Epic poem: definition, genre features and examples

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The epic poem is one of the most popular and oldest genres of world literature. This is a fictional narrative work in verse. Its key difference from an ordinary poem is that some major events in the life of a particular social group, a particular people or all of humanity are necessarily depicted. In this article, we will talk about the features of this genre, as well as the most famous examples from world literature.

Definition

The epic poem is considered one of the most ancient types of epic work in the history of world literature. It already existed in antiquity, when the attention of the authors was focused on the development of common and national history.

Among the most striking examples of the genre of the epic poem are Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, the German Nibelungenlied, the French Roland Song,"Jerusalem Delivered" by Tasso. As you can see, the authors of many of these poems are completely unknown. Largely due to the fact that the texts themselves were written many centuries ago, since then they have been repeatedly reprinted, rewritten, supplemented and changed.

After the times of antiquity, authors showed interest in this genre with renewed vigor in the era of Classicism. He was recognized at that time as the crown of poetry for his civic pathos, sublimity and heroism. At the same time, in their theoretical developments, the writers of Classicism adhered to ancient standards, did not deviate much from them.

As a rule, the choice of a hero for an epic poem, most often, was not determined by his moral qualities. The main thing is that he be a historical figure. The events to which he is related in one way or another must have universal human or at least national significance. These terms have become integral to the definition of an epic poem. There was also the concept of moralism. The hero had to become an example, a role model, a person whom I would like to follow.

At the same time, it must be admitted that Classicism did not consider it its task to reflect the true characters of real heroes, the true events that took place. The appeal of the authors of this direction to the genres of the past was determined solely by the need to deeply comprehend the present.

Starting from a specific event or fact, the epic poet gave him a new life in his work. The artistic depiction of characters and events, only in the most general form, could be correlated with historical figures andreal facts.

Classicism in Russia

It is worth noting that Russian Classicism inherited these views, first of all, on the heroic poem, only slightly transforming it. For example, two main views on the problem of the relationship between the artistic and historical beginnings in a work have been outlined.

This can be seen in the first epic poems, the authors of which in our country were Lomonosov and Trediakovsky. It is worth recognizing that neither Trediakovsky's "Tilemakhida" nor Lomonosov's "Peter the Great" reflected the problems of the Russian national epic. The main task they performed was the heightened interest that they managed to arouse in contemporary poets of that time.

It was they who put all future Russian poets in front of the need to choose how to proceed. It was supposed to be a heroic poem, like Lomonosov's. It tells about an important event in Russian history. At the same time, it is aimed at searching for historical truth, and was developed in the canonical techniques and forms of modern times. It was written in Alexandrian verse.

The type of Trediakovsky's poem is completely different. Despite its external completeness, its essence was much less clear to contemporaries. If we omit the metric form, then the poet offered a Russified hexameter. It is noteworthy that Trediakovsky ascribed to history in his work a subordinate and even official position. The earlier the events depicted in the work took place, the more freely he felt himself.poet.

So Trediakovsky initially defended the idea of reflecting ironic and fabulous times in his poems. In this, he was guided by the traditions of Homer, believing that the ancient poet also created his works not in the hot pursuit of events.

One more thing is important. Events and historical heroes, before becoming part of such a poem, had to take a special place in the people's consciousness, society had to give them a single moral assessment. But the legendary and "fabulous" nature of the heroes suggested that they would be able to preserve in human and popular memory at least the most general idea of their participation in the events described, their role in the fate of their state, era or people. Among domestic examples of the epic poem, it is also worth mentioning the works of Kheraskov "Rossiada" and "Chesme battle", as well as "Dimitriada" by Sumarokov and "Liberated Moscow", authored by Maikov.

Features

One of the main features of the genre of the epic poem is the significant volume of the work itself. At the same time, it does not depend on the desire of the author, but on the tasks that he sets for himself. It is they who require such a large volume. This is the difference between lyrical and epic poems. For the poet, in this case, it is extremely important to represent each episode in detail.

