![]() The use of Enumeratio, or the epic list-catalogues and genealogies used to place the scope of the epic within the broader, global world.A narrative that starts in media res-the action has already begun.An invocation to a muse-this is predominantly featured in classical European epics, and is not present in epics from others cultures, such as the Hindu Bhagavata Purana.It begins with a stating of themes and setting, called the proposition-this could be a statement of purpose, or a question the epic seeks to address.There are also several conventions that epics tend to draw on: An omniscient narrator-the poet knows all motives and secrets, regardless of the characters’ awareness.An elevated style that remains consistent throughout-though the style may change, it must remain at a suitably high level and certain characters may speak in fixed metres that distinguish themselves from others.Supernatural forces, such as gods, demons, monsters, or time travel.Vast settings that covers multiple countries.Deeds of strength and valour, usually to a superhuman degree.A hero of legendary status, who is already an icon-perhaps even partially divine in origin, such as the child of a god-and able to complete what others attempt.There are six narrative elements to an epic: Most Western epics-including Virgil’s Aeneid and Dante’s Divine Comedy-owe a tremendous debt to Homer, borrowing elements such as dactylic hexameter and narrative structures. Milman Parry and Albert Lord both investigated the Homeric epics and their importance in Western literature. Homer’s epics were most likely transcriptions of these oral performances, many decades after the original writing. Many of these epics were episodic, with each episode being equal in importance and length. ![]() Many of the surviving epics are written in such a way that they are easy to recall, through the repetition of descriptions, such as “the wine dark sea” in Homer’s Odyssey, or through the use of short, simple sentences. The first epics were almost certainly pre-writing, and as such would have been told verbally by bards. Most will be familiar with the Homeric epics-The Iliad and The Odyssey-but epics can also be found throughout Asia and Europe. Though a recognised historical figure, the story is a work of fiction, lionising the character as a legendary hero.īecause of the epic’s origins in one of the oldest societies recorded, it is no wonder epics can be found across the world. Originally recorded during the Neo-Sumerian Empire, the Epic of Gilgamesh details the life of Gilgamesh. ![]() The oldest recorded epic is the earliest complete story we have to hand, the Epic of Gilgamesh dating back potentially to 2500BCE. The term itself is Ancient Greek in origin, from the word epikos, meaning word, story, or poem. We are all familiar with the term ‘epic’-it is synonymous with greatness, and indeed that is what epic poems try to convey. Epic poetry is a form focusing on long narratives, often used to tell stories of exceptional people, both real and fictional.
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