1. Conventions of Epic Poetry
An epic poem has…
• a hero who embodies national, cultural, or
religious ideals
• a hero upon whose actions depends the fate
of his people
• a course of action in which the hero performs
great and difficult deeds
• a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine
or supernatural powers
• a concern with eternal human problems
• a dignified and elaborate poetic style

2. Important “Primary”
Epics
•
•
•
•
•
Iliad* (Greek) / Aeneid (Latin)
Odyssey (Greek) / Ulysses (Latin)
Gilgamesh (Babylonian)
Exodus (Hebrew)
Beowulf * (Anglo-Saxon)

3. What do these primary
epics have in common?
• Each began as part of a culture’s oral
tradition
• ORAL TRADITION socio-/cultural values
transferred generation-to-generation by
traveling poets/bards who sang songs
about cultural heroes and values
• POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to
memorize and more stable as passed-on

4. The Iliad
• “written” by Homer around
(c.) 720 B.C.
• Homer did not invent the
story, but transcribed it into
its longest-lasting form
• All versions we read are
translated from ancient
Greek language –
Translations can vary greatly
• Called Iliad because “Ilium”
was the Greek name for Troy
– where the war took place.
“Iliad” = “about Ilium”

5. The Trojan War (c. 1250 B.C.)
Causes
Nuclear weapons?
No!
Treaty violations?
No!
Imperial aggression?
No!
Trade dispute?
No!
A WOMAN!

6. Helen of Troy
“The face that
launched a thousand
ships”
Legend says that the
Trojan War began
when Paris – Prince of
Troy and son to the
Trojan King Priam –
stole the wife of
Menelaus, King of
Sparta.

7. Why would Paris do
something that stupid?
Legend says that Paris – a desirable
man because of his attractiveness,
wealth and power – was approached by
the goddess Eris. Eris asked Paris to
give “The Golden Apple,” inscribed
“To the Fairest” to Athena, Hera, or
Aphrodite.

8. Why would Paris do
something that stupid?
• The three goddesses were arguing
over who was the most beautiful
and powerful.
• Eris chose Paris to settle their
dispute.
• Eris, in Greek, means “Chaos”.

9. Tough
Choice.
• Hera, wife of Zeus
Aphrodite/goddess of
love, beauty and
sexuality, daughter
of Poseidon
Hera/Wife of Zeus
Athena/goddess
of wisdom,
daughter of Zeus

10. Which would you choose?
Paris, of course,
selects Aphrodite.

11. • Menelaus promptly launches “a thousand ships” in
an effort to reclaim Helen and punish Paris.
• As King of Sparta, Menelaus has many “allies”.

12. Troy
(aka
“Ilium”)
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Sparta

13. A “less sexy” reason for the “real” Trojan War?
Black Sea
Bosporus
Trojan War c. 1250-1200 BC
Aegean Sea
Dardanelles

14. Line-ups: The Achaeans
(aka Spartans, aka Greeks)
• Menelaus, the King
• Agamemnon, brother to Menelaus;
battlefield leader of the Achaeans
• Ajax
• Odysseus
• Patroclus, cousin to Achilles

15. Line-ups: The
Achaeans
(aka Spartans, aka
Greeks)
• ACHILLES
• the central character – the
hero – of The Iliad.
• a phenomenal warrior;
leader of a “special
detachment” fighting with
Menelaus and the
Spartans – the
Myrmydons.

16. Achilles’ mother, Thetis
• Thetis was a Nereid, a
minor goddess who gave
birth to Achilles, a mortal.
• Because of her connection
with Olympus as a Nereid,
Thetis was permitted
access to the magical river,
Styx, which separated the
Earth from Hades.
• Thetis dipped her newborn
son into the Styx, ensuring
his protection against all
mortal weapons, except…

17. Line-ups: The Trojans
• Priam, King of Troy
• Hecuba, his wife
• Hector, his son; prince of Troy and
the Trojans’ most valiant warrior
• Paris, younger brother of Hector