Epic Poems and HeroesEpic Poems and Heroes

Famous Epics and Their Famous Epics and Their HeroesHeroes

The IliadThe Iliad

BeowulfBeowulf Song of RolandSong of Roland El CidEl Cid Paradise LostParadise Lost

Lord of the Rings?Lord of the Rings?

Achilles, Odysseus, Achilles, Odysseus, AgamemnonAgamemnon

BeowulfBeowulf RolandRoland El CidEl Cid God, Satan?God, Satan?

Frodo and friends?Frodo and friends?

Basic Definition of an Epic Basic Definition of an Epic

An An epicepic is usually defined as is usually defined as a very a very long narrative poemlong narrative poem composed in composed in a lofty style a lofty style that tells a story of a that tells a story of a hero and his adventures hero and his adventures on a on a grand scale. grand scale.

The Big 7The Big 7

Most epic heroes possess most or all Most epic heroes possess most or all of 7 general characteristics you can of 7 general characteristics you can use to help you decide if a character use to help you decide if a character is, indeed, an epic hero or heroine. is, indeed, an epic hero or heroine.

Trait 1: A Noble BirthTrait 1: A Noble Birth

Most epic heroes will have an Most epic heroes will have an above average station in life. above average station in life.

They will be kings, princes, or They will be kings, princes, or nobles of some sort. nobles of some sort.

Commoners usually do not Commoners usually do not become epic heroes.become epic heroes.

Trait 2: Capable of deeds of Trait 2: Capable of deeds of great strength and couragegreat strength and courage

Basically, this means the hero Basically, this means the hero has the potential for great deeds. has the potential for great deeds.

The magnitude of these actions The magnitude of these actions are well above and beyond what are well above and beyond what the commoner does. the commoner does.

While most epic heroes are good, While most epic heroes are good, not all are.not all are.

Trait 3: Great WarriorTrait 3: Great Warrior Before the hero of an epic does his Before the hero of an epic does his

business in the epic, he has usually business in the epic, he has usually established himself in combat during a established himself in combat during a war. war.

Sometimes, as in Sometimes, as in The IliadThe Iliad, we see the , we see the hero at war. hero at war.

In most, like In most, like BeowulfBeowulf and and The The OdysseyOdyssey, the hero has spent much , the hero has spent much time in battle.time in battle.

Trait 4: Travels Over a Vast Trait 4: Travels Over a Vast SettingSetting

Simply put, you cannot be an epic hero Simply put, you cannot be an epic hero if you stay in your village your whole if you stay in your village your whole life.life.

The more countries or areas traveled The more countries or areas traveled to, the better. The farther away from to, the better. The farther away from your own country, the better. your own country, the better.

Distance makes the hero’s actions Distance makes the hero’s actions greater because they aren’t selfish; greater because they aren’t selfish; they are for another country or people.they are for another country or people.

Trait 5: National HeroismTrait 5: National Heroism

Before a hero can be celebrated Before a hero can be celebrated by countries the world over, he by countries the world over, he must first be recognized in his must first be recognized in his home country as a great and home country as a great and heroic person.heroic person.

Trait 6: HumilityTrait 6: Humility Even as the rest of the world Even as the rest of the world

recognizes the great deeds of the recognizes the great deeds of the hero, he is never a braggart or even hero, he is never a braggart or even willing to take applause. willing to take applause.

He commits his deeds because he He commits his deeds because he knows they need doing, and the knows they need doing, and the fame and rewards that he receives fame and rewards that he receives are only a matter of course, not the are only a matter of course, not the reason for completing his quests.reason for completing his quests.

Trait 7: Faces Supernatural Trait 7: Faces Supernatural Foes and/or Receives Foes and/or Receives

Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help Most epic heroes either receive aid from a Most epic heroes either receive aid from a

god or goddess or battle some superhuman god or goddess or battle some superhuman enemy. enemy.

This is what makes a hero’s action epic: This is what makes a hero’s action epic: they fight something mere mortals cannot they fight something mere mortals cannot battle. Beowulf has his Grendel; Odysseus battle. Beowulf has his Grendel; Odysseus his Cyclops. his Cyclops.

For each hero, the enemy is unique. You For each hero, the enemy is unique. You won’t see two heroes battling the same foe.won’t see two heroes battling the same foe.

Staznoski PrincipleStaznoski Principle To prove he is truly larger than life, To prove he is truly larger than life,

authors often introduced other authors often introduced other characters who were fated to die.characters who were fated to die.

But what was an aspiring author to do?

Especially if nobody can read!

Epics: An Oral TraditionEpics: An Oral Tradition Many epics were not originally written Many epics were not originally written

down by their authors. down by their authors. Instead, they were memorized and Instead, they were memorized and

retold or sung by wandering retold or sung by wandering entertainers. entertainers.

Some sections of epics were retold Some sections of epics were retold from time to time. It helped the from time to time. It helped the storyteller learn the epic and also storyteller learn the epic and also caught up any audience member who caught up any audience member who may have missed a part.may have missed a part.

The StorytellersThe Storytellers These entertainers also served to These entertainers also served to

bring news from other areas. Often, if bring news from other areas. Often, if a heroic deed had occurred in the a heroic deed had occurred in the area, it might be blended into the area, it might be blended into the stories he told.stories he told.

The names changed by area:The names changed by area: Scop (pronounced shope) in Anglo-Saxon Scop (pronounced shope) in Anglo-Saxon

landslands Troubadours in FranceTroubadours in France Minnesingers in GermanyMinnesingers in Germany

Changing StoriesChanging Stories

Other influences also played a part in Other influences also played a part in changing the epics. changing the epics.

The text of Beowulf shows both The text of Beowulf shows both Norse pagan belief and Christianity, Norse pagan belief and Christianity, often in the same line.often in the same line.

This may have evolved as the This may have evolved as the storytellers encountered villages with storytellers encountered villages with different beliefs.different beliefs.

Writing it Down Writing it Down When these stories which had When these stories which had

been orally passed on were finally been orally passed on were finally written down, they were also written down, they were also subject to many changes.subject to many changes. Mistakes in translationsMistakes in translations Misunderstanding out-of-date slangMisunderstanding out-of-date slang Political correctnessPolitical correctness or even intentional changes in the or even intentional changes in the

texttext

““Christianizing” the Old TextChristianizing” the Old Text Some parts of epics, including Beowulf, Some parts of epics, including Beowulf,

seem not to match the style of the rest of seem not to match the style of the rest of the text. the text.

Other areas seem to be as if a narrator Other areas seem to be as if a narrator feels the need to stop and make a feels the need to stop and make a comment. comment.

Much of these areas involve various Much of these areas involve various comments and concepts of Christianity. comments and concepts of Christianity.

It is likely that some monks, while copying It is likely that some monks, while copying texts, put in their own views about their texts, put in their own views about their work.work.

Epic ConventionsEpic Conventions Opening states theme, invokes Opening states theme, invokes

musemuse The plot begins The plot begins in medias res – in medias res –

“in the middle of things.”“in the middle of things.” Catalogues of warriors, ships, Catalogues of warriors, ships,

armies, battles, etc.armies, battles, etc. Formal speeches that are Formal speeches that are

serious in tone and lofty in styleserious in tone and lofty in style

Language and StyleLanguage and Style

Epics are filled with rich, Epics are filled with rich, descriptive language about descriptive language about exciting action.exciting action.

Epic similes; long comparisons Epic similes; long comparisons AlliterationAlliteration KenningsKennings