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Exploring the Characteristics of Epic Poetry: Fantasy and Humanity

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When I think of epic stories and poems, I often think of swashbuckling heroes. These include Robin Hood and Ivanhoe, sailing through the air on another adventure. Of course, epic poetry goes much further than that in the mind of the poet, and the details of these poems often have a bit more depth. In this post, we are going to define the characteristics of epic poetry and inspect some examples.

Definition of Epic Poetry

Epic poetry is typically narrative in execution, so it tells a story, and has fantastical elements and themes. These themes include mortality, humanity, and the godly. Additionally, the poems often follow a hero or heroine who embark on an adventure. Their goal or objective may seem unattainable to mere mortals, such as slaying large beasts, taming kingdoms, or finding a secret to life eternal. Yet, they typically succeed in some fashion or another. These stories are very old and some are more modern.

Examples of Epic Poetry

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem about Gilgamesh, who was an errant Babylonian “god-king” who would grow to be a wise leader of his people through trials and tribulations. Yet, he sets out to fell beasts and become a victor, even killing the guardian of the Cedar Forest Humbaba against of pleas of mercy.

A lot of this poem is very Herculean and Biblical, and features some amazing moments of strength and bravery, including battles with monsters, bulls, and a search for the key to immortality. Of course, at the end of the day, one must learn to be humble, and so Gilgamesh sees the error of his ways and becomes a better ruler, even though he has survived much conflict and suspense.

Other examples of epic poetry include:

  • The Odyssey by Homer: Tells the tale of Odysseus and his fight back home to see his wife again.
  • The Divine Comedy by Dante: Tells the tale of a journey through the afterlife, including Hell, purgatory, and paradise.
  • Beowulf: Tells the tale of Beowulf, who battles monsters and becomes a hero.

Each of the above examples includes some concept from epic poetry. Odysseus and Beowulf must battle horrible creatures, from Cyclopes to the terrifying inhuman Grendel, while others go on long journeys, such as in The Divine Comedy.

Before they saw there the exorbitant creature,
the loathsome dragon on the ground, lying there
opposite their lord. The fire-drake was grimly
and terrifying patterned, scorched with its flames.
It measured out fifty feet long in its laying out,
once holding its flying-joys by night.
(Beowulf)

The Purpose of Epic Poetry

Epic poetry offers a window into an idealized past, even for those sharing it for the first time. It also helped preserve history and identity by making the heroes fight for common causes, from going to war to taking care of your family. Moreover, it shows how humans perceived heroism and established lessons that had a moral, so that those who heard or read the poem could learn from them. That is to say, many of the epic characters had faults, which provided a great deal of entertainment, but also showed the flawed nature of humanity and how to be better.

Conclusion

The characteristics of epic poetry are many. Yet, these poems stand apart from their brethren due to the particulars as a whole. Epic poetry is filled with all sorts of odds and ends and feats and heroes. Often, these strange and wonderfully inexplicable things are the binding element to make the story stand out. Likewise, there are many examples of epic poems from history including The Iliad, Gilgamesh, Ivanhoe, and so on. By understanding these conventions, we can see the depth of detail in epics. We can also internalize their importance to our world and ourselves.

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Understanding L Frank Baum through historical context

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For today’s post, we are going to look at some events and factors that lead to the writing of The Wizard of Oz. We are also exploring how a book chocked full of creativity also features some hurtful stereotypes. Understanding L Frank Baum can be tricky. However, the purpose of this post is to shed some light on what was happening in the world during the time of the publication of this book. After all, we cannot simply look at a book in isolation. Instead, we need to look at all the factors, including social, political, and historical, around an author to determine why they created a particular work.  

In Baum’s Time

Technology

The Wizard of Oz was published in the May of 1900. This was a massive turning point for literature and for the world itself. At this point in history, the US was a world power and the country “settled from coast to coast.”

 As the Library of Congress states: “By 1900, telephones were in wide use. Cities were being electrified. Moving pictures were a curiosity. Guglielmo Marconi was conducting experiments that would lead to the development of the radio, and the Wright brothers were at work on a heavier-than-air flying machine.” (Library of Congress).

The rate at which technology was moving in Baum’s day could have spurred the creative machinations in his imagination. That is to say, the world was full of wonder with the invention of new technologies and humanity was daring to do things that they had not dared before. Is there a more fantastical world than that to live in for a scarecrow, tin man, and a cowardly lion?


Politics

Politically speaking, the country was going through a tumultuous period with the reelection of William McKinley of Ohio in 1900. The election was “fiercely fought” between both McKinley and the 36-year-old William Jennings Bryan.

“This was a time of both confidence and ferment. In the cities and the states, political ‘Progressives’ were coming to power, experimenting with reforms such as women’s suffrage, direct election of United States senators, the initiative, recall, the Australian ballot, primary elections, and laws setting minimum wages, work standards, and regulated rates for common carriers and services” (Library of Congress).

