Epic PoetryEpic Poetry

Literary Terms for Story AnalysisLiterary Terms for Story Analysis

Narrative PoetryNarrative Poetry

poetry that tells a storypoetry that tells a story contains same elements as other contains same elements as other

narratives ( plot, characters, POV, theme, narratives ( plot, characters, POV, theme, etc.)etc.)

May include epics, lyric poetry, songs, May include epics, lyric poetry, songs, and balladsand ballads

examples: The Odyssey, Casey at Bat, examples: The Odyssey, Casey at Bat, Stan, The Brady Bunch Theme SongStan, The Brady Bunch Theme Song

EpicEpic

a long narrative that relates the deeds of a long narrative that relates the deeds of a heroa hero

often told as poetryoften told as poetry usually includes a journey usually includes a journey hero learns a valuable lessonhero learns a valuable lesson relates the values of societyrelates the values of society huge settinghuge setting examples: The Odyssey, Star Warsexamples: The Odyssey, Star Wars

En Media ResEn Media Res

Latin for “in the middle of things”Latin for “in the middle of things” when story starts in the middle of events, when story starts in the middle of events,

flashes back, then picks back up in real flashes back, then picks back up in real timetime

example:example: The Odyssey starts when Odysseus is The Odyssey starts when Odysseus is

almost home after 20 years away, he tells of almost home after 20 years away, he tells of his adventures, then goes home and takes his adventures, then goes home and takes care of things there.care of things there.

ArchetypeArchetype

stereotyped characters, symbols, or stereotyped characters, symbols, or storiesstories

a basic pattern followed by certain types a basic pattern followed by certain types of characters or storiesof characters or stories

examples:examples: fairy talesfairy tales damsel in distressdamsel in distress knight in shining armorknight in shining armor

Epic HeroEpic Hero

the protagonist of an epicthe protagonist of an epic often has superhuman characteristicsoften has superhuman characteristics usually has some sort of weaknessusually has some sort of weakness learns a valuable lessonlearns a valuable lesson examples: Odysseus, Indiana Jones, examples: Odysseus, Indiana Jones,

AchillesAchilles

Tragic FlawTragic Flaw

personality trait that leads to the downfall personality trait that leads to the downfall of the heroof the hero

examples: examples: Odysseus – pride and bragging leads to loss Odysseus – pride and bragging leads to loss

of men and failure to get home quicklyof men and failure to get home quickly Romeo –” wishy washy-ness” leads to rash Romeo –” wishy washy-ness” leads to rash

decisions and ultimately his and Juliet’s decisions and ultimately his and Juliet’s deathsdeaths

HubrisHubris

excessive prideexcessive pride overconfident overconfident ““big-headed”big-headed” usually leads to troubleusually leads to trouble

EpiphanyEpiphany

a great realization of the lesson to be a great realization of the lesson to be learnedlearned

it’s when the “lightbulb comes on” and it’s when the “lightbulb comes on” and you “get it”you “get it”

EpithetEpithet

a way of naming that provides an important a way of naming that provides an important descriptiondescription

description can be used in place of actual description can be used in place of actual namename

examples:examples: ““gray-eyed Athena”gray-eyed Athena” Poseidon, raging cold and roughPoseidon, raging cold and rough the wiliest fighter of the islands leapt and stood on the wiliest fighter of the islands leapt and stood on

the broad door sillthe broad door sill

Epic Simile Epic Simile

lengthy comparison of two unlike thingslengthy comparison of two unlike things describes comparison in great detaildescribes comparison in great detail usually found in epic poemsusually found in epic poems example:example:

““Think of a catch that fishermen haul into a halfmoon Think of a catch that fishermen haul into a halfmoon bay in a fine meshed net from the whitecaps of the bay in a fine meshed net from the whitecaps of the sea: how all are poured out on the sand, in throes sea: how all are poured out on the sand, in throes for the salt sea, twitching their cold lives away in for the salt sea, twitching their cold lives away in Helios’ fiery air: so lay the suitors heaped on one Helios’ fiery air: so lay the suitors heaped on one another.”another.”

