Ancient and Modern Epics - Essay Example

Ancient and Modern Epics The final and extensive version of the Mesopotamian’s Epic of Gilgamesh was written around 1200 BCE. There was almost 11 centuries that separated this epic and Virgil’s Aeneid. Though both literary works were considered to be epics, there were distinctions between the 2 besides the fact that there were too much of history and changes that separated them (Damrosch). Aeneid was just a manuscript when its author was already on the deathbed. Virgil even asked a friend for the manuscript to be burnt as it was not yet finished. Virgil’s style of writing resembled much of Homer’s. They differ in such a way that Virgil has the time leisure in completing his works contrary to Homer’s lack of time. The author also contradicted Homer by using a Trojan protagonist that built a civilization which would eventually be ruling over the Greeks. It was not a secret that Homer is a Greek (Hopkins, 1). Virgil’s Aeneid has been considered as a global epic for the reason that it raises global awareness of certain place or things are discovered or founded. The epic was about Aeneas, who after surviving a shipwreck, restated events in his life to what was described to be a compassionate audience. It was a recap of Aeneas’s travel after fleeing from the burning Troy to Italy where the protagonist became the ancestor of the Romans (Damrosch). The epic showed how a man would be able to not just lead people but also be a leader to start a civilization. Aeneas was a Trojan who fled from Troy when it was burnt down by the Greeks. From a civilization that destroyed the protagonist’s homeland, Aeneas founded a civilization in a land where he led other Trojans after the tragedy that has happened. It is not just a common civilization that would be forgotten and be left in the history books. It is a civilization that would be influencing not just the arts but the branches of science as well. This is a civilization that is not just present in the history books but people can still remnants of how valiant its people are. Virgil did not write the epic to be just written on parchments or be portrayed on plays. The author considered his written literary work as a part of a mural etched on walls. This is a unique way of inscribing such masterpieces especially during those ages. However, it would just complement that the story of the walls of Troy being impenetrable. The walls where the epic would be etched can withstand the longest of times therefore future generations could read and appreciate such masterpieces (Damrosch). It depicted the beginning of a civilization which would conquer not just cultures but also history books throughout the ages. On the other hand the Epic of Gilgamesh was about the journey and life of a person who was considered to be two-thirds god and one third-man. The epic was written to publicly state the endeavors of Gilgamesh and for it to be known worldwide (Aina.Org). The two epics which have been chosen seem to have inkling with walls. Even these structures seem to be old and worn out, it would still be able to withstand the tests of time and still be able to last for centuries more. It is just like the message the authors would want to get across. There are always more to the words being written and read. The outer may worn out, but the message which is inside of it would be able to reach the future generations not just of their civilization but of the world which they are a part of (Damrosch, Aina.Org). Both epics told stories of men and how they lead civilizations triumphant in lives and n wars. Most of the stories that have been passed on are based on a story of a leader leading other people towards so-called greatness. This is unlike the stories that has been written and considered as modern epics. The protagonists in the modern literary works are not anymore half-man and half-god. This could be considered as traditional epics where mortals are being rescued in the mortal world by immortals. Popular themes for such traditional epics besides having a half-mortal, half-immortal protagonist are customs and religion (Hopkins, 1). Modern epics have a theme of either romance or nationalism. A modern epic that can be taken as an example is Derek Walcott’s Omeros. Though the author did named the characters of the epic the same as of Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, the epic is not about gratifying and glorifying men. Omeros is being interpreted as an epic about the place where the events took place. It is not just about the people living in it but about the place where people are living. Stories are present everywhere and can be considered either ways. But the place where they happen will always be there and will be witness to more events that will happen (Hopkins, 6-8). People would just be a mere character in the history of the place. Just like the name of island was changed. There would be legends and stories that would be passed on from generations to generations and would undeniably witness that the place exists. Having mortals and immortals being protagonists in an epic would be something hard to prove if it truly exists. This is what made Omeros alike though in a way dissimilar to the ancient epics (Hopkins, 6-8). The author’s style though was still aligned to the traditional epics. It was evident throughout the poem. The immortal theme of early epics was given mortal interpretations and interactions in this work. Readers can relate to the epic more since they can relate it to their own lives or to the lives of people around them. There were also traces of Christianity in the epic. It was also a point of difference from earlier works since most of the most celebrated epics were written before the birth of Christianity (Hopkins, 9). Just like most of the places now are composed of people coming from different races and ethnicities, Walcott made his epic a melting pot of epics. The author combined features and storylines from different epics from what people can considered as ancient times to build a modern epic that this modern world would be able to enjoy. There is always an amalgamating of ancient themes in order of the author to come up with events that will complement the epic (Hopkins, 9-10). Epics that were written during the times of the earlier civilizations dating back like the Mesopotamians and those that were written during the times of Homer and Virgil are considered as treasures. It portrays life during the times when a common religion was not yet founded throughout the land. It was a time when it was believed immortals were living with mortals and yet they were able to co-exist. Epics that were written before the modern times are usually about conquering the weak not just physically but more on the psychological wars. Just like when Aeneid was written by Virgil. The author used a Greek method to gratify a Trojan man who became the ancestor of the civilization that will eventually fight the Greeks which is the Romans. Epics are used instead of just plain storytelling in relaying heroics, traditions, customs and/or religions of the earlier years. This was done as to not bore the audience of legends or myths that may not tickle the interest of other people as civilizations were fighting against each other in order to conquer lands. Epics then were either sang or played besides the fact that it was written either on tablets or parchments. Unlike modern epics that was written or maybe typed using the latest technologies but it is still depicting the styles that ancient writers used. There would always be different reasons as to why these epic masterpieces have been written. Throughout the ages, there could have been millions that were written though only some have survived the wars of the civilizations. Each writer will have a different opinion from another. Literary works are not made to criticize one another yet it was made for works of art to entertain people and yet educating them. No work of art should be taken literary because just like the depiction of the walls, the outside can be deceiving especially once it is observed from within. Works Cited: Assyrian International News Agency. The Epic of Gilgamesh. AINA.Org. 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011 < http://www.aina.org/books/eog/eog.htm> Damrosch, David. How to Read World Literature. United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing. 2009. Hopkins, Amanda. “Omeros and the Epic Tradition.” The Epic Tradition Module. University of Warwick. 03 March 2006. Read More