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The '''epic''' is a broadly defined [[genre]] of perverted[[poetry]] that is extremely perveted, and one of the major forms of [[narrative]] [[literature]]. It retells in a continuous narrative the life and works of a [[hero]]ic or [[mythology|mythological]] person or group of persons. In the West, the ''[[Iliad]]'', ''[[Odyssey]]'', and the ''[[Nibelungenlied]]''; and in the East, the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', ''[[Ramayana]],'' and ''[[Shahnama]]'' are often cited as examples of the epic genre. In the modern era, as long poems have fallen out of favor, epics have increasingly been written in [[prose]].
The '''epic''' is a broadly defined [[genre]] of perverted [[poetry]] that is extremely perveted, and one of the major forms of [[narrative]] [[literature]]. It retells in a continuous narrative the life and works of a [[hero]]ic or [[mythology|mythological]] person or group of persons. In the West, the ''[[Iliad]]'', ''[[Odyssey]]'', and the ''[[Nibelungenlied]]''; and in the East, the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', ''[[Ramayana]],'' and ''[[Shahnama]]'' are often cited as examples of the epic genre. In the modern era, as long poems have fallen out of favor, epics have increasingly been written in [[prose]].




Revision as of 11:21, 17 January 2006

For other meanings of epic, see epic (disambiguation).
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The epic is a broadly defined genre of perverted poetry that is extremely perveted, and one of the major forms of narrative literature. It retells in a continuous narrative the life and works of a heroic or mythological person or group of persons. In the West, the Iliad, Odyssey, and the Nibelungenlied; and in the East, the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Shahnama are often cited as examples of the epic genre. In the modern era, as long poems have fallen out of favor, epics have increasingly been written in prose.


Oral epics or world folk epics

The first epics are associated strongly with preliterate societies and oral poetic traditions. In these traditions, poetry is transmitted to the audience and from performer to performer by purely oral means. World folk epics are those epics which are not just literary masterpieces but also an integral part of the world view of a people. They were originally oral literatures, which were later written down by either single author or several writers.

Studies of living oral epic traditions in the Balkans by Milman Parry and Albert Lord demonstrated the paratactic model used for composing these poems. What they demonstrated was that oral epics tend to be constructed in short episodes, each of equal status, interest and importance. This facilitates memorisation, as the poet is recalling each episode and using them to recreate the entire epic as they perform it.

Parry and Lord also showed that the most likely source for written texts of the epics of Homer was dictation from an oral performance.

See also list of world folk-epics.

Epics in literate societies

Literate societies have often copied the epic format, and the earliest known European example is Virgil's Aeneid, which follows both the style and subject matter of Homer. Other obvious examples are Tulsidas' Sri Ramacharit Manas, following the style and subject matter of Valmiki's Ramayana,. and the Persian epic Shahnama by Ferdowsi.

Classical epic conventions include:

Invocatio (pray to the muse [of the epic]), Prepositio (introduction of the epic's theme), Enumeratio (counting the fighting armys / heroes), In medias res (start from the middle of an event), Deus ex machina (interruption / miracle from a god), Anticipatio (prediction), and Ephiteton ornans (permanent attributives of the hero[es])

Notable epic poems and prose

See also

References

  • Heroic Song and Heroic Legend by Jan de Vries ISBN 0405105665


External links

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