Favourite Epic (1 Viewer)

[Empyrean444]

I doubt this will get many replies, as this genre is really becoming extinct (unfortunately). Nevertheless, what is your favourite epic poem?


Mine would probably be the Aeneid by Virgil.

 

[KFunk]

Alas, I have only read one in full - Homer's Odyssey, which is quite fun. It's particularly interesting given how many western cultural works make reference to the Odyssey (and the Iliad). I've read pieces of Beowulf and the Bhagavad Gita but can't really give much comment on them.

 

[Empyrean444]

Yeah, i've only read 2, but i am reading a third at the moment, and i know the general gist of the Odyssey (though i haven't read it).

 

[u-borat]

The Aeneid gets very bogged-down with too much description in bits.

 

[Samuvel]

Armo virumque cano! I'm honestly sick to death with the Aeneid after Latin last year, but I still prefer it to the Greeks. I find Homer gets too jolly rhetorical. And while Virgil has his share of divine machination, Homer takes it to an absurd and rather irritating extent.

Actually I think my heart is closer to the northern epics (Beowulf, or the Icelandic sagas). They may be less perfectly formed than their mediterranean ancestors, but something about the darkness and raw violence resonates strongly with this northerner!

 

[wikiwiki]

Try Kazantzakis' 'Re-telling' of the Odyssey as well, it's pretty amazing (one of his major works).

I found Beowulf absolutely dreadful, and Homer incredible. Gilgamesh is a must-read even if it is incredibly barbaric(it IS semitic after all).

 

[PrettyOddProlix]

You guys are weird.

The Divine Comedy is okay.

 

[Samuvel]

I couldn't stick the Divine Comedy to be honest. It was such a take-off of Virgil. And I just don't understand that whole Catholic mythology business. I suppose it was alright in Inferno, but once he hits purgatory I switched off.