The Epicness of Epics
By the insanly epic, Kailtyn Maloney
The two types of Epicness
A primary epic poem is a pretty accurate retelling of a historic event put into poem form.
A secondary epic poem is a poem which deals with legends and the supernatural.
The History of Epicness
Why epically epic epics?
Primary epics are written to relate a historic occurrence through poetry.
Secondary epics are slightly exaggerated history books with a dash of myth in them, actually a bit more than a dash.
Any epic is meant to explain the reasons a culture was created (or explain any event from the past) sometimes by using that culture's heroes and legends to explain it.
What is an Epic ( it's epic, I promise )
Example of a Primary Epic: Homer's The Iliad
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades’ dark,
And left their bodies to rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will was done.
Begin with the clash between Agamemnon--
The Greek warlord--and godlike Achilles.
Example of a Secondary Epic:
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.
So bitter is it, death is little more;
But of the good to treat, which there I found,
Speak will I of the other things I saw there.
Works Cited Page
What is an Epic,
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/What_is_an_Epic.pdf
03 Dec. 14
"What Is the Purpose of Epic Stories or Narratives in Ancient History? - Homework Help - ENotes.com." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014
"Epic." Poetry. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014
"Department of Classics Monmouth College 700 East Broadway Monmouth."Department of Classics Monmouth College 700 East Broadway Monmouth. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"Notes on Heroic Poetry: The Primary and Secondary Epic." Notes on Heroic Poetry: The Primary and Secondary Epic. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
Homer. "The Iliad Book 1, Lines 1-15." Poets.org. Trans. Stanley Larmbardo. Academy of American Poets, Web. 05 Dec. 2014
Alighieri, Dante. "Inferno, Canto 1." Poets.org. Trans. Henry W. Longfellow. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.