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Chapter 3 - Epic Hero and Epic Fable

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2021

Denis Feeney
Introduction by
Stephen Hinds
Denis Feeney
Affiliation:
Princeton University, New Jersey
Stephen Hinds
Affiliation:
University of Washington
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Summary

The word ‘hero’ in ancient terminology does not refer to the ’hero’ of a poem or play, and ancient epics do not require a central hero to unify the action. This understanding of the role of the leading figures in epic is still current for John Milton in Paradise Lost.

Keywords

HomerVirgilLucanSilius ItalicusMiltonheroepic
Type
Chapter
Information
Explorations in Latin Literature , pp. 62 - 82
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Epic Hero and Epic Fable
  • Denis Feeney, Princeton University, New Jersey
  • Introduction by Stephen Hinds, University of Washington
  • Book: Explorations in Latin Literature
  • Online publication: 05 August 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108680226.005
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  • Epic Hero and Epic Fable
  • Denis Feeney, Princeton University, New Jersey
  • Introduction by Stephen Hinds, University of Washington
  • Book: Explorations in Latin Literature
  • Online publication: 05 August 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108680226.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Epic Hero and Epic Fable
  • Denis Feeney, Princeton University, New Jersey
  • Introduction by Stephen Hinds, University of Washington
  • Book: Explorations in Latin Literature
  • Online publication: 05 August 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108680226.005
Available formats
×