Essay On Modern Epic

942 Words4 Pages

What is the connection between literary works, such as the two major ancient Greek poems, The Illiad and The Oddysey, and Anglo-Saxon Beowulf, or Polish Pan Tadeusz? These four are all referred to as epics; yet, providing a clear definition of what an epic is, may be really troublesome. Once considered to be the highest form of literature, it has lost its original meaning in the modern times, as the term epic is used not only in relation to works of literature, but also to films, videogames, plays, pieces of music, etc. In order to fully understand the original idea behind epic, one must reach to the roots Only after doing so, it is possible to understand that it is something more than most people think. First of all, it is important to look into the modern, handbook definitions of the term epic. Unfortunately, in most cases, those definitions require immediate rectification , because they are very generalized or even incorrect. According to the information provided by modern sources, epic is …show more content…

Its position in the national literature, and the effect it had on its readers are also crucial aspects. Every nation has a work of literature that can be referred to as an epic. For example, Beowulf is called an epic of Anglo-Saxon culture, Milton 's Paradise Lost is an epic of Christian culture, Mickiewicz’s Pan Tadeusz is an epic of Polish culture, and Longfellow 's The Song Hiawatha is an epic of American culture. An epic piece of literature incorporates such elements as national symbols, customs, traditions, lifestyles, etc., which make it a rich source of cultural information. Chłopi, which is an epic of the polish countryside, doesn’t only describe the everyday life of peasants, but also focuses on traditions connected with marriage, Easter, and Christmas. It provides the modern reader with valuable information on the life ofthelower classes in XVIIth

Open Document