Question: What is Epic? What are the elements of epic? How many Types of Epic? (characteristics of epic)
Answer: The word epic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective “spikes”, which means a poetic story. An epic is a long narrative poem that tells in grand style the history and aspirations of a national hero. The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and Beowulf are considered the most important epics in western literature.
The major elements of an epic are:
1. invocation to the Muses and proposition of the subject at the Beginning;
2. Lofty language and high style;
3. A central hero of superman quality;
4. A subject of national or collective interest;
5. A long perilous journey, often on water;
6. Long speeches of the heroic leaders;
7. Mighty battles;
8. Feasts and revels;
9. Homeric (long-run) similes;
10. Involvement of supernatural elements (also known as machinery);
11. An underworld journey;
12. Assembly of the supernatural powers;
13. Glorification of justice and peace;
There are two types of epic:
(1) Primary or Oral epic; and
(2) Secondary or Literary epic;
A primary epic is a type of epic with which the epic tradition began. The secondary or literary epic is the one that imitated the tradition of the primary epic. In a primary epic, the episodes taken in oral tradition are linked with one another to make a longer or for this reason, looseness in the construction is apparent. In a secondary epic, such looseness is not found. A primary epic displays savage and rude heroism but a secondary epic shows a more refined taste. In primary epic supernatural elements are very significant but in a literary or secondary epic, they are not so significant.
For example, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are primary epics. Virgil's Aeneid, Dante's Divine Comedy, and Milton's Paradise Lost are secondary epics.
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