The heroic poem is The heroic poem in literature

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

What is a heroic poem? Obviously, this is a term denoting a certain literary genre. What is it and how is it different from the rest? In what countries were such works created? What can serve as an example of this genre? The answers to these questions can be found in the article.

Composition of the concept

Definitely, "heroic poem" is a compound term. It is based on two concepts: "poem" and "hero". It makes sense to consider each separately, and then combine the meaning.

A poem (from the Greek poiema "creation") as a literary genre is a large-scale work in verse, belonging to the lyrical-epic genre. Such a work consists of several parts, united by one plot, in which any important events are transmitted in narrative form. Features of the poem as a literary genre:

• detailed plot (many scenes and events);
• breadth of narrative (sometimes spanning years and generations);
• deeply revealed image of the lyrical hero.

The origins of the poem lie in the epics of antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Hero (from Greek geros "dared man, strongman, demigod" and French heros "hero")– in the literature, this word can represent the following concepts:

• the main character of any work;
• valiant brave man, performer of deeds.

Derived from the noun "hero", the adjective "heroic", respectively, can mean the following:

• capable of heroism;
• describes some heroic events.

Heroic Poem Definition

Using the definitions of the concepts "poem" and "hero", we can formulate what "heroic poem" means. This is a multi-part poetic work in literature, the theme of which is some important and heroic events, usually associated with legendary characters, their exploits or travels.

A heroic poem is, first of all, a work of art, which is a literary processed folk epic, characteristic of many cultures and existing since antiquity.

The heroic poem in one form or another exists in almost every nation of the world. Epic folk tales were gradually combined into poetic cycles, which then became widely known and popular.

As a rule, an epic work has an author who has united and processed literary disparate legends. Examples of the ancient heroic epic are: the Indian "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata", the Greek "Iliad" and "Odyssey", the Old Norse "Edda", the Finnish "Kalevala", the German "Song of the Nibelungs", the French "Song of Roland",Italian Jerusalem Delivered, Anglo-Saxon Beowulf, etc.

From Antiquity to Classicism

The genre of the heroic epic inspired poets of both ancient times and subsequent centuries. It reached its heyday in the 18th century, and was enthusiastically taken up by representatives of classicism. The genre of the historical poem attracted them with its heroic pathos, loftiness and citizenship. The lyrical hero of the poem must necessarily be a moral model. Classicists called these works the pinnacle of poetic art. It was believed that every nation should strive to create their own heroic poems.

At the heyday of classicism, a heroic poem is a poetic work written in an elevated style and consisting of many chapters, often referred to as “songs”. The theme of the narrative has invariably been historical events that are significant for a given people, country and all of humanity. Another name for this genre is epic.

Content of the heroic poem

According to the canons of classicism, such a work must necessarily include the following components:

• beginning, telling about the subject of the story;
• appeal to those who inspired the poet;
• large number of detailed battle scenes;
• fantastic plot elements and mythological characters;
• allegorical characters representing vice, virtue, justice, power, envy, etc.;
• lines about the future,set forth as a divination.

In Russian tradition

The Russian heroic poem was developed in the works of M. V. Lomonosov (“Peter the Great”), V. K. Trediakovsky (“Tilemakhida”), A. P. Sumarokov (“Dimitriad”) and A. N. Maykov (“Liberated Moscow”) and M. M. Kheraskov (“Chesme Battle” and “Rossiada”). All these works were written in the style of classicism. The narration followed one of the alternative paths: the predominance of the historical or artistic in the plot. In the first case, the emphasis was on preserving historical authenticity, and in the second, on the artistic interpretation of the events of the past and the development of their moral assessment. Therefore, individual Russian heroic poems differ significantly from each other in style and direction.

In Eastern tradition

The heroic poem in the East is a small epic genre known as "dastan" (translated from Persian as "story"). Such a work can be written in poetic, prose and even mixed language (that is, it can combine poetry and prose).

Usually folk legends and fairy tales were the basis of the plot of the dastan. For this genre, fantastic and adventure stories with many complex ups and downs are not uncommon. The image of the protagonist is a moral ideal. Thus, the eastern dastan is an analogue of the European heroic poem.

This literary genre is represented in the works of Tajik-Persian, Uzbek and Kazakhpoets. Examples of oriental heroic poems: "Leyli and Majnun", the classic of Persian poetry by Nizami Ganjavi, the epic poem "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi, the poetic work of the Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi and the Persian-Tajik poet Jami.

Having traced the historical path that the heroic poem has passed, we can confidently say that this genre was characteristic of mankind at all stages of its existence, and also developed in many parts of the world.