1. INTRODUCTION to EPIC POETRY

2. An epic poem has…
a hero who embodies national, cultural, or religious ideals
a hero upon whose actions depends the fate of his people
a course of action in which the hero performs great and difficult deeds

3. An epic poem has…
a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine or supernatural powers
a concern with eternal human problems
a dignified and elaborate poetic style

4. Important “Primary” Epics
Iliad* (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
Exodus (Hebrew)
Beowulf * (Anglo-Saxon)

5. What do these primary epics have in common?
Each began as part of a culture’s oral tradition
ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural values transferred generation-to-generation by traveling poets/bards who sang songs about cultural heroes and values
POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to memorize and more stable as passed-on

7. What is Epic Poetry? Written in an elevated/formal style
Long narrative poem
Written in an elevated/formal style
Celebrates the deed of a legendary hero or god 7

8. The Iliad “written” by Homer around (c.) 720 B.C.
Homer did not invent the story, but transcribed it into its longest-lasting form
All versions we read are translated from ancient Greek language – Translations can vary greatly
Called Iliad because “Ilium” was the Greek name for Troy – where the war took place. “Iliad” = “about Ilium”

9. The Trojan War (c. 1250 B.C.) Causes
Nuclear weapons?
No!
Treaty violations?
Imperial aggression?
Trade dispute?
A WOMAN!

10. The Trojan War 1184 BC/ 800 BC (written)
Main topic of The Iliad by Homer and latter The Aeneid by Virgil
Achaeans vs. Trojans (10 yrs.)
Helen of Troy abducted by Paris
Achilles obtains from war in 10th yr. kills Hector the Trojan Prince
Wooden horse
City captured Helen returned to Menelaus
Troy : The Trojan War  > 
The Trojan War is the main issue of the Iliad by Homer, and its later sequence is described in the Aeneid by Virgil. The war took place between Achaeans and Trojans, and raged for ten years. As a consequence of the Judgement of Paris , Helen (wife of the Spartan king Menelaus) was abducted by Paris (son of king Priam of Troy). Through most of the war, because of Achilles' withdrawal, Agamemnon ( king of the Achaeans and brother of Menelaus) was unable to penetrate the fortified city of Troy. On the tenth year, Achilles joined the Achaian's army and killed Hector, the Trojan prince. After the death of Achilles, the Achaeans built a Wooden horse, filled it with warriors and brought it into the city. Once the city was captured, it was destroyed by the Achaeans. The Trojan king Priam and most of his family were killed, Cassandra, his daughter, was raped and taken as slave to Greece, and Helen, whose abduction had started the war, returned to Menelaus.

11. Epic of Gilgamesh 2500 BC 11 Clay Tablets (story)
12th Tells of his ruling the netherworld
Most important epic poem in human history
Various adventures of hero-king searching for immortality
An account of the flood
Characters
Gilgamesh (2/3 god & 1/3 human)
Enkidu (wild man)
The Epic of Gilgamesh 
Gilgamesh is one of the oldest recorded stories in the world. It tells the story of an ancient King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, who may have actually existed, and whose name is on the Sumerian King List. The story of Gilgamesh, in various Sumerian versions, was originally widely known in the third millennium B.C. After a long history of retellings, this story was recorded, in a standardized Akkadian version, in the seventh century B.C., and stored in the famous library of King Assurbanipal.
Later, the story of Gilgamesh was lost to human memory, except for occasional fragments. The story was rediscovered in the mid-nineteenth century A.D., and made available in translation to German by the beginning of the twentieth century. People were especially amazed when they read this most ancient of stories, and realized that the flood story in Gilgamesh was a close analogue of the flood story in the Hebrew Bible.
The story of Gilgamesh was first discovered in the library of King Assurbanipal of Nineveh, written on twelve tablets. "Gilgamesh's life and his adventures during his unsuccessful quest for immortality are told on eleven of the twelve tablets." The twelfth tablet is "a description of the nether world, in which Gilgamesh rules after his death as divine judge over the shades, guiding and advising them
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a fascinating tale of great historical importance. Composed 1500 years before Homer's epics, the story is one that modern man can readily understand and appreciate. Gilgamesh was the more than capable ruler of the ancient town of Uruk; his strength and physical beauty were unmatched by any in the land, and his subjects adored him. Although he possessed so much, Gilgamesh wanted desperately to live forever like a god. He was two-thirds god and one-third human, but he refused to accept his destiny to die. If it were his lot to die, he wanted to perform great deeds so that his name would never be forgotten.

12. More about this one later…
The Odyssey 800 BC
Tale of Odysseus
10 yrs. in Trojan War
10 yrs. to get home
Presumed dead wife Penelope fighting off suitors
Consists of 24 books
More about this one later…
The Odyssey, Homer  > 
First and foremost, the Odyssey is a great tale. It is at heart an adventure story of Odysseus's return to his home after the 10 year Trojan War. Because Odysseus has upset the wrong god, he has to spend another 10 years journeying home. Meanwhile, suitors for his wife, Penelope's, hand have gathered at his home trying to win her heart, and, in the meantime, eating Odysseus out of house and home.

13. Literary Devices
Alliteration-- repetition of of similar sounds especially initial consonant or stressed syllable (eg. Peter Piper picked a pair of pickled peppers])
Metaphor- comparison between two similar things
Simile- Comparison using “like or as”

14. Literary Devices Cont.
Epithet- brief phrase characterizes a person place or thing (eg. “the Lord of all Life”, “the Rule of glory,” “the Lord of heaven and earth”)
Kenning- two-word metaphorical name for something (eg. “sea-road” for ocean [30, line 239])

15. Literary Elements
Internal Conflict- Struggle that takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings and desires
External Conflict- When a character struggles against some outside force… Person, nature, society, or fate.

16. Journal
Life is full of conflicts. For each of the types of conflict write a paragraph that gives details about your personal experience.

17. Villians
Journal Entry: Make a chart like the one below and fill it in with examples from today’s villains.
Villainous
Deeds
Enemies
Powers/
Abilities
Plots

18. Heroes
Journal Entry: Make a chart like the one below and fill it in with examples from today’s heroes.
Heroic
Deeds
Enemies
Powers/
Abilities
Virtues