Rules for Epic Rules for Epic PoetryPoetry

Intro to The OdysseyIntro to The Odyssey

Epic PoemEpic Poem

a LONG narrative poem (it tells a story) on a great a LONG narrative poem (it tells a story) on a great and serious subject that and serious subject that

- is told in an elevated, formal style (fancy words, is told in an elevated, formal style (fancy words, very serious, almost ceremonial)very serious, almost ceremonial)

- has a heroic or quasi-divine character on whose - has a heroic or quasi-divine character on whose actions depend the fate of something huge like a actions depend the fate of something huge like a nation or the whole human race or the universe.nation or the whole human race or the universe.

►Traditional epics developed from the Traditional epics developed from the Oral Oral TraditionTradition, which means historical and , which means historical and legendary tales passed down through generations legendary tales passed down through generations of story-telling. of story-telling.

►They are often during a period of expansion and They are often during a period of expansion and warfare.warfare.

►Classical Epic poems: Classical Epic poems: the Illiad, the Odysseythe Illiad, the Odyssey; ; Anglo-Saxon epic: Anglo-Saxon epic: BeowulfBeowulf

►Later ones written in deliberate imitation of Later ones written in deliberate imitation of those above: Virgil’s those above: Virgil’s AeneidAeneid, Milton’s , Milton’s Paradise Paradise LostLost

There are all sorts of rules/conventions these types There are all sorts of rules/conventions these types of tales must follow:of tales must follow:

► hero has to be of hero has to be of great national or cosmic great national or cosmic importanceimportance. In the Greek ones, he is usually . In the Greek ones, he is usually related to the gods somehow (Achilles, Aeneas)related to the gods somehow (Achilles, Aeneas)

► the the setting must be VAST.setting must be VAST. So the hero will often So the hero will often go on a long journey that takes years, during which go on a long journey that takes years, during which he visits many different lands. he visits many different lands.

►There must be There must be superhuman deedssuperhuman deeds in battle in battle (Achilles, Odysseus, Beowulf)(Achilles, Odysseus, Beowulf)

►Gods and/or supernaturalGods and/or supernatural folksfolks take an active take an active interest or even participate and offer adviceinterest or even participate and offer advice

All of the previous traits are part of the archetypal All of the previous traits are part of the archetypal hero’s journeyhero’s journey, which has several stages., which has several stages.

The most important ones for our purpose: the hero has to The most important ones for our purpose: the hero has to have a have a “descent into darkness,”“descent into darkness,” which in the Greek which in the Greek Tales usually means a trip to the Underworld; he Tales usually means a trip to the Underworld; he also also must grow as a character during this journey and must grow as a character during this journey and return home changedreturn home changed. Odysseus learns from his . Odysseus learns from his adventures. He had to experience all these things to adventures. He had to experience all these things to become who he is. As Tennyson puts Odysseus’ become who he is. As Tennyson puts Odysseus’ thoughts, thoughts, “Much have I seen and known…and “Much have I seen and known…and drunk delight of battle with my peers, far on drunk delight of battle with my peers, far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. I am a part the ringing plains of windy Troy. I am a part of all that I have met;”of all that I have met;”

Rules for the Writing StyleRules for the Writing Style

►narrator begins with an invocation to the muse. narrator begins with an invocation to the muse. He’s asking for inspiration so he can tell his tale He’s asking for inspiration so he can tell his tale better. There are 9 muses; one of them better. There are 9 muses; one of them (Calliope) is the muse of epic poetry.(Calliope) is the muse of epic poetry.

►story beings story beings in medias resin medias res, in the middle of the , in the middle of the action, and then the narrative has flashbacks to action, and then the narrative has flashbacks to catch up to where you began, and then it moves catch up to where you began, and then it moves on from there.on from there.

Other Elements of Style That You’ll Notice:Other Elements of Style That You’ll Notice:

►Epics reflect the important conventions of their Epics reflect the important conventions of their time, like the importance of the patriarchal time, like the importance of the patriarchal lineage (who’s your daddy?) or lineage (who’s your daddy?) or xenia,xenia, Greek Greek hospitalityhospitality

►Because these stories were performed, there are Because these stories were performed, there are lots of repetitive clues and wordplay to keep the lots of repetitive clues and wordplay to keep the characters straight, like Homeric Epithets (see characters straight, like Homeric Epithets (see back of Bk I guide)back of Bk I guide)