Epic

is a long poem, typically one

derived from ancient oral
tradition, narrating the deeds
and adventures of heroic or
legendary figures or the history
of a nation.
CONVENTIONS OF AN EPIC

Characters are beings of

national importance and
historical or legendary
significance.
CONVENTIONS OF AN EPIC

Action consists of
deeds of great valor
and courage.
CONVENTIONS OF AN EPIC

The setting is grand

in scope, covering
nations, the world, or
even the universe.
CONVENTIONS OF AN EPIC

Supernatural forces
interest themselves in
human action and often
intervene directly.
CONVENTIONS OF AN EPIC

Heightened style is
sustained in tone and
language.
Attributes of The Epic Hero
 The epic hero is a
larger-than-life person
who embodies the
highest ideals of his
culture.
The epic hero usually
undertakes a quest/
journey to achieve
something of great
value to themselves or
society.
It is often necessary
for the epic hero to
connect/make
contact with lesser
humans to succeed.
 Epic heroes live on
after death. They are
forever remembered
by those who live after
them achieving
immortality
The epic hero is not a
someone with magical
powers, but a regular
human (sometimes
part god/part human)
whose aspirations and
accomplishments set
him/her apart.
 The epic hero
overcomes great
obstacles and
opponents but
maintains humanity
Epic hero experiences
typical human
emotions and feelings
yet can master and
control these human
traits to a greater
degree than a typical
person.
The Divine Comedy is a
work that discusses
afterlife. It has three
parts – Inferno (Hell),
Purgatorio (Purgatory),
and Paradiso (Paradise).
Originally titled La
Commedia, Giovanni
Boccaccio later
christened Divina to
indicate the religious
nature of the work.
Central Characters of the Divine Comedy
Beatrice
(is in Heaven)

guides him on a journey through Hell

Dante Virgil
(narrator; spiritually lost) (one of Dante’s writing influences,
a Limbo resident)
 Dante

the author the poet and character in the epic

Dante is a Christian; hence the He symbolizes the humanity

nature of The Divine Comedy. He that needs redemption from
began writing it in 1308 and their sins. His journey
completed it in 1320, a year represents the progress of
before his death. He wrote this humanity in their way to God.
when he was exiled by the Black
Guelphs who advocated
expanding the political power of
church.
 Virgil

real person character in the epic

Virgil is a Roman poet. He is one He is a resident of Limbo,

of Dante’s writing influences; first circle of Inferno. He
hence, some of the figures in The symbolizes human reason
Divine Comedy are from his and wisdom inferior to God;
works. thus, he could not
accompany Dante to heaven.
 Beatrice

real person character in the epic

Beatrice Portinari is Dante’s Beatrice guides Dante through

greatest love from his first Paradise. She symbolizes
sight of her at the age of nine. divine grace.
Although he married another
woman, he expresses his
exalted and spiritual love for
her in The Divine Comedy.
INFERNO
The dark woods that serve as the exposition point
of the epic represent Dante’s fear, loss, and
confusion.
PRIDE
Dante, while trying to
find the way out of
the dark woods,
encounters the three
beasts (lion, leopard,
LUST and wolf). Just as he
is about to be
attacked, the ghost
of Virgil, a
celebrated Roman
poet, comes to his
rescue.

AVARICE
According to Dante, there are nine
circles of hell (representing the
different sins with their degree of
wickedness), seven terraces of
purgatory (representing the seven
deadly sins), and nine spheres of
heaven (representing the angelic
hierarchy).

Hell is described by Dante to be a

funnel; the deeper your circle is,
the greater your sin is.
 The entrance to Hell is located just below Jerusalem.

The Vestibule of Hell is for the people

who did nothing to earn a place in
either Heaven or Hell— their sin was Circles 1-5 are sins without
“indifference.” malice. They do not hurt others.

Dante’s descent through Hell starts on

a Good Friday.
Circles 6-9 are sins with malice.
Circle 9 particularly is placed at
the bottom because Dante felt that
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”
he was betrayed by his
are the inscribed words upon the
countrymen when he was exiled.
entrance of Hell.

The path to paradise

begins in hell. – Dante
 At length we reached a noble castle's side
Which lofty sevenfold walls encompassed
The people who are lying in these tombs, round,
Might they be seen? already are uplifted And it was moated by a sparkling tide. (Limbo)
The covers all, and no one keepeth guard.”
(Heresy)
I came into a place mute of all light,
All the first circle of the Violent is; Which bellows as the sea does in a tempest,
But since force may be used against three If by opposing winds 't is combated. (Lust)
persons,
In three rounds ’tis divided and constructed. In the third circle am I of the rain
(Violence) Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy;
Its law and quality are never new. (Gluttony)
THERE is a place in Hell called Malebolge
Wholly of stone and of an iron colour, Here saw I people, more than elsewhere, many,
As is the circle that around it turns. (Fraud) On one side and the other, with great howls,
Rolling weights forward by main force of chest.
(Greed)
The Emperor of the kingdom dolorous “This dreary streamlet makes a Marsh that is named Styx,
From his mid-breast forth issued from the ice, when it has descended to the foot of the grey malignant
And better with a giant I compare shores.
(Treachery) “And I, who stood intent on looking, saw muddy people in
that bog, all naked and with a look of anger.” (Anger)
 The Divine Comedy

