Conventions of Epic Poetry

1. Conventions of Epic Poetry

2. Characteristics of Epic Poetry Epic narratives originated from word of mouth that was handed down through generations before anyone wrote it down. It was from bronze age Greece which ended in 1100BC 1. The Hero • Figure of great national importance • Represents the heroic ideal of a particular culture e.g. the physical strength and stamina of Achilles, quick-wittedness and intelligence of Odysseus in the odyssey, Hector is the hero of the Trojans- they rely on him • Many of the heroes (in the Iliad especially) are tragic characters, Achilles knows his fate- he will die if he continues in battle. Many of the events focus on this tragedy and therefore the heroes journey through the story until their untimely end.

3. 2. The setting • Invocation; Opening lines that call upon a relevant Muse for inspiration or instruction. Book 1 – ‘sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles’ • in media res; Action of story picks up “in the middle” of things.  Relies on readers’ prior knowledge. Book 1 starts 9 years in to the Trojan War and is nearer the end than the beginning • The setting is on a worldwide scale, every land known was used in the story, from the mountain of the Gods (Olympus) to the little islands the particular culture owned • In terms of the story, the Epics always start in a struggle. For example in the midst of the Trojan war. • Flashback; An interruption of a work’s chronology to describe an event in the past. For example, book 6 – Glaucus and Diomedes refer to their father’s past and how their grandparents came to meet

4. 3. Intervention of the gods • a key part of Ancient Epics is the involvement of gods in human affairs, Zeus using the balance of necessity to decide Hector’s fate, Achilles’ shield and armour is made by a god to try to protect him in battle. • Each event that occurs, in some way involves a divine being. They are shown to be less morally correct than the mortals the story involves • Emotions and great natural forces were personified as deities, for example Dawn and Strife. The characters and Greek audience at the time would find explanations in the form of gods for anything they couldn’t otherwise explain, like lightening or dust storms. • 4. Lists • There are many catalogues and lists of things and characters for example the list of people Patroclus killed when he re-joined battle. • This allows many different people and places to be mentioned so that when poets travelled to perform these stories, there would be characters and settings that each audience would recognise.

5. Epithets; A characterizing word or phrase that occurs before a person’s name. ‘Swift footed Achilles’ • Epic simile; detailed comparison between two unlike things, takes the form of a simile, lasts several lines. • Epics digressions; passages that do not further the action of the story because they are asides or because they are repetitions.  However, the end is continually kept in view. Book 1 – even though Thetis is aware of Achilles’ dishonour, Achilles repeats all the events to her.  Their conversation ends with a mention of Achilles’ inevitable death. • Foreshadowing; Hints of what is to come in the action of a play or story. Book 22 – Priam predicts the burning of Troy and his own, miserable, tragic death ‘my dogs, turned savage, tear me to pieces at the entrance to my palace

6. By sarah, Yiokasti and Megan