The Epic - Introduction, History & Epic in English Literature
Introduction
Epic is a long Narrative Poem that relates heroic actions of a hero, or a small number of heroes, in an elevated style. Or it is a long narrative poem of dignified theme, organic unity, orderly progress of action, and grand style. If it is an epic of the hero or heroes, its themes are made up of the heroic actions and misfortunes of the hero of heroes. The hero is a national figure whom all love and adore.
History of Epic
The most ancient epic in the world is Valmiki's Ramayana in Sanskrit. The next ancient epic is The Mahabharata in Sanskrit, composed by Ved Vyasa. The Odyssey is another Greek epic composed by Homer. In Latin, the greatest epic is Virgil's Aeneid.
Epic in English Literature
In English poetry, the earliest epic is Beowulf. It is an English alliterative epic of the early 18th century. During the Renaissance, Edmund Spenser made an attempt to compose an epic. His book is Farie Queen ( 1589-96 ). But it could not become an epic because of its fully allegorical nature. In other words, its theme is not sublime and its style is not grand.
Thereafter English poetry had to wait for about seventy years. Then, appeared Milton's Paradise Lost ( 1667 ). It is a perfect epic whose theme leads to the justification of the ways of God to man. The Classical age of Pope saw translations of classical epics into English and Pope produced only mock - heroics.
In the Romantic Ag, several poets composed long narrative poems. But all of them fell short of the standard of Epic. In the Victorian Age, two epics appeared. They are Tennyson; 's The Idyils of the King ( 1859 ) and Arnold's Sohrab and Rustam ( 1853 ).
Conclusion
To conclude epic is a long, narrative poem. Its theme is sublime and is of organic unity. It is marked by an orderly progress of action. It relates the heroic actions of a national hero or heroes or it relates heavenly events leading to an ennobling conclusion. And it is written in a grand style. That is to say, it is full of epic smiles, metaphors, hyperboles, etc. Needless to say, its versification is superb and sweeping.
Read More-
- Plot construction of 'She Stoops to Conquer'
- English Comedy before Goldsmith
- Sentimental Comedy: Reaction of Goldsmith against it
- Character and role of Miss Neville
- Discuss She Stoops to Conquer as a Sentimental Comedy
- Discuss Goldsmith's View of Sentimental Comedy
- Give an estimate of Goldsmith as a dramatist
- Contribution of Goldsmith as a Dramatist