structure mood tone purpose

The basic structural The work allows the Dante uses a largely Dante writes the epic
component of The readers to feel a sense moralistic tone when for an attempt to make
Divine Comedy is the of dread as they have a portraying the figures and sense of his
canto. The poem prelude of the horrors events in his poem. At times estrangement from
consists of 100 cantos, waiting for them should he also comes across as home (and his anger
which are grouped they continue treading sardonic or ironic. With his over the situation) as it
together into three on the path of sins. elaborately designed is a spiritual journey to
sections, or canticles, retributions, Dante understand God.
Inferno, Purgatorio, and expresses a belief in, and
Paradiso. The epic also awe for, the perfection of
uses terza rima. divine justice.
 Themes
Evil as the
The Perfection of Storytelling as a
Contradiction of
God’s Justice Way of Immortality
God’s Will

Dante asserts that in Dante believes that Dante believes that

Inferno, the
deviating from God’s his work gives him
punishment is
befitting the sins will is tantamount to and his characters
you commit. evil. an eternal life.
 Literary Techniques

imagery figurative language in medias res symbolism

Dante creates Dante uses Dante begins To achieve the

a convincing simile, metaphor, his narrative allegorical facet of
world that irony, allusion, right in the the epic, Dante uses
depicts the personification, middle of the characters and
terror of hell paradox, etc., action. objects in the epic to
all throughout represent ideas.
the Cantos,
Inferno Canto I:1-60
In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself, in a dark wood, where the direct way was lost.
THE DIVINE COMEDY Puritan The work accentuates that we should live a morally-upright life.

The work has a political, religious, and moral meaning.

allegorical
The work reflects Dante’s judgments of the politics and theology of his time and his
autobiographical strict doctrinal Christian tenets. It is also his revenge to those who exiled him.

At that time, all works were written in Latin. Dante used the dialect of Tuscan instead
vernacular to write Divine Comedy, making him the father of Italian language.

epic The protagonist embarks on a quest.

comedy Dante sees God; thus, it ends happily.

The work reflects the conflict between the church and the state at
historical that time in Italy.

intertextual Dante cites references from other works, particularly Virgil’s.

Dante attacks what he sees as the rampant venality and corruption

satirical of the contemporary Church.
 Before he travels to Inferno, is Dante dead?
Presumably, no. Dante returns to the living world after his
journey through Paradiso.

Why does Dante need to go to Inferno?

He does this because his poem's spiritual pattern is not
classical but Christian: Dante's journey to Hell represents
the spiritual act of dying to the world, and hence it
coincides with the season of Christ's own death.

How does Beatrice seek the help of Virgil?

Beatrice in Inferno is Dante's beloved. She had died ten
years prior. Through St. Lucia, the Virgin Mary's messenger,
she learns that Dante is in trouble. She descends into the
underworld and asks Virgil to guide Dante through it.
 Why does Beatrice choose Virgil?
One of the reasons that Beatrice assigns
Virgil to guide Dante is for his “high
council” (Inferno 2. 67).
Why is Virgil a resident of Limbo?
Virgil never has the chance to know
God.
What makes Dante a hero?
Dante’s heroism is evident in his
endless pursuit of knowledge.
The Song of Roland
 Originally titled La Chanson de Roland, this
French epic and first example of chanson de
geste is based on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
in 778 during the reign of Charlemagne.

The Battle of Roncevaux Pass details how

Roland, prefect of the Breton March and
commander of the rear guard of
Charlemagne's army, was defeated by the
Basques. It was fought at Roncevaux Pass, a
high mountain pass in the Pyrenees on the
border between France and Spain.

It is believed that the work has been handed

down orally before the manuscript is made.
 CHARLEMAGNE

historical figure character

the ruler of a vast territory that leader of the Frankish

later came to be known as the troops and Roland's
Holy Roman Empire. embarked uncle and avenger
on several military campaigns
across the continent, from
Saxony in modern-day
Germany to northern Italy and
northern Spain, extending the
Frankish kingdom and
converting conquered
territories to Christianity.
 ROLAND

historical figure character

the prefect of the the hero and owner of

Breton Marches, among Oliphant and Durendal, one
those casualties of the of the twelve peers of
Battle of the Roncevaux France, Charlemagne's
Pass nephew and favorite, a
skillful and extremely bold
warrior and understands
the Frankish campaign in
Spain as a crusade, allowing
no compromise with the
Saracens
 Roland’s best Marsilla’s
friend and foil, Balligant reinforcement, an even
convinces Roland match for Charlemagne
to blow his Olifant but defeated in the end

Other Ganelon
Olivier Characters

Roland’s stepfather,
the pagan king of betrays the Christians
Saragossa (the last Marsilla by conniving with
Spanish city to hold out Marsilla because of his
against the Frankish envy towards Roland
army), plans the ambush
with Ganelon
 THE WOMEN