The second important feature of the genre of the epic poem is its versatility. Moreover, the entertainment function was originally assigned the last place. The educational function became the main one, since ancient timessuch a poem served as a clear model and an example of how to behave. In addition, it was a repository of historical information about some important events or the fate of an entire people. Such a poem recorded people's ideas about history, and also performed an important scientific function, since information on geography, astronomy, medicine, crafts, and domestic issues was transmitted through it. For example, from these works, subsequent generations could learn how the land was cultivated, armor was forged, according to what principles society existed. Such a variety as a result is called epic syncretism.

For example, Homer's poems always told about the distant past. The researchers concluded that, apparently, the Greek looked to the future with pessimism, trying to capture the past golden age.

Monumental Images

The genre of the epic poem is characterized by the use of monumental images. The images of the main characters always turned out to be an order of magnitude higher than the usual ideas about an ordinary person, they became practically monuments in a certain sense. The authors used the idealization method, making their characters the most beautiful, sublime and smart, compared to other people. This is considered epic monumentality.

Also in this genre there is the concept of epic materialism. It is directly related to the desire to describe everything that happens in full, as detailed as possible. As a result, every thing or detail that caught the eye of the poet received an appropriate epithet. For example, the same Homerfixes attention on the most ordinary everyday and mundane things. For example, about nails or a stool. In his poems, everything is colored, each object has its own color and characteristic. For example, the sea has forty shades, the berries and clothes of the goddesses are described in the brightest colors.

It was important for the authors to maintain an objective tone. The creators tried to be extremely fair.

Epic style

When writing a poem of this genre, there are three laws that all authors, without exception, tried to adhere to.

Firstly, this is the law of retardation. This is what is called a deliberate stop of action. It helps to expand the frame of the image as much as possible. As a rule, retardation manifests itself in the form of an inserted poem or digression, while talking about the past, expounding the views of people who lived many centuries ago.

Initially, poems were sung orally, they were not written down on paper. With the help of retardation, the performer or the direct author sought to focus additional attention on the described situation.

Secondly, this is the law of double motivation of events. Trying to study and understand the souls of people, to find explanations for their actions, the ancient man always stopped at the movements of the human soul, which were subject not only to his inner will, but also to the intervention of the gods.

Thirdly, this is the law of chronological incompatibility in time of the same described events. In this situation, the author of such a poem acted as a very naive person who thought that if he starteddescribe two events at the same time, it will seem unnatural to everyone.

Another characteristic feature of epic heroic poems is a large number of repetitions. Sometimes, they account for up to a third of the entire text. There are several explanations for this. Initially, these works were transmitted exclusively orally. And repetition is one of the essential properties of folk art. This description constantly includes some constantly repeating formulas, for example, natural phenomena that are actually assembled according to stencils.

Permanent epithets adorning them are assigned to specific objects, heroes or gods. The authors constantly use epic comparisons when they strive to make the image as clear as possible. At the same time, the poet tries to translate each episode into the language of comparison, turning it into an independent picture.

Often used in a poem of this type is narration through enumeration, when the picture is not described in its entirety, and the episodes seem to be strung on a plot rod.

In almost all such works one can find a combination of fiction with realistic details, events and phenomena that actually happened. As a result, the line between fantasy and reality is almost completely erased.

The Iliad

The ancient Greek epic poem "Iliad", the authorship of which is attributed to Homer, is a vivid example of a work of this genre. It describes the Trojan War; the poem is apparently based on folk tales aboutthe exploits of the great heroes of that time.

According to most researchers, the Iliad was written in the 9th-8th centuries BC. The work is mainly based on legends that relate to the Cretan-Mycenaean era. This is a monumental poem, consisting of 15,700 verses, written in hexameter. It was later divided into 24 songs by Alexandrian philologists.

The action of the poem takes place in the last months of the siege of Troy by the Achaeans. In particular, an episode that covers a very short period of time is described in great detail.

