Buzz
While contemporary poets often shy away from the epic poetry tradition, their work has undoubtedly been shaped by these monumental pieces. This list highlights the most renowned epic poems from before the 20th century. Although it’s tempting to include modern works like Ginsberg’s Howl, doing so would require omitting one of the timeless classics featured here. Thus, 20th-century poetry will be reserved for a separate compilation.
10. Aeneid Virgil
The Aeneid, a Latin epic penned by Virgil in the 1st century BC (between 29 and 19 BC), recounts the legendary journey of Aeneas, a Trojan who ventured to Italy and became the forebear of the Romans. Composed in dactylic hexameter, the grand style of classical poetry, the poem’s first six books detail Aeneas’ travels from Troy to Italy. The latter half focuses on the Trojans’ triumphant war against the Latins, under whose identity Aeneas and his followers are destined to merge.
9. Don Juan Lord Byron
This lengthy, satirical poem reimagines the legend of Don Juan, presenting him not as a womanizer but as someone easily swayed by women. A departure from traditional epic form, it contrasts with Byron’s earlier, more somber works like Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, showcasing a humorous and satirical tone. Widely regarded as Byron’s magnum opus, the poem remained incomplete at his death in 1824, with 16 cantos finished and a 17th left unfinished. Byron admitted he had no preconceived plan for the poem’s progression. Upon its anonymous publication in 1819, the first two cantos faced criticism for their “immoral content” but also garnered widespread acclaim.
8. Paradise Lost John Milton
This epic poem, written in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton, was first published in 1667 in ten books. A second edition, released in 1674, reorganized the work into twelve books (mirroring Virgil’s Aeneid) and included minor revisions along with a note on its versification. The poem explores the Judeo-Christian narrative of the Fall of Man, depicting Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve and their subsequent expulsion from Eden. Milton’s stated aim in Book I is to “justify the ways of God to men” (Milton 1674, 4:26) and to explore the tension between divine foreknowledge and human free will. The work weaves together Pagan, classical Greek, and Christian elements, addressing complex theological themes such as fate, predestination, and the Trinity.
7.
The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri
Regarded as the pinnacle of Italian literature and a masterpiece of global literary heritage, this epic poem offers an imaginative and allegorical depiction of the Christian afterlife, encapsulating the medieval worldview of the Western Church. Written in the first person, it narrates Dante’s journey through the three realms of the dead during the Easter Triduum in 1300. The Roman poet Virgil leads him through Hell and Purgatory, while Beatrice, Dante’s embodiment of ideal womanhood, guides him through Heaven.
6. Mah?bh?rata Vyasa
The Mah?bh?rata, one of the world’s longest epic poems, boasts over 74,000 verses, extensive prose sections, and approximately 1.8 million words. Including the HarivaM’sa, it exceeds 90,000 verses. This monumental work holds profound significance for the Indian subcontinent’s culture and is a cornerstone of Hindu literature. It delves into human aspirations—artha (purpose), kama (pleasure), dharma (duty), and moksha (liberation)—within a rich tradition that explores the individual’s relationship with society, the concept of the ‘Self,’ and the principles of karma.
5. Beowulf Anonymous
An Old English heroic epic of unknown authorship, Beowulf is preserved in the Nowell Codex manuscript, dating from the 8th to 11th century. It narrates events set in what is now Denmark and Sweden. Recognized as a cornerstone of Anglo-Saxon literature, the poem has sparked extensive scholarly analysis and debate. Spanning 3,183 lines, it is notable for its length. The story follows Beowulf, a Geatish hero, as he confronts three foes: Grendel, who terrorizes the Danish mead hall Heorot; Grendel’s mother; and, later in life, a dragon. Beowulf is mortally wounded in the final battle and is laid to rest in a barrow in Geatland by his loyal followers.
4. Metamorphoses Ovid
This fifteen-book narrative poem, completed in 8 AD, chronicles the creation and evolution of the world. Renowned as one of the most influential mythological works, it was widely known to medieval writers and significantly shaped medieval poetry.
3. The Iliad Homer
Alongside the Odyssey, this ancient Greek epic poem is attributed to Homer and is often dated to the late 9th or 8th century BC. Many scholars regard it as the oldest surviving piece of ancient Greek literature, marking it as the earliest work of European literature. The poem focuses on the events of the tenth and final year of the Greek siege of the city of Ilion, also known as Troy.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.
Contributor: Heroajax
2. Epic of Gilgamesh Anonymous
This ancient Mesopotamian epic poem stands as one of the earliest known works of literary fiction. Scholars believe that a collection of Sumerian tales and poems about the legendary hero-king Gilgamesh, possibly a historical ruler in the 27th century BCE, were later compiled into a longer Akkadian epic. The most complete version, preserved on twelve clay tablets, was discovered in the library of the 7th-century BC Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. The narrative centers on the bond between Gilgamesh, a disillusioned king, and his companion Enkidu, a semi-wild figure who joins him on perilous adventures. A significant portion of the epic explores Gilgamesh’s grief and quest for immortality after Enkidu’s death, highlighting themes of humanity and the desire for eternal life. Recognized as one of the earliest literary works, the epic remains widely read, and Gilgamesh has become a cultural icon.
1. The Odyssey Homer
This epic poem, attributed to Homer, is one of two major works from ancient Greek literature. Likely composed near the end of the 8th century BC in Ionia, along the western coast of Turkey, it serves as a sequel to the Iliad. The story follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his arduous ten-year journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. During his absence, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus face challenges from a group of suitors vying for Penelope’s hand, believing Odysseus to be dead.
