por What is epic poetry?
The epic poetry It is a literary genre that consists of a long, serious and poetic narrative about a significant event, often starring a hero. Before the invention of writing, this genre was strictly oral. In this sense, the term «epic» is derived from the Greek word eposwhich means “what is counted”.
For practical purposes, ancient cultures recorded as epic poems only what deserved to be remembered. Before the development of writing, epic poems were memorized, and they played an important role in keeping a record of a culture’s great deeds and history.
Authors crafted stories, called epic poems or epics, using metrics that were easy to remember. For their part, those who told them tried to respect their original form. In its beginnings, epic poetry was designed to be performed with music.
Traveling bards interpreted poetry orally; the words were sung and often accompanied by music. The tradition of oral storytelling persisted for many years after the advent of writing.
history of epic poetry
The origins of Greek epic poetry date back to Mycenaean times. The Mycenaean civilization flourished in the Aegean Sea during the period 1600 B.C. C. – 1100 B.C. c.
However, some elements found in Homer’s poetry seem to indicate that its origins date back even before that period.
The Iliad and The odyssey Homer’s are the best known of the epic genre. However, the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Indian Sanskrit epics Ramayana and mahabharata are cited as the first works of epic poetry.
Later, with the advent of writing, all epic poems were transcribed. Additionally, new poems were created in the written format.
Over time, the epic evolved to accommodate changing languages, traditions, and beliefs. Poets like Lord Byron and Alexander Pope used this genre to create comic works like Don Juan and The Stolen Curl.
Characteristics of epic poetry
Epic poetry has a number of characteristics:
national theme
Each culture has its own epic narrative to extol the actions of its ancestors. Epics featured a hero who embodied the values of a culture.
Likewise, they framed the actions of that hero within his lineage. That is, the actions of this character were typical of his ethnic group.
This was a figure of great national or even cosmic importance. By representing the heroic ideal of a culture, he was a role model.
wide range
Although the theme is local, the scope of the story is broader. Sometimes the setting of the poem can be worldwide or even larger (universal).
narration in the past
The very intention of the genre —to review historical events— obliges the use of verbs in the past.
long verses
In the initial times of the epic, singing represented a natural and spontaneous way of expressing the emotions of human beings. Therefore, this form was used to glorify important events.
exaltation of values
The epic poems were made to be heard by common people of the town. To capture their attention, the facts had to represent high values in the protagonists. With this they stimulated the imagination of the listeners or readers.
Likewise, it had to reinforce the popular belief that its heroic characters always acted with reason. The stories were made based on sharp judgments of goodness and evil.
superhuman actions
In these great actions the gods and other supernatural beings took a particular interest or formed an active part. Sometimes they took both positions.
Ceremonial style of storytelling
An epic poem deliberately departs from everyday language. Since what is represented is the grandeur of human actions, the style is ceremonial and grandiose.
Relationship of epic poetry with myths
Epic poetry has been used to formally document mythological traditions in many cultures. Such is the case with Norse mythology in the Edda, Germanic mythology in the Nibelungenlied, and, more recently, Finnish mythology with Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.
The epic and mythology share several characteristics. Both contain narratives about heroes and heroic actions; the heroes are from real life in the first case, and mythical in the second.
Both epics and myths have the hexameter as their measure. They may also contain common epic features such as battles, speeches, invocations of the muses, and advice from the gods.
Notable works of epic poetry
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh It is considered the first example of an epic. This Assyro-Babylonian epic poem tells the story of the life of the Assyrian king Gilgamesh and his adventures in the quest for immortality.
mahabharata
Several authors participated in the composition of this enormously long Indian poem (110,000 stanzas). The work was completed between the years 400 a. C. and 400 d. C. It is considered a true encyclopedia of Indian civilization.
The Iliad
The Iliad Homer’s is often considered the first work of European literature. It tells part of the state of siege of the city of Troy and the war that took place there. This story had a very important place in Greek mythology.
This poem recounts the advance of the Greeks, enraged by the capture of Helen of Sparta and led by Achilles, to destroy their adversary.
The odyssey
Also composed by Homer, it chronicles Odysseus’ 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. During that time he fights mystical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods.
Zarer’s story
This is a Persian work composed in the fifth century AD. C. Throughout history, all the struggles that the Persian people had to go through to spread the religion of Zoroastrianism are told.
The poem of my Cid
This masterpiece of Spanish epic tells the life and adventures of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador. This was a Castilian nobleman who lived in the second half of the 11th century.
The Song of the Nibelungs
It is a Germanic work written in the 13th century. This tells the story of Siegfried, a dragon hunter.
Roldan’s song
This epic poem, composed at the end of the 11th century, narrates the defeat of Charlemagne’s army in the battle of Roncesvalles (778). Within the framework of the story, the death of Roldán, Charlemagne’s nephew, is also told.
References
Yoshida, A. (2018, January 05). Epic. Taken from britannica.com.
Toohey, P. (s/f). Epic: The Genre, Its Characteristics. Taken from firstyear.barnard.edu.
Poets.org (2014, February 21). Epic: Poetic Form. Taken from poets.org.
Lacroix, R. (2005-2006). Characteristics of Epic Poetry. Taken from staffweb.plattscsd.org.
History and biographies. (2014, December 02). What is epic poetry: characteristics and hero characters. Taken from historiaybiografias.com.