Elements of the Epic

The poem and the hero

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

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)

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

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

Figurative Language

• Homer’s Epics contain two special forms of figurative language– Epithets– Heroic or Homeric Similes

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.

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

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

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’

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

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?

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

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

Narrative Devices in EpicsEpics 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

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

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.”

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

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.

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

in medias res in The 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.

in medias res in The 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)

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

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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.

Greek Societal Values

• Hospitality• Arete or excellence• Basileus or a proper leader

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.

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

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

Hospitality• As we

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

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

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

Basileus

• Means “chieftain” or “lord” or “king”

• Supreme leader– King (rule)– General (military)– Judge (laws)– Religious duties (ethics)

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

What is a basileus?

• Means “chieftain” or “lord” or “king”

• Supreme leader– King (rule)– General (military)– Judge (laws)– Religious duties (ethics)

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.

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

Congratulations!

You’re ready to read The Odyssey!