THE EPIC TRADITION

• Epic: The epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject representing characters of heroic stature in adventures of great historical, legendary, or religious significance.

• Epic Characteristics:

  1. The setting of the work is vast in scope, covering a whole nation, the world, or even the universe. 2. The actions described ln the work are deeds of great valor, often requiring superhuman strength, intelligence, or endurance. 3. Supernatural forces (gods, angels, demons) take interest in the action and intervene from time to time. 4. An elevated style and diction--dellberately distanced from everyday speech--is used throughout the poem.

Some Epic Conventions:

• 1. The poet beglns the work by stating hls topic and by calling upon the Muse of Epic Poetry for help in rising to the task. This convention is more usually known as the invocation to the Muse, a part of which is the epic statement of theme.

• 2. The poet opens his narrative in medias res (Latin for `in the middle of the action'). The preceding history is then supplied at various points throughout the remainer of the work through retrospective narrative, similar to the flashback of the modern novel or cinema. Additionally, the author may use prospective narrative as well, telling the audience what is to happen later in the work itself or even after the events that the work itself covers.

• 3. The poet includes many elaborate enumerations--of ships, warriors, armies, gifts/booty, etc.--in the poem. Such a list is called an epic catalogue.

• 4. The poet uses extended and elaborate formal speeches by the main characters. Such a speech is called an epic monologue.

• 5. The poet gives elaborate family background--epic genealogy--for many of the heroes. Because of the importance attached to paternal lineage, the poet wil frequently refer to a hero by his patronymic, a form of the father's name with an ending meaning `son of.'

• 6. The poet uses long, extended comparisons--epic similes--that make the unfamiliar familiar by stressing its similarity to observable, common phenomena and objects.

• 7. The poet uses many epithets--adjectives or adjective phrases used to point out a characteristlc quality of a person, a god, or, less frequently, an animal or an object.

• 8. The poet uses formulaic language, that is, set ("stock") phrases, the choice of which may be dictated solely by metrical considerations. This, along with the repetition of such passages, is one of the hallmarks of folk literature.

• 9. The poet uses foreshadowing--hints at or even direct statements regarding the outcome of important events.

• 10. The poet uses a wide range of rhetorical and poetic devices: figures of speech (similes, metaphors, etc.), as well as elaborate schemes of words and schemes of construction.