The description of Mount Olympus with the gods sitting on it has a sacred meaning. Moreover, both the Achaeans and the Trojans honor them. The gods rise above their enemies. Many of them become direct participants in the story, helping one or the other opposing side. Moreover, some events are directed or caused by the gods themselves, they often have a direct impact on the course of events.

Mahabharata

The ancient Indian epic poem "Mahabharata" is one of the largest works in existence in the world. It is a rather complex, but at the same time extremely organic complex of epic narratives of a very different nature - theological, didactic, political, cosmogonic, legal. All of them are united according to the principle of framing, which is considered typical for Indian literature. This ancient Indian epic poem became the source for most of the images and plots that exist inLiterature of South and Southeast Asia. In particular, it claims that everything in the world is here.

It is impossible to say exactly who was the author of the Mahabharata. Most researchers consider him the sage Vyasa.

What is the poem about?

At the heart of the epic poem "Mahabharata" is a feud between two groups of cousins, which was initiated by the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, the power-hungry and treacherous Duryodhana. His father indulges him, not even paying attention to the wise men who condemn him. The conflict culminates in the 18-year battle on the field of Kurukshetra. This is what the epic poem "Mahabharata" tells about.

Interestingly, the confrontation between the Kauravas and the Pandavas has a mythological basis. Here, as in Homer, the gods have a direct influence on the development of events. For example, Krishna supports the Pandavas, who win as a result. In this case, almost all the main participants in the battle die. The elder Pandava, repenting because of this bloodshed, is even going to leave the kingdom, but relatives and sages convince him to stay. He rules for 36 years, never ceasing to reproach himself for the extermination of friends and relatives.

It is interesting that at the same time, the central epic hero of this poem is Karne, who unravels Krishna's plan about the inevitability of the battle at Kurukshetra in order to exterminate the demons incarnated as kshatriyas. It was after the death of Karne that the defeat of the Kauravas on the battlefield became inevitable. The beginning of cosmic cataclysms indicate the end of the Dvapara Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga. Karna's death is describedmore than the death of any of the characters. Now you know what the epic poem Mahabharata is about.

Beowulf

In Western literature, "Beowulf" is considered a model of this genre. This is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, the action of which takes place on the territory of Jutland (this is a peninsula that separates the North and B altic Seas, it currently belongs to Denmark and Germany). Events are described even before the Angles moved to Britain.

The work consists of more than three thousand lines, which are written in alliterative verse. The poem itself is named after the main character. Apparently, the epic was created in the 7th or 8th centuries AD. At the same time, it was preserved in a single copy, which almost died in the library of the antiquary Cotton in 1731. Despite the fact that there are well-founded doubts about the authenticity of this text, since the surviving list refers only to the 11th century, it is "Beowulf" that is considered the most ancient poem of "barbarian" Europe, which has come down to us in full.

Content of the work

Now let's dwell on what the epic poem "Beowulf" tells about. Basically, it tells about the victory of the protagonist over the terrible monsters Grendel and his own mother, as well as over the dragon, who regularly raided his country.

At the very beginning, the action was moved to Scandinavia. The city of Heorot is described, on whichFor 12 years in a row, a terrible monster has been attacking, killing noble and best warriors. Warlord Beowulf decides to go to the aid of his neighbors. He single-handedly defeats Grendel in a night fight, depriving him of his arm. His mother, who rises from the seabed, is going to avenge him, but Beowulf defeats her too, going to her lair at the bottom of the sea.

In the second part of this work, the protagonist already becomes the king of the Getae. This time he has to fight the dragon, who cannot forget the encroachment on the treasures guarded by him. After killing the dragon, Beowulf himself is badly injured. It is noteworthy that the author does not consider the approaching death of a military leader a tragedy, describing it as a worthy end to a great and glorious life. When he dies, the squad solemnly burns him along with the treasure of that same dragon on a funeral pyre.

As in most other epic ancient Germanic works, much attention in "Beowulf" is given to the speeches made by the characters. It is in them that it is possible to reveal their mind, character, value, to understand what exactly at that time was valued as ideals. Characteristic for this poem are additional storylines, lyrical digressions, background stories that are constantly used by the author.