All About EpicsThe Six Elements of an Epic Poem

Epic (noun):A lengthy narrative composed in verse; epics tell the story of a hero or group of heroes.

How many epics do you know?

The Odyssey (Greek)

The

Aeneid

(Roman)The Iliad (Greek)

The Mahabharata

(Indian)

Shahnameh (Persian)

Gilgamesh(Mesopotamian)Grettir the

Strong(Icelandic)

So what are the elements of an epic poem?

1) A hero of legendary proportions2) Adventure requiring superhuman strength3) Involvement of the supernatural4) Omniscient narrator5) Often in media res6) Descended from the oral tradition

Generally male

The hero of an epic poem is well-known throughout his own world; he is often famous for his deeds

The hero’s actions determine the fate of many

The hero has a connection or relationship with the gods. He is either a demigod or under their protection or curse.

A Hero of Legendary Proportions

Right: Beowulf, the warrior hero of Beowulf, slays the monster Grendel

An Adventure of Superhuman Strength

The heroes are legends because they are exaggerations of the normal human. They have greater strength, piety, valor, etc.

The hero’s exaggerated trait is a reflection of his society’s values

Think back on what we have learned about tall tales and legends. How can we apply what we have learned to the study of epic poetry?

Left: A statue depicting Odysseus, protagonist of The Odyssey.

Involvement of the Supernatural

There are a good many different elements

that may appear in an epic. Gods and

goddesses, angels and demons, and

immortality are among the most common.

Right: Rama, the titular character of the Indian epic Ramayana, is an avatar of the god Vishnu and must do battle with the demon Ravana throughout the epic of his life

Involvement of the Supernatural

Omniscient Narrator

Omniscience refers to a narrator that is god-like in his/her knowledge; an omniscient narrator sees all and knows all

Narrators are objective – they do not insert an opinion as to the goings on in the story

Narrative style is distinctive in epics because of the use of repetition in phrasing, long monologues, and extensive use of similes

Left: An illustration from the satirical epic The Rape of the Lock. The poem invoked the narrative style common to epics to

humorous effect.

In media res is Latin for “in the middle of things.”

This term refers to a story that begins in the middle of the action, rather than at the beginning.

This term was coined in reference to epic poems in particular. The Roman poet Horace used the term to describe the epic poet’s habit of going straight to the heart of the action.

It is important to note that not every epic begins in media res – the Sanskrit Ramayana does not, for example

In media res

Right: Achilles bind the wounds of Patroclus in Homer’s The Iliad

Descended from the Oral Tradition

We know many author names: Virgil, Homer, Vyasa, Ferdowsi, etc. Yet it is important to remember that these authors did not create the stories.

Rather they compiled stories from their culture, stories that were told generation after generation, into a written, poetic form.

Left: A scene from the Iranian epic The Book of Kings, known around the world as the Shahnameh.