The Epic PoemThe Epic Poem

An epic poem has the An epic poem has the following features:following features:

It is a long narrative It is a long narrative poem.poem.

It has very formal It has very formal grammar and grammar and sophisticated sophisticated vocabulary.vocabulary.

Traditionally it is an Traditionally it is an oral art form.oral art form.

Stories were told Stories were told aloud and passed aloud and passed from generation to from generation to

generation.generation.

Storytellers were Storytellers were either a minstrel either a minstrel

(singing), a bard, or a (singing), a bard, or a scop.scop.

It has a hero (“the epic It has a hero (“the epic hero”) who reflects the hero”) who reflects the values and ideas of his values and ideas of his

culture or society.culture or society.

The Epic HeroThe Epic Hero

The epic hero has The epic hero has skill, courage, and skill, courage, and

almost superhuman almost superhuman strength.strength.

The epic hero has The epic hero has high moral values high moral values

associated with his associated with his community.community.

He struggles for the He struggles for the values and ideas that values and ideas that are important to his are important to his

society.society.

The hero fights The hero fights against values and against values and

ideas that his society ideas that his society rejects.rejects.

The hero is helped by The hero is helped by divine beings (but divine beings (but sometimes they sometimes they

obstruct his efforts).obstruct his efforts).

He seeks revenge for He seeks revenge for wrongs committed wrongs committed

against him, his against him, his family, and his family, and his

society.society.

The epic hero always The epic hero always goes on a quest (a goes on a quest (a

journey or voyage) for journey or voyage) for something.something.

The epic hero values The epic hero values honor and glory, and honor and glory, and succeeds in war and succeeds in war and

adventure.adventure.

He sometimes makes He sometimes makes rash decisions and rash decisions and takes unnecessary takes unnecessary

risks.risks.

At some point, the At some point, the epic hero descends epic hero descends into darkness, either into darkness, either

literally or literally or metaphorically.metaphorically.

The epic hero The epic hero achieves his goal. He achieves his goal. He usually receives praise usually receives praise

and a reward.and a reward.