Literature is an art and not a science. Therefore, it is difficult to provide comprehensive definitions of different forms of literature. For the most part, the epic can be defined as being a long narrative about great deeds or a serious subject. The narratives are often told in an elevated style, employing a formal and dignified objective tone. Epics are also often centered on a heroic character often of divine origins. The fate of the tribe, the nation, or the human race in general is largely dependent upon the actions of the heroic and/ or divine character. Nearly all of the traditional epics from the Classical Era began as a part of an oral tradition. Eventually, a literary artist took these legendary and historical materials passed down orally and translated these stories into a text.
One of the characteristics of the epic is that characters are often beings of national importance. The characters are often of historical and legendary significance and, more often than not, the characters are of divine origin – essentially, the characters in the epic represent the ideal man or woman of that particular culture. In addition, the actions of these heroic characters often involve battles with other nations or supernatural beings. These events that occur in the epic often represent the cultural values of a race, nation, or religious group and the success or failure of the characters often determines the collective fate of that particular culture or group. By closely reading the epic, the student of literature can get an idea of what is important to the culture that the epic represents.
In the epic, the action takes place in a vast setting. The setting is often grand in scope and covers a wide geographic area that may cover nations, the world or even the universe. In addition, the setting frequently takes place during some time in the remote past and often helps to explain the cultural milieu of the present by illustrating the present’s connection to this remote past. Not only does the action take place in a vast setting, but the action also consists of deeds of great valor and courage that often contains superhuman feats of strength and courage particularly in battles. In addition to the characters having superhuman strength, supernatural forces also are portrayed as being interested in human action and often intervene on behalf of man to affect the outcome.
There are also stylistic elements that are often present in the epic. For example, the style of writing is elevated and even often ceremonial and is sustained in tone and language throughout the narrative. In addition, the epic often begins with a prayer or an invocation to the Muse for inspiration in telling the story. The word “inspired” has different meanings in different cultures. In classical antiquity, the word “inspired” was understood to be something more like being “possessed” by the muse. Essentially, the muse would fill the poet or narrator with the divine inspiration to tell the story of a great hero. This places the emphasis on the characters and not the author. The poet or narrator, essentially, is not telling the story themselves. Instead, they are used as a mouthpiece by the muse who provides the poet or narrator with the suitable emotion, creativity, and language to tell the story.
The narrative of the epic tends to start in media res – in the middle of the action. After the exposition of the action, the earlier events that lead up to the beginning of the narrative are either told by the narratives of the characters themselves or are explained to the reader through the use of flashbacks. Epics also tend to contain long catalogs of heroes and important characters focusing on the high born (kings and princes) and great warriors. In most of the epics of classical Antiquity, peasants and commoners are rarely discussed. In addition to the catalogs, genealogies are also often given. Along with the geographic conventions of the setting on an epic, these long lists of objects, places, and people help to create the grand scope of the epic.
In an epic, the dialogues of the main characters tend to be formal speeches. In addition, epic similes are often frequent in the epic. These extended similes are employed at appropriate spots in the narrative and serve as traditional scenes of extended description in the epic. While a standard simile is a comparison using the word “like” or the word “as,” the epic simile occurs in the grand style of the epic language and is very involved, ornate, and detailed. In epics from the Classical Era that evolved from the oral traditions of a culture, students of literature will find the heavy use of repetitive phrases. The poet often repeated passages that consisted of several lines in various sections and, in addition, used repetitive phrases to describe, people, places, or things. These phrases functioned as an aid to help enhance memory.
Perhaps the most important convention of the epic form is the heroic quest. The epic hero must go on some sort of quest that will often include a number of challenges and ordeals that the character must overcome. In addition, the quest is often of paramount important to the hero’s tribe or nation. For more details about the hero’s journey, see “Joseph Campbell and The Hero’s Journey.
Source: The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
