1 / 19

Unveiling the Depths of Epic Poetry Through Time

Explore the essence of epic poetry from Gilgamesh to Beowulf, revealing literary devices, historic backgrounds, and significant characters in these timeless narratives. Discover why epics continue to influence modern literature and culture.

razi
Download Presentation

Unveiling the Depths of Epic Poetry Through Time

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. INTRODUCTIONtoEPIC POETRY

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

  3. Literary Devices • Alliteration– repetition of similar sounds especially initial consonant or stressed syllable (eg. “Shild’s strong son” [23, line 19]) • Metaphor- comparison between two similar things • Simile- Comparison using “like” or “as”

  4. 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])

  5. 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.

  6. Epic of Gilgamesh2500 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)

  7. Summary of Gilgamesh • Meets Enkidu (BFF) • 1st trip to Land of Cedaes to kill Humbaba • Later slays the Bull of Heaven • Angers gods=suffering • Seeks Utnapishtim & finds heartache • Returns to Uruk and writes his story

  8. Bible 4000 BC- 77 AD • Judeo-Christian “God” • Contains the Old & New Testaments • Missionaries & Crusades • Holy Grail • Referenced in a lot of literature

  9. Homer 800 BC • Did he exist? • Creator of the Epic Poems The Iliad and The Odyssey • Most likely a minstrel • Traveling singer/storyteller • Poems were oral for centuries before written down

  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 withdraws from the war and then rejoins in 10th yr. & kills Hector the Trojan Prince • Wooden horse • City captured & Helen returned to Menelaus

  11. 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

  12. Naturalis Historia, 1st Encyclopedia 77 AD • Written by Gaius Plinius Cecilius Secundus (a.k.a. Pliny the Elder) • 37 Book • 1st has preface & tables of contents • List of authorities • Published 1st 10 himself • Very little revision if any

  13. The Adventures of Beowulf 650 AD • 1st Epic Poem written in English, Old English • Author Unknown • Adventure of a great Scandinavian warrior • 1 manuscript survived the monastery destruction by Henry VIII

  14. Historic Background • Geats & Danes • Accurately reflects the time period (6th century) • Angles, Saxons, & Jutes • Germanic Code • Comitatus (group) -of loyalty • Sworn loyalty to king = gifts • Feudal System

  15. Historic Background Cont. • Women were thought of as holy • Belief in fate • Biblical references relate to Old Testament • Author most likely Christian • Scops- composers & storytellers

  16. Geneology of Geats, Danes, and Swedes

  17. Main Characters • Beowulf • Dragon • Grendel & Mother • Higlac • Hrothgar • Shild • Unferth • Welthow • Wiglaf

  18. Time and Place • Set in Denmark and Geatland • 6th Century • Herot- mead hall

  19. Why is Epic Poetry Important today? • Stories are still being passed down from generation to generation. • We see these same plots, heroes, struggles, archetypes, and events happening in life today. • References to these epic poems are in our books and movies today.

More Related