Epic: meaning and characteristics

If you've heard of Gilgamesh, The Iliad or The odyssey, You are interested in this lesson from a PROFESSOR where we are going to know in depth what the meaning and characteristics of the epic. A literary genre that, although today is no longer practically used, in ancient times it was, and a lot. In fact, some of the great universal works that reached our days, such as those already cited here, or the Song of Mine Cid and even the Divine Comedy of Dante, are included in this genre, to which the poet Virgilio, with his famous Aeneid. We started!

Of the meaning and characteristics of the epic, we have to start at the beginning, of course, which is the meaning.

The epic is a story or poem of a historical nature that, normally, adds fantastic elements and that narrates fundamental and transcendental events such as the birth of an empire (as we see in the Aeneid) or the adventures of a myth, like the Song of Mío Cid.

It is considered the antecedent of the novel, is usually narrated in verse, although it does not contain a common typology, but usually mixes several, but the hexameters and the Alexandrines stand out. However, it can also be narrated in prose.

Then basically the narrative seeks exalt momentous events that are of interest to a people such as the battle between Greece and Troy in the Iliad, the return of said War of Odysseus or Ulysses (both names are correct) in The odyssey, the adventures of the Cid in the Song of Mine Cid or the way through the circles of Dante's beyond to find his beloved in the Divine Comedy.

In the past, they were transmitted by oral tradition, so probably none of these poems that have survived to this day are as they originated. Maybe if we except the Divine Comedy, or maybe the Aeneid, it is very likely that the others passed by word of mouth until they reached us in the versions that we know today.

We continue to analyze the meaning and characteristics of the epic and now focus on its second part. What characterizes these poems? There are a number of interesting common details:

Home In Media Res

It is common in the epic that the narration does not have a beginning, but rather that the facts told are made up with the plot already advanced, which is considered home In Media Res. It happens, for example, in The Iliad, whose events counted occur while the Greeks were already on the beach of Troy. By the way, the final outcome of the battle is not counted either.

Invocation to the muse

It was also common to invoke the Calliope muse to give inspiration to the poet in charge of narrating the epic.

Division of verses

The hexameter verses, as we have said, also known as epic, were probably added by the Greeks. However, the origin of these poems is lost at the dawn of human civilization. The Epic of Gilgamesh, for example, it is of Sumerian origin, even before classical culture. Then, after the centuries, prose was taken up again.

Extensive narratives

Epics are very long stories. In fact, they are usually an important part in the birth of mythology, where transcendental events are told.

Warrior and traveler theme

In general, the theme of the epic has to do with war and travel. Interestingly, both attributed to Homer, The Iliad Y The odyssey, they are like that. The first narrates the war between Troy and Greece, and the second the return journey of Odysseus from this same war. However, it praises the strength and great virtues of heroes.

Supernatural presence

Another inherent fact of the epic is the constant presence of the supernatural. The divinities are an important part of the narrative, they take sides and appear as spirits, or in the body of humans, to change the course of events.

The hero

All epics feature a hero. A person who stands out for his courage, for his great deeds, for his generosity and his special qualities. We see it in Aeneas, Odysseus, Gilgamesh, the Cid and so many others.

Village culture

In all of them there are cultural manifestations of the peoples related to their traditions, customs or religions.

Exalted values

As we have already seen, the main characters show great courage, friendship, honesty, perseverance, cunning, love, honor, etc. In reality, they have a didactic sense, beyond mere entertainment.