The idea of tumultuous politics appears in the first six chapters of The Wizard of Oz. The Good Witch and the Munchkins explained to Dorothy that there are those in power no matter in what direction you travel. The “baddies” are east and west (the evil witches) while the lands to the north are controlled by the Witch of the North and the south is controlled by the Quadlings. There is a power struggle in the land of Oz, and that is most definitely a political game that helps us with understanding L Frank Baum a little better.


Imperialism

The United States was also showcasing their imperial power by engaging in war with Spain during the Spanish-American War. Though “brief and bloodless,” the war had immense “political and diplomatic consequences” on the world stage.

“The United States had become a great power by virtue of its prodigious economic growth since the Civil War; numerous publicists said that it ought to begin to act like one … After the disappearance of the American frontier in 1890, the conviction grew that the United States would have to find new outlets for an ever-increasing population and agricultural and industrial production.” (Britannica)

The march of imperialism influenced Baum’s writing in a few ways: nationalistic and ethnocentric hierarchy. This is best encapsulated early on when Dorothy speaks to the Munchkins. They they talk about the location of Kansas and what is ostensibly enlightened versus unenlightened worlds. . The Witch of the North is unsure of where Kansas is located and asks Dorothy if it is “a civilized country?” to which she replies: “Oh, yes.”

“Then that accounts for it. In the civilized countries I believe there are no witches left; nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards among us.” (Baum)

It is both interesting and odd that the Witch of the North does not believe that Oz is cultured. Rather, she is quick to negatively connotate Oz as uncivilized. I think this peculiar because I doubt third-world countries would acknowledge that they are “third world” and I doubt that countries who are presumably number two economically would walk around with their heads hung low because they have come in second place. It just does not happen.

“A number of US congressmen assumed, along with Christian missionaries, that their ‘little brown brothers’ needed civilizing. Theodore Roosevelt was among them, declaring that ‘all men of sane and wholesome thought must dismiss with impatient contempt the plea that these continents should be reserved for the use of scattered savage tribes whose life was but a few degrees less meaningless, squalid, and ferocious than that of the wild beasts with whom they held joint ownership.'” (Wineapple)

This idea of being a “proper” world was widespread, too, as prominent US citizens felt a need to help the “savages” inflicted by the Spanish-American War. Baum emphasizes some of the American elitism at the time by talking about Dorothy’s world as enlightened as opposed to barbaric. This is regardless of the two world wars around the corner. And the Great Depression.


Conclusion

By using what was happening in the world historically, politically, or socially, understanding L Frank Baum becomes easier. Especially if they were grappling with an idea. We can see their worlds more truthfully. As such, we have to make some guesses at intention. But, often times we can infer their influences, which gives readers the power to interpret an author’s work. Now, there was a lot more happening in the United States and in the world at the turn of the 20th century. Yet, I think those are the major highlights that must have impacted L. Frank Baum’s mindset to some degree when he sat down to write The Wizard of Oz.


Works Cited

“America at the Turn of the Century: A Look at the Historical Context | Articles and Essays | The Life of a City: Early Films of New York, 1898-1906 | Digital Collections | Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, loc.gov/collections/early-films-of-new-york-1898-to-1906/articles-and-essays/america-at-the-turn-of-the-century-a-look-at-the-historical-context/.

“United States – The New American Empire.” Encyclopedia Britannica, britannica.com/place/United-States/The-new-American-empire.

Baum, L. Frank. “The Wizard of Oz the First Five Novels.” Fall River Press, 2014.

Wineapple, Brenda. “How the Spanish-American War Helped Lay the Groundwork for American Empire.” The Nation, 1 Feb. 2018, thenation.com/article/archive/how-the-spanish-american-war-laid-the-groundwork-for-american-empire/.

Blog, Literary Bios

Biography of George Bernard Shaw: Socialist, Critic, Playwright

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George Bernard Shaw’s name looms large amongst the litany of famous authors. Both fascinating and contentious, he has all the makings of a literary icon. Likewise, he has many shared traits with other authors. Moreover, his sheer volume of work along, puts him in the pantheon of influential authors. In this George Bernard Shaw biography, we are going to dig into his life, times, and literary works.

Biography of George Bernard Shaw

Upbringing and early novelist

To start, Shaw was born in Dublin on July 26, 1856. He was the third child in his family, and he hated school. However, he found no interest in the workings of academia. Eventually, Shaw worked in an estate agent’s office before moving to London in 1876. There, he struggled to find work through multiple jobs. Eventually, he settled on pursuing a full-time career as a writer—with mixed results.

As stated by Britannica: “Despite his failure as a novelist in the 1880s, Shaw found himself during this decade. He became a vegetarian, a socialist, a spellbinding orator, a polemicist, and tentatively a playwright.” In these words, Shaw became the character and writer that would leave a mark on the literary world.

(Britannica.com)

The Fabian Society and Critic

In 1884, Shaw joined the Fabian Society. The group spent time advancing the principles of democratic socialism. Furthermore, in this society, he used his writing abilities to craft pamphlets and to debate the application of such beliefs. In addition, somewhere in the midst of novel writing failure, Shaw began critiquing plays. These critiques were published in papers in London and became quite successful.  He worked as a critic for the Pall Mall Gazette, The World, The Star, and The Saturday Review.

