Characteristics of Epic Poetry

Characteristics of Poetry Example from Beowulf from Oral Tradition Repetition of sounds Hrothgar’s men lived happy in his hall. Alliteration Darkness dropped. line 87-in secret sessions, talking of terror line 52 no savage assault quenched his lust Repetition of sounds Sun and moon; trees and leaves; how well Consonance throne protected by God—God whose love Grendel could not know. Repetition of words gold, sword, shield, mail-shirt, Hell, Repetition of phrases Geats’ ring-giver, alone and unaided, shining swords Repetition of ideas tearing, solo, good/evil, moral standards, paganism/Christianity Parallel grammatical line 27, seeking/offering structures Epithets Eglac’s follower, Hrothgar’s men, she-wolf Kennings gray beards, gold-giver, war king, ring giver Characteristics of Epic Beowulf Star Wars Harry Potter Hero is courageous and Courageous, intelligent, honorable, Luke represents the values of the Jedi. Harry obviously reflects the values of the shows values of society seeks peace but does not shirk wizarding world in contrast to the buffoonery of of society from battle the muggle world, but he may represent the values of our world He represents Ethos and always tries to do the right thing. Setting is vast. Covers both Denmark and The empire and multiple planets in the Hogwarts and its environs Geatland (part of Sweden) world Noble birth, male Descended from the good kings— Luke is the child of Anakin and Queen Male and the boy who lived, survived Voldemort Scyld and Ecgtheow Amidala although he doesn’t know the circumstances of his birth. Trials, tests often in Three trials/battles—Grendel, There are three segments in the story Each book represents a form of test/trial (7 books patterns of 3/7/12 Grendel’s mother, dragon dealing with Luke (trilogy). He has in total) multiple tests within each. Abandonment of In the end the warriors run to the In order to become a Jedi, he must make Hermione and Ron leave Harry alone in the end comitatus forest and abandon Beowulf in the the transformation alone. He alone fight with the dragon (except confronts and defeats Darth Vader Wiglaf) Serious tone, formal Beowulf speaks in a formal way. Luke has a gee-wiz, golly wow form of Tone and diction becomes more serious and formal diction The poet speaks with formal speech early in the trilogy but becomes as the hero ages. The older characters/ professors diction using kennings, parallel more formal as he matures and becomes a speak more formally grammatical structure and epithets. Jedi Long, formal speeches Beowulf, Hrothgar, Wiglaf all Speeches by the mentor/guide—Dumbledore make long speeches Good vs. evil Grendel and his mother represent The Force vs. the Dark Side; the battle Battle between Harry and Voldemort evil, descended from Cain, between son and father Beowulf represents goodness/light Supernatural elements Grendel and dragon the light saber, the Force, Obi-wan Horucruxes, Dementors Kenobi (after he dies), Yoda Actions-reflect fate of Fate of Herot and Hrothgar’s Luke must save the Princess and the Harry is the boy who lived. He has to be the one nation/culture kingdom depend on Beowulf; fate Rebel forces must save the empire from who defeats evil. of Geats depend on protection the Siths and Palpatine’s tyranny from dragon