FEATURES OF AN EPIC POETRY

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 THE MAIN FEATURES OF AN EPIC POETRY : 

  • The subject matter of an epic is heroic or mythical  kind. 
  • The hero is a figure of national or even cosmic importance as Achilles in Homer's 'Iliad', Aeneas in Virgil's 'Aenid', Adam or Christ in Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and Rama in the Ramayana. 

  • The setting of an epic is vast and comprises several worlds.

      •  In Odyssey the whole known world is the scene of action of Ulysses. 
      • In Virgil's Aenid and Dante's Divine Comedy, earth , heaven and hell are the scenes of action.
      • In Paradise Lost also the scene of action has cosmic dimensions embracing earth, heaven and hell.  

  • The action of an epic involves superhuman deeds such as the deed of Achilles or the journey of Ulysses. 

      • Paradise Lost presents the war in heaven, Satan's journey through chaos and his audacious attempts to outwit God by corrupting mankind. 
      • The Ramayana presents several wars and the prolonged wanderings of the hero.

  • The actions of an epic is often controlled by supernatural agents. God and Goddesses mingle with the humans and fight on both sides. 

      • In Homer the Olympian gods participates in all activities and in Paradise Lost devils, angels and God himself are involved.

  • The epic contains a number of thrilling episodes like battles, duels, wanderings, ordeals and the like. 
  • In most epics there is a moral purpose. The hero represents a cause and the victory of good over evil is ensured. Sometimes characters themselves are personifications of good or evil
  • In the narration of an epic conventions are followed. 

      • It is narrated in an ornate, ceremonial and grand style which is deliberately distanced from ordinary speech. 
      • Epic similes, figures of speech, classical allusions and references, and repetitions are used.
      • The characters are given a set of speeches. 
      • The narration usually begins with an invocation to the muse or a guiding Spirit. 
      • Usually, the narrative starts in the middle of the story as in Paradise Lost which begins with the fallen angels gathering their forces of revenge. Only later Milton tells us what happened before the Fall.

  • The epic is usually divided into 12 books though Iliad and Odyssey have 24 books each. Spenser's 'Faerie Queen' was planned in 12 books and Milton's 'Paradise Lost' also has 12 books.     


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