Post on 24-Feb-2016
description
Prof. Q
UT Arlington
The Epic, The Epic Hero, and The Epic World
•A long narrative.•Written in hexameter.•Focus on the heroic actions of larger-than-life figures or of a great civilization.•Focus on the hero’s relationship to non-natural forces.•Glorification of the past (repetition, description, setting, behavior).•Battles.•Motivational speeches.•Councils of gods / great leaders.•Epics from the oral tradition (Shield of Heracles) focused on the hero and were short.•Epics from the written tradition were longer and focus on the hero or the civilization.
The Epic – What is an Epic?
In classical hexameter, the six feet follow these rules:A foot can be made up of two long syllables or a long and two short syllables,.The first four feet can contain either one of them.The fifth is almost always a dactyl, and last must be a spondee.
Hexameter
Begins in medias res.The setting is vast, covering many nations, the world or the universe.Begins with an invocation to a muse (epic invocation).Begins with a statement of the theme.Includes the use of terms, names, or places that are in common use or common knowledge.Contains long lists (epic catalogue).Features long and formal speeches.Shows divine or supernatural intervention on human affairs.Features heroes that embody the values of the civilization.Often (not always) features the tragic hero's descent into the Underworld or hell.Religion matters in epic poetry.Nostalgia is almost always present.
What are the Core Elements of ‘The Epic’?
The hero generally participates in a cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries that try to defeat him in his journey and returns home significantly transformed by his journey. The epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies certain morals that are valued by the society the epic originates from.
Epic / Tragic Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD51mcnc9Hg
Represents the ideals of a nation or raceIs a cultural symbolHeroic Compulsion (Desire to fight)Superior Social Station or Superior QualityTall, Handsome, MuscularHigh physical skill and intelligenceCourageousHas supernatural abilitiesNeeds a crisis to show his true awesomenessAlways has a flaw
Epic / Tragic Hero
Gilgamesh (12th Century B.C.) [Anonymous, Mesopotamia]The Iliad (8th Century B.C.) [Homer, Greece]The Odyssey (8th Century B.C.) [Homer, Greece]Argonautica (3rd Century BC) [Appolonius, Greece]Beowulf (8th Century) [Anonymous, Possibly Scandinavia]Sundiata (13th Century) [Anonymous, Mali]Divina Comedia (14th Century) [Dante, Italy]Paradise Lost (17th Century) [John Milton, England]La Pucelle d’Orleans (18th Century) [Voltaire, France]
The Epic – Epic Poems
Importance of Identity and SelfGood Warrior vs. Good King
Beowulf
Gilgamesh• The role of women in Gilgamesh. • Gilgamesh as a reflection of the values of his society. • Relationship to The Bible.• Love / Lust as a Motivating Force
IliadThe relationship between gods and mortalsMilitary Glory vs. Family
Hector vs. ParisAchillies
The term “Epic” can also apply to:• Epic Films• Epic Novel (specially sci-fi and fantasy)• Epic Video Game• Epic Music
The Epic – Epic Across Media
Epic Fail?
Epic Music • Symphonic and Instrumental with Chorus Harmonization• Focus on Drums• Sounds are symbolic of warhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsNlhUxwGjU
Music that Tells an Epic•Music of any genre that tells the story of a hero figure, remembers great deeds, or promotes heroic traits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9QjrmvW2t8
Epic Music vs Music that Tells an Epic
Play through one of the titles below:ADVENT (Colossal Cave Adventure)http://www.web-adventures.orgAdventurehttp://www.simmphonic.com/programming/adventure.htm
Play through, or watch a play video (in Youtube) of, one of the titles below:• Final Fantasy • Final Fantasy 3• Final Fantasy 4• Final Fantasy 6 (Extra credit for FF 6)• Final Fantasy 7• Final Fantasy X• Final Fantasy 13
Read the transcript to one of Lost Odyssey’s Dream Sequenceshttp://lostodyssey.wikia.com/wiki/A_Thousand_Years_of_Dreams/Dream_Trigger_Locations
Homework
You may write a piece/ create a video on one or more of these titles as a reader response.