Roland’s mother Bramimonde Alde

Charlemagne’s sister, wife of Marsilla, later Olivier's sister

is only mentioned once converted to Christianity and Roland's
by Ganelon to link after her husband’s betrothed, later
himself to defeat dies of grief the
Charlemagne because
moment she
he hopes to change his
hears of Roland's
mind in sending him to
death
Saragossa
 THE NARRATOR
The voice of the epic is a jongleur
(professional storyteller or public
entertainer in medieval France).
He does not take on the
character of one who was there,
nor does he take on any kind of
neutral, third-person
omniscience of observation. He
tells the story as a story-teller.
 How The Song of Roland Goes
Charlemagne's army is fighting the Muslims in Spain. The last
city standing is Saragossa, held by the Muslim king Marsilla. Charlemagne’s
Muslim’s
arrival, Saracens’
defeat and
defeat, and
Christian’s
Charlemagne’s Ganelon’s
victory acceptance and punishment
Ganelon’s
betrayal
Saracens’ Ganelon, enraged
offer of truce Roland and the because Roland
to Rearguard’s nominated him to go
Charlemagne Ambush (The to Saracens, tells the
Oliphant and Saracens how they
Roland’s Pride) could ambush the
Terrified of the might of Charlemagne's army of Franks, Marsilla rear guard of
sends out messengers to Charlemagne, promising treasure and Charlemagne's army,
Marsilla's conversion to Christianity if the Franks will go back to which will surely be
France. Charlemagne agrees. led by Roland.
 How The Song of Roland Goes
Olivier, seeing how outnumbered they are in the middle of the
ambush, convinces Roland to blow his Oliphant, but he refuses. Charlemagne’s
Muslim’s
arrival, Saracens’
defeat and
defeat, and
Christian’s
Charlemagne’s Ganelon’s
victory acceptance and punishment
Ganelon’s
betrayal
Saracens’ Charlemagne and his
offer of truce Roland and the army kill all the
to Rearguard’s remaining pagans, and
Charlemagne Ambush (The Ganelon is punished
Oliphant and for betraying them.
Roland’s Pride) The traitor is torn limb
At the last minute, Roland blows his oliphant anyway, so that the from limb by galloping
emperor can see what happened to his men and avenge them. horses and thirty of
Roland blows so hard that his temples burst. He dies a glorious his relatives are hung
martyr's death, and saints take his soul straight to Paradise. for good measure.
 The Song of Roland

structure mood tone purpose

The Song of Roland The work The poet keeps The epic glorifies
consists of roughly 4000 urges the things reverent as Christianity and its
lines of verse, divided readers to Charlemagne is victory over Islam,
into 298 poetic units follow the portrayed in the with the intention
called laisses, in which path of work as someone of encouraging
consecutive laisses echo Christianity. who is very capable Christians during
slightly different of doing anything. the Crusades.
versions of the same
event (parallel).
 Literary Techniques in The Song of Roland

hubris and hamartia poetic justice in medias res biblical allusions

Roland is The epic deems The epic starts the Since the work
flawed as a Christianity as narrative with the portrays Christians
character. good and superior; ongoing war as morally upright,
Because of his non-Christians are between Christians visits from angels
hubris, he does evil and inferior. It and Muslims. and miracles as
not blow the glorifies the ‘win’ enacted by God are
horn until the of Christians over very much evident.
last minute. Muslims.
Roland does not blow his The feudal relationship is
Oliphant despite being Feudalism evident in the epic.
outnumbered because of Charlemagne is the lord;
his arrogance. Roland is the vassal. Honor
entails loyalty to one's lord
as well as loyalty to God.

Pride Themes
Betrayal

The Song of Roland Religion Ganelon betrays his

reflects the fight between king, his religion, and
Christianity and Islam, or his family because of
good and evil. his envy.
 The Song of Roland

epic historical fiction tragedy chanson de geste Christian poetry vernacular

Roland is The work is Roland is a tragic The work is The work The work is
an epitome inspired from hero with a fatal the first celebrates the the oldest
of an epic the Battle of flaw called hubris. example of triumph of piece written
hero. Roncevaux His hamartia is not the genre (i.e., Christianity in French
Pass in 778 blowing the Olifant a medieval over Muslim. vernacular.
during the despite being song
reign of outnumbered. depicting
Charlemagne. heroic
deeds).
 Why did the Battle of
Roncevaux Pass happen?

The Basque attack was a retaliation for

Charlemagne's destruction of the city
walls of their capital, Pamplona.

Why is Roland a hero?

Roland is the paragon of nobility and chivalry.

 Why is it called The Song of Roland?

The poem was performed by minstrels who traveled

and sang legendary stories. Roland is the tragic hero
of the tale; thus, the story is named for him.
Is Charlemagne French?

No. He is a Frank (from Francia – part of Germany and

France).
Why is he important to France then?

He founded the Holy Roman Empire, stimulated

European economic and political life, and fostered the
cultural revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance.