Transcript Conventions of Epic Poetry An epic poem has…

Conventions of Epic Poetry
An epic poem has…
• a hero who embodies national, cultural, or
religious ideals
• a hero upon whose actions depends the fate
of his people
• a course of action in which the hero performs
great and difficult deeds
• a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine
or supernatural powers
• a concern with eternal human problems
• a dignified and elaborate poetic style
Important “Primary”
Epics
•
•
•
•
•
Iliad* (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
Exodus (Hebrew)
Beowulf * (Anglo-Saxon)
What do these primary
epics have in common?
• Each began as part of a culture’s oral
tradition
• ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural values
transferred generation-to-generation by
traveling poets/bards who sang songs
about cultural heroes and values
• POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to
memorize and more stable as passed-on
The Iliad
• “written” by Homer around
(c.) 720 B.C.
• Homer did not invent the
story, but transcribed it into
its longest-lasting form
• All versions we read are
translated from ancient
Greek language –
Translations can vary greatly
• Called Iliad because “Ilium”
was the Greek name for Troy
– where the war took place.
“Iliad” = “about Ilium”
The Trojan War (c. 1250 B.C.)
Causes
Nuclear weapons?
No!
Treaty violations?
No!
Imperial aggression?
No!
Trade dispute?
No!
A WOMAN!
Helen of Troy
“The face that
launched a thousand
ships”
Legend says that the
Trojan War began
when Paris – Prince of
Troy and son to the
Trojan King Priam –
stole the wife of
Menelaus, King of
Sparta.
Why would Paris do
something that stupid?
Legend says that Paris – a desirable
man because of his attractiveness,
wealth and power – was approached by
the goddess Eris. Eris asked Paris to
give “The Golden Apple,” inscribed
“To the Fairest” to Athena, Hera, or
Aphrodite.
Why would Paris do
something that stupid?
• The three goddesses were arguing
over who was the most beautiful
and powerful.
• Eris chose Paris to settle their
dispute.
• Eris, in Greek, means “Chaos”.
Tough
Choice.
• Hera, wife of Zeus
Aphrodite/goddess of
love, beauty and
sexuality, daughter
of Poseidon
Hera/Wife of Zeus
Athena/goddess
of wisdom,
daughter of Zeus
Which would you choose?
Paris, of course,
selects Aphrodite.
• Menelaus promptly launches “a thousand ships” in
an effort to reclaim Helen and punish Paris.
• As King of Sparta, Menelaus has many “allies”.
Troy
(aka “Ilium”)
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Sparta
A “less sexy” reason for the “real” Trojan War?
Black Sea
Bosporus
Trojan
WarSea
c. 1250-1200 BC
Aegean
Dardanelles
Line-ups: The Achaeans
(aka Spartans, aka Greeks)
• Menelaus, the King
• Agamemnon, brother to Menelaus;
battlefield leader of the Achaeans
• Ajax
• Odysseus
• Patroclus, cousin to Achilles
Line-ups: The
Achaeans
(aka Spartans, aka
Greeks)
• ACHILLES
• the central character – the
hero – of The Iliad.
• a phenomenal warrior;
leader of a “special
detachment” fighting with
Menelaus and the
Spartans – the
Myrmydons.
Achilles’ mother, Thetis
• Thetis was a Nereid, a
minor goddess who gave
birth to Achilles, a mortal.
• Because of her connection
with Olympus as a Nereid,
Thetis was permitted
access to the magical river,
Styx, which separated the
Earth from Hades.
• Thetis dipped her newborn
son into the Styx, ensuring
his protection against all
mortal weapons, except…
Line-ups: The Trojans
• Priam, King of Troy
• Hecuba, his wife
• Hector, his son; prince of Troy and
the Trojans’ most valiant warrior
• Paris, younger brother of Hector