welcome • Return the favor when the time comes

34. Hospitality • As we read, we’ll look for examples of both GOOD and BAD hospitality, and track what happens to those who show each.

35. Arete  Excellence • Arete = BOTH mental and physical excellence • Leaders had to have more arete than their peers, or they could lose their status as leader • As a result, constantly proving one’s mental and physical excellence

36. Arete  Excellence • Arete was shown in BATTLE if it was wartime • Shown in ATHLETICS if peacetime (e.g. Olympics) • It is important for Homer to establish that Odysseus still possesses his arete, both mental and physical

37. Basileus • Means “chieftain” or “lord” or “king” • Supreme leader • King (rule) • General (military) • Judge (laws) • Religious duties (ethics)

38. Basileus • The basileus was responsible for ALL aspects of a properly run kingdom • If the basileus did not do his duties, not only would he suffer, but so would his people

39. Who is the basileus? • In The Odyssey, there are several examples of basilei • Ithaca has been without one since Odysseus has been gone. • Telemachus needs to become one.

40. What is an epic again? • A long, narrative poem that • Contains an epic hero • Shows the values of the culture that created it • Uses elevated language • Tells of heroic events that are important to the culture in the epic • Follows the epic conventions

41. What is an epithet? • A term used to characterize a person or thing • A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person

42. What is an epic simile? • An extended comparison • Compare something ordinary or everyday to something extraordinary • Create verbal photographs in the reader or listener’s mind • Help the reader to understand or picture what is going on • Are VERY vivid and detailed

43. What is an epic hero? • Is noble • Is of national or historical importance • Is a great warrior • Is between a man and a god • Undergoes many difficulties and trials to save himself and a society or nation

44. What is hospitality and why show it? • kindness in welcoming guests or strangers • The MOST fundamental social law or custom for the ancient Greeks. • Protected by Zeus, the patron of travelers.

45. What is arete? Who had it? • Arete = BOTH mental and physical excellence • Leaders had to have more arete than their peers, or they could lose their status as leader

46. What is a basileus? • Means “chieftain” or “lord” or “king” • Supreme leader • King (rule) • General (military) • Judge (laws) • Religious duties (ethics)

47. What is in medias res? • In medias res is Latin for "into the middle of things." • It describes a narrative that begins, not at the beginning of a story, but somewhere in the middle — usually at some crucial point in the action.

48. What is deus ex machina? • “god from the machine” • A technique in Greek drama and many epics in which a god/deity intervenes at the end of the story to solve an otherwise unsolvable conflict

49. Congratulations! You’re ready to read The Odyssey!