As Britannica further states, Shaw knew a great deal about the arts, which gave him critical acumen. The source states, “Shaw had a good understanding of music, particularly opera, and he supplemented his knowledge with a brilliance of digression that gives many of his notices a permanent appeal …”

Bernard Shaw as Playwright and Death

Shaw’s first collections of plays appeared in “Plays Unpleasant” and “Plays Pleasant.” Both collections were replete with “what would become Shaw’s signature wit, accompanied by healthy doses of social criticism.” Both of which “stemmed from his Fabian Society leanings” (biography.com). Shaw produced a great deal of work in a variety of genres, which kept him busy working on his craft.

Finally, with the 19th century coming to a close, Shaw really began churning out his best work. He wrote Man and Superman in 1903 and Major Barbara in 1905, and Pygmalion in 1912. In 1925, Shaw was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for Saint Joan. He died in his home in England in 1950 at 94 years old.

Blog, Folklore

Myth vs Legend vs Tall Tale: What Sets Them Apart?

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Zeus, The Headless Horseman, Paul Bunyan, and Bigfoot all share some commonalities. Clearly, there are supernatural and fantastical elements in each of their stories, but how do myths, legends, and tall tales differ? And, how can we distinguish between them? It becomes much easier to understand these differences if you consider the context and typical usage of each term. In this post we will understand how each of these terms share similarities and differences.

What is a Folklore?

Folklore is an umbrella term that encompasses all oral tradition. If you can think of a story that you’ve heard passed down from your great-grandfather, to your grandfather, to your father, and now down to you, then you have encountered folklore. The titans, King Arthur, Nessie, and the Slender Man are all forms of folklore. They are cultural, they are stories, and they are passed down. It’s as simple as that.

What is a Myth?

The word “myth” is derived from the Greek word “mythos.” This means “story.” Mythological stories are rooted in religion or folkloric beliefs and they help define the origin of a culture.

As one source states: “… myths can be used to demystify a supernatural or unresolved event. Myths present reality in a sensational way, often using creatures and gods.” For instance, if one hears a story about the origin of a holiday tradition—say, the story of Old St. Nick—they are probably hearing a myth because Santa Claus is a “sensational,” god-like creature who surreptitiously visits homes on Christmas Eve and leaves gifts for children. This explanation clarifies Christmas for younger folks and is passed down from parents as well.

Mythic stories reflect society’s attempts to understand how things in the world came to exist, even though they incorporate supernatural elements. That’s why they typically feature nonhuman characters doing things that could be construed as supernatural. For a better understanding, think about the Greek gods and all the stories and movies you’ve heard or watched that detail their exploits and existence. Myths = Mt. Olympus.

What is a Legend?

Much of people’s confusion between myths and legends come from their similarities. Legends share the same qualities as myths. These include supernatural elements, unbelievable characters or monsters, first-hand accounts, etc. Yet, the major difference is that they come from the recent past, have historical roots, and are passed from one generation to the next.

Robin Hood and King Arthur fit the mold of a legend because they come from the semi-recent past. They aren’t some far off idea that is foggy in time. We can see them and their relationship to our own lives. Legends also have historical connections (they could be real), and they people have passed them down through oral, visual, and textual mediums. It should go without saying, but legends often walk a careful balance between reality and fiction.

To better understand this, think about Bigfoot, or more accurately, think about The Legend of Bigfoot. We aren’t entirely sure what the cryptid looks like (its big and hairy at least), and it only gained popularity relatively recently in the late ’60s or early ’70s. However, the Bigfoot story is now very popular. As such, people still pass their own stories down from one generation to the next.

What are Tall Tales?

Tall Tales are those wacky stories you remember form when you were a kid. They tell something about an immediate culture’s history or how something came to be in the world. Likewise, cultures preserve these stories through cultural traditions like music, pictures, interpretations, and more.

When you think about the stories of Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed, then you have some idea of a Tall Tale. They are like sagas that feature protagonists completing tasks that shape the world as we know it. Did they really do the things those stories said they did? Well, probably not, but those stories do help us understand the world around us.

Moreover, much like legends and myths, society passes down tall tales from generation to generation through a variety of mediums. Tall tales often feature conflicts resolved in some extraordinary way. For instance, Johnny Appleseed saw a lack of apple trees, therefore he spread them across the entire country on foot. either through strength, ingenuity, or sheer gumption. Paul Bunyan battling Babe the Big Blue Ox is one of these stories. At first, they are enemies, but this changes after they exhaust each other with their fighting. As it relates to tall tales, both are supernatural, and their giant sizes are responsible for shaping parts of U.S. geography, at least according to the story.

Remembering Folklore, Myth, Legend, and Tall Tales

The easiest thing to remember is that folklore is an umbrella term. Therefore, myths, legends, and tall tales form underneath this term and have their own nuances. Regardless of their differences, myths, legends, and tall tales serve a continued purpose of understanding. Myths, legends, and tall tales (all of folklore for that matter) continue to be important to society for their ability to help show us the world we live in through different lenses.