Epic Element in Poetry During the Renaissance and Neo - Classical Periods

Abstract

Epic is a long narrative poem in both theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance involving action of broad sweep and grandeur. Most epics deal with the exploits of single individual, thereby giving unity to the composition. The Greeks distinguished epic from lyric poetry, by its nature and delivery. The characteristics of the hero of an epic are national, not individual. The Devine Comedy by the Italian poet, Dante, expresses the faith of Medieval Christianity. Faerie Queene by the English poet, Edmund Spenser represents the renaissance in England and Paradise Lost by the English poet, John Milton, represents the ideals of Christian humanism.

Epics are further classified into folk and literary forms. Both the forms, folk epics and literary epics deal with the traditions, mythical and historical of a nation. The next form of the epic is Mock Epic which burlesques the serious epic.