Features of epics: composition and means of artistic expression

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

Of great importance for understanding ancient Russian literature is the question of what were the features of epics. This type of genre was very popular among our distant ancestors, so the consideration of the problem posed is still relevant. School classes in literature should be preceded by a short explanation of the teacher on the topic, as this will help to understand their content, style features, meaning and ideological load.

Literary devices

Features of epics can be easily traced on the basis of the most famous works of this genre. When reading at least a few texts, such a technique as repetition immediately catches your eye. With their help, anonymous authors sought to strengthen the main idea and the main meaning. In addition, in this way the ancient storytellers achieved a special sound and melodiousness of the works.

It should be noted here that these old epic songs were performed on especially solemn occasions, so it was very important to set the listeners in a certain way. Based on the foregoing, it can be added that the features of the epics reflected the spirit of their time, when the military enterprises of the princely squad became an object of respect and glorification.

The role of epithets

This means of artistic expression plays perhaps the most important role in conveying in words the visual picture of what is happening. Unknown authors did not spare colors, singing the strength and power of the ancient knights and warriors. Features of epics are easily explained by the purpose for which they were created: the desire to praise and perpetuate the exploits of the heroes.

To emphasize their glory and greatness, the singers used the same epithets, which, with constant repetition, created an expressive and colorful picture of the battle in the listener's imagination. As a rule, epithets were used to characterize the external appearance of a warrior, his horse, and also the enemy. Descriptions of ancient Russian cities are unusually beautiful: princely chambers, palaces, squads.

Hyperbolas

The artistic features of epics reflect the thinking of a medieval Russian man who was inclined to ex alt the exploits of his favorite heroes. To this end, the authors used hyperboles, which were supposed to amaze the listener's imagination. In fact, the exploits of the knights are presented in unusually epic tones. For example, in ancient legends, the hero strikes the enemy with one stroke and blow, the ground trembles from the hoof of his horse and leaves fall from the trees. The same techniques apply to the description of negative characters. For example, the Nightingale the Robber whistles so that all living things scatter around, a strong wind rises.

Accents

Artistic features of epics reveal some features of musical artour ancestors. These old epic songs were built according to special rules that gave them melodiousness, regularity and a certain rhythm of sound. In the lines of these works, several stresses are used, usually three. They were placed on the third syllables from the beginning and from the end.

This principle was not mandatory, but was applied quite often. Such a performance gave the epic a special sound expressiveness and epicness. However, sometimes, to enhance the melodiousness of the text, the syllables were sung as one word, without separations and pauses.

Composition

No less important is the question of what features of the construction of the epic were used most often. All works of the genre under consideration began with a beginning - an introductory word that revealed the time and place of action. Here, schoolchildren's attention should be drawn to a high degree of historical authenticity: legends always indicate a real city, they talk about a prince who ruled at the time when the described events took place, sometimes the author mentioned specific places, which gave the story credibility and truthfulness.

Followed by the plot and the climax, which are revealed literally in one breath, without pauses, delays or digressions. Thus, the narrators painted one picture of the event, not allowing the listener to be distracted for even a single minute. The denouement came, as a rule, rather quickly: it speaks of the honors that the hero received as a reward for his feat.

Theme

Features of Russian epics reveal the inner world of the ancient Russian man. Thanks to these amazing stories, we can understand what exactly interested our distant ancestors. Of course, the stories about the exploits and military battles of the heroes were the most favorite plot. However, in addition to this, there were also themes devoted to the glorification of ordinary agricultural workers. There were epics about the extraordinary adventures of heroes, for example, fairy tales about the merchant Sadko were very popular. These epics glorify not the military prowess of the knights, but such character traits as cunning, daring, worldly wisdom, which allowed them to find a way out of the most difficult situations.