The structure of the epic comprises five parts: story motifs, invocation, development, denouement and epilogue. An epic consists of a narration in verse of the heroic actions and extraordinary deeds of demigods or heroes.
Typical distinguishing elements include superhuman deeds, fabulous adventures, highly stylized language, and a mix of lyrical and dramatic traditions.
One of the best known passages in the Odyssey
Many of the oldest written narratives in the world belong to this literary genre. Among the best known are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and Virgil's Aeneid.
Both Homer's epics are composed of dactyl hexameters, which became the standard for Greek and Latin oral poetry.
The structure of the Greek and Latin epic
The structure of the epic considered more traditional corresponds to the literature of the ancient period of Greece and Rome. His definition of epic is quite simple: a long narrative written in hexameters.
The main characteristic of this narrative is that it focuses on the ups and downs of a great hero (or perhaps a great civilization) and the interactions of this hero and his civilization with the gods.
In itself, an epic is divided into five distinct parts:
-A first part announces the events that motivate the story.
-Then he presents an invocation to the divinity where inspiration and strength are requested.
- Next, the action and the obstacles that arise are recounted.
-After this, the outcome (happy or unfortunate) is shown.
-Finally an epilogue. The latter is the narration of what happens after the action.
Characteristics of the epic
In his Poetics, Aristotle specifies some of the characteristics that an epic should have. First, it must have a plot structure that comes together in a dramatic way.
Your plot should feature a single action that has a beginning, middle, and end. It must also have unity and it cannot be merely temporary or sequential.
Nor should you focus on a single hero. Furthermore, it must contain reversal, recognition, and calamity, and conform to what is probable.
However, other authors point out that the structure of the epic and its extension are its most notable characteristics.
For example, Homer's two masterpieces are quite extensive. The Odyssey has 15,000 lines, while "Iliad" has 12,000. Regarding the structure, both Homer and Virgil used the dactyl hexameter.
In contrast, English epics often used the simplest pentameter. For his part, Dante in his Divine Comedy uses terza rima, a series of linked triplets.
It should be noted that the first epic poems were oral compositions. Therefore, the poets used totally rigid melodic rhythmic schemes to manage and organize the narrative.
Virgil's Aeneid, one of the oldest written epics, continued this trend to approximate the elevated style and seriousness of Homer's works.
On the other hand, another of its characteristics is that it tries to relate historical events to define a cultural heritage or transmit social values.
In them, the hero is deadly but with superhuman abilities. And often it features the direct intervention of the gods in worldly affairs.
References
- Rodríguez Guzmán, JP (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
- Academy of American Poets. (2014, February 21). Epic: Poetic Form. Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from poets.org.
- Oseguera Mejía, EL (2016). Literature 1. Mexico City. Grupo Editorial Patria.
- Barnard College. (s / f). Epic: The Genre, Its Characteristics. Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from firstyear.barnard.edu.
- Matos, D. (s / f). What Are the Characteristics of Epics in Literature? Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from education.seattlepi.com.