JargonJargon

language used by people in a particular language used by people in a particular jobjob

makes a story seem more realisticmakes a story seem more realistic examples: computer programmers talk examples: computer programmers talk

about CPUs, USBs, ethernet cables, about CPUs, USBs, ethernet cables, monitors, modems, gigabytes, etc.monitors, modems, gigabytes, etc.

FateFate

The intervention of gods, luck, or some The intervention of gods, luck, or some higher power or cosmic force into ones higher power or cosmic force into ones actionsactions

A person’s uncontrollable, predetermined A person’s uncontrollable, predetermined destinydestiny

Example:Example: Odysseus finds the olive tree in the cyclops’ Odysseus finds the olive tree in the cyclops’

cave, this symbol of Athena shows that she cave, this symbol of Athena shows that she is trying to help him escapeis trying to help him escape

RepetitionRepetition

The repeating of certain words or lines The repeating of certain words or lines for emphasis or effectfor emphasis or effect

Often used to create a sense of rhythm in Often used to create a sense of rhythm in poetry or musicpoetry or music

Example:Example: In “The Gift of the Magi” the narrator repeats In “The Gift of the Magi” the narrator repeats

the $1.87 to bring emphasis to the fact that the $1.87 to bring emphasis to the fact that Della is almost broke and desparate.Della is almost broke and desparate.

Heroic CoupletHeroic Couplet

a pair of rhyming lines a pair of rhyming lines highlights actions of the herohighlights actions of the hero is usually a signal that something is usually a signal that something

important is about to occurimportant is about to occur example: example:

““As far off shore as shouted words could carryAs far off shore as shouted words could carry

I sent a few back to the adversary: “I sent a few back to the adversary: “

RhythmRhythm

the arrangement of stressed and the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables into a patternunstressed syllables into a pattern

creates a beat that is easy to remember creates a beat that is easy to remember or singor sing

PersonificationPersonification

figure of speechfigure of speech gives a nonhuman object human traits or gives a nonhuman object human traits or

behaviorsbehaviors example: The hungry tide licked it’s example: The hungry tide licked it’s

greedy lips as it nibbled away at the greedy lips as it nibbled away at the fragile coastline.fragile coastline.

HyperboleHyperbole

an over-exaggeration used for dramatic an over-exaggeration used for dramatic effecteffect

example : Her mother must have asked example : Her mother must have asked a million times for her to get off the a million times for her to get off the phone. phone.

AlliterationAlliteration

repetition of familiar sounds, usually repetition of familiar sounds, usually consonants or consonant clusters in consonants or consonant clusters in groups of wordsgroups of words

example: Peter Piper picked a peck of example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.pickled peppers.

example: Someone slit the sheet, the example: Someone slit the sheet, the sheet is slit, whoever slit the sheet is a sheet is slit, whoever slit the sheet is a good sheet slitter. good sheet slitter.

ImageryImagery

Language that appeals to the five sensesLanguage that appeals to the five senses Creates an image with wordsCreates an image with words examples:examples:

The clean, floral scent of her perfume The clean, floral scent of her perfume lingered in the hall long after she had left.lingered in the hall long after she had left.

...we saw the funnel of the malestrom, heard ...we saw the funnel of the malestrom, heard the rock bellowing all around....the rock bellowing all around....

PunPun

a humorous play on wordsa humorous play on words words used often have the same or words used often have the same or

similar sounds but differ in meaningsimilar sounds but differ in meaning example:example:

That joke was so corny, Del Monte wouldn’t That joke was so corny, Del Monte wouldn’t can it.can it.

What do the Sweet 16 and flip flops have in What do the Sweet 16 and flip flops have in common? No Heels! common? No Heels!

SimileSimile

comparison of two unlike things using comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”“like” or “as”

example:example: He ran like the wind.He ran like the wind. My dog is as heavy as a horse.My dog is as heavy as a horse.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

use of a word to imitate a sounduse of a word to imitate a sound examples:examples:

drip drip drip drip splashsplash buzzbuzz thudthud

Rhetorical QuestionRhetorical Question

a question that is not meant to be a question that is not meant to be answeredanswered

answers itself ORanswers itself OR is meant to make a pointis meant to make a point Example:Example:

Are you crazy?Are